Alabi’s Table Tennis Revolution Turning Otan- Aiyegbaju Into Mecca

IKPO IGBINOBA 

Not many Nigerians can locate Otan-Aiyegbaju on the map. The rural community is not popular for obvious reasons. It is neither a local government headquarters nor a state capital.

But in the next few years, Otan-Aiyegbaju which is a whistling distance from Iree where the Osun State Polytechnic is situated will not only attract national attention but will become a Mecca of sorts.

Thanks to Mr. Kayode Alabi, the chairman of the Osun State Table Tennis Association who is raising the profile of this hitherto anonymous community.

For two years running, Mr Alabi has placed Otan-Aiyegbaju firmly in national spotlight and consciousness by sponsoring a table tennis championship in memory of his late parents.

There are several table tennis championships in the country but the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Open Table Tennis Championship is one with a difference.

During its debut edition, the Michael and Felicia Memorial Table Tennis championship was restricted to players in Osun State.

Encouraged by the success recorded in the maiden edition, the sponsor, Mr. Alabi decided to escalate the scope of the second edition which took place between February 28 to March 4, 2022.

Aside making it open to players from across the country, the prize money was also increased.

Mr. Alabi also added a novel dimension to the championship. 

For the first time in the  history of the ping pong game in Nigeria, the non winning players were given consolation cash prizes.

One of the officials who were at the Championship, Mr. Niyi Oladipupo did not mince words in his assessment.

He told PM Express”I have been involved in championships for over two decades and without fear of being contradicted,  the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Open Table Tennis Championship is one of the best ever in the area of organisation, security, accommodation and feeding”

“The prize money was also encouraging and for the first time, non-winning players were given consolation cash prizes”.

“The prizes were spread over a wide range of categories which included the men’s Team, women’s Team, Singles(men and women), doubles, mixed doubles, para Class 1-5(men), para class1-5(women), veterans singles and amateur for local players”

Mr. Oladipupo, a national umpire was full of praise for the sponsor, Mr. Kayode Alabi. 

According to him “Mr. Alabi is a special breed. He went the extra mile in ensuring that everyone who participated in the championship both players and officials were adequately taken care off. 

“I won’t forget my experience in Otan-Aiyegbaju for a very long time. It was wonderful”.

Oladipupo who is also the Secretary General of the Nigeria Table Tennis Coaches Association predicted a great future for the championship.

“With what I have witnessed in the first two editions, the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Open Table Tennis Championship will soon turn Otan-Aiyegbaju into a Table tennis destination”.

“The sponsor is prepared to take the championship to the highest level because of the love he has for his late parents and the passion he has for Table Tennis”.

One can’t help but agree with Oladipupo. Indeed, Mr Alabi has started a quiet table tennis  revolution that will transform not only Otan-Aiyegbaju and Osun State but the game on a national scale.