By Oluwaseyi Oduneye
Lagos – The recent signing of two national table tennis players, Olajide Omotayo and Kazeem Makanjuola, by the Marcozzi Table Tennis Club, Italy, has increased the number of Nigerian professionals in Europe.
Omotayo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos on telephone from his Italy base that his mission in Italy was “for my personal development’’.
“My reason for moving is actually to get better. We all know that we don’t play league matches in Nigeria, and this is very important for every athlete involved in sport.
“In leagues, athletes get the opportunity to exhibit their skills every weekend and playing against different players from across the globe,’’ he said.
He added that he was used to playing professional table tennis, noting that playing in Italy wasn’t his first club engagement.
“In 2013/2014, I played for STT Lugano of Switzerland in the Swedish Division One. In 2014/2015 I played in the Italian league in Division Two.
“I am not new to leagues and how table tennis is played professionally. This is the only way I can achieve my targets in table tennis.
“One of my targets is to win the Italian league for my club,’’ Omotayo said, adding that he hoped to start competing at the Pro Tours in Europe.
“Participating in the pro tours is my greatest desire. This is the only way I can step up my game and gather experience.’’
NAN reports that Omotayo had won the 2013 Aso Oba Table Tennis competition and in August 2016, he won a silver medal at the Westchester Open Tournament in the U.S.