Dr. A.A Efunkoya Cadet Table Tennis Training/ Championship Begins in Lagos
Over 120 kids drawn from across the country, are taking part at the on-going 7th edition of Dr. A. A Efunkoya annual Table Tennis Training and Championship holding at the Table Tennis Knock-up hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
One of the event coordinators, Mr. Ranti Lajide who spoke about the programme, said
Dr. Efunkoya was not only the pioneer chairman, but the longest serving chairman of the Nigeria table tennis Association as it was then known and registered Nigerian name on the continental and global maps.
He stressed that the
development of table tennis in Nigeria can be ascribed to him.
According to Mr. Ranti Lajide, the work of the Dr. Efunkoya foundation really started eight years ago and since then, the foundation has
has been producing players that are now in the national teams representing Nigeria in international completions.
According to him,
6 ex-champions of the foundation, represented the country in recent continental championship.
For the 2026 edition, he revealed that 4 players (2 males and females) were invited from each state across the country with a total of 17 states and 8 clubs featiring in the weeklong exercise that runs from 11-15 August, 2026.
Unlike last year where the foundation projected for 110 cadet players but ended up having 145 players, the organizers said they budgeted for 120 players this year.
Meanwhile this year’s programme, started with a 2-day training camp that runs from 11-12 before the championship proper that holds from 13-15 where winners are expected to emerge.
Apart from the prize money winners will have scholarship attached to their prizes as a way of encouraging their education according to Mr. Ranti Lajide.
Commenting on the Championship, London based, Dr Adesegun Efunkoya the Eldest son of late Dr. Adegboyega Efunkoya who breezed into the country for the competition, said his late father had too much passion and love for table tennis when he was alive.
He described him as a man who eats, sleeps,dreams, wakes up for table tennis.
And that passion he was able to transfer to him s children, hence this foundation championship that has been on- going for seven years running and still counting.
Dr Adesegun Efunkoya who is witnessing the championship for the first time, gave Kudos to both his junior brother and sister for holding forth in his absence.
He also praised the Dr. Efunkoya foundation members for ensuring that his father’s legacy is sustained for good as it will continue to produce future table tennis stars for the country.
