Table Tennis Association trains referees on global standard officiating

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Nigerian Table Tennis Umpire and Referee Association organized a three day training for  its members  across country, which is aimed to enhance their officiating to compete with global standard.

Penpushing reports that, the three days training program “Basic National Umpire Course”  held at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan was organised by the Nigerian Civil Defense, with the support of the Oyo State Table Tennis Umpire Association.

The National Chairman of the association, Mr Femi George while speaking said the training was one of objectives of the association   to train new members who have indicated to be umpire for them to meet with the global standard.

“The training program is basically the National Basic Umpire Training Course and it is one of our objectives as the Nigeria Table Tennis and Umpire Association to train new members who have indicated to be umpire for them to meet uonwith the global standard.

Penpushing further reports that, he noted that the training is the first level of officiating of the game of Table Tennis as an umpire, adding that “after this training, we are going to examine the participants to test their knowledge about what they have been trained on and this will determine either to certify them or not.”

“Those of them passed with minimum point will be issued certificate and the status of National Umpire will also be conferred them. Our association is a self-founding association which our role is to ensure that the game of tennis is shaped to a global standard and also to support the development of the tennis game in the country.”

“Our objectives are to ensure that they are certified and to ensure that they enhance to the officiating tournament with the global standard and all this will give International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) the courage to call on us to come and officiate outside the country and also brings more tournaments to Nigeria.”

The Chairman of the association in Oyo State, Mr. Alarape Abiodun in his remarks said the purpose of the training was to trained the umpire on table tennis game, adding  that all the participants will be qualified to officiate  anywhere in Nigeria.

Penpushing also reports that, Alarape maintained that it will also give them the opportunity to sit for  International examination  which will qualified them to officiate internationally, while a coach, Ajetunmobi Olawale explained  that the training program was put in place to create awareness for the participants on the rule and regulations guiding the tennis game

“If the State and Federal government can support us, it will further enhance the capability and skills of the player and makes them to compete with their colleagues globally. This is an opportunity for us because the training is very costly while going abroad to attained it and some of us cannot even afford it.”

The 2014 Nigeria Best Table Tennis Coach, however thanked  the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC)Sports Director, Commandant  Titus Ayodele  for his support, calling on the participants to continue pursuing their dreams and also  appreciated the Chairman, Nigerian Civil Defense Table Tennis Association for his financial support.

Penpushing reports that, of the participants, Adisa Abefe said that mobility was the main challenges he was facing being a -Para tennis player, saying that the training was one of the greatest opportunity he and his colleagues, because the organizers of the program has done a tremendous job towards the development of table tennis players.