Experience, effort — Edo State's rise to Table Tennis success, Coach Goriola Olayiwola Wahab

...Secures 13 medals as table tennis event comes to an end

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abuja 

  

  

  

From grass to grace, this is the inside story of Team Edo State's rise in table tennis, the once uneducated side powered by eagerness is now a consistent medal winner for the Heartbeat State.

These are the words of the head coach of Team Edo table tennis, Goriola Olayiwola Wahab in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the ongoing National Para Games in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Coach Wahab, fond called Mr. Consistent, led Team Edo to secure 13 medals Games, 4 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals.

For coach Wahab in the Table Tennis coaching business it all began 1991, in Bauchi, when he teaching special athletes the games of pingpong. He then started working with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria to help educate and train more athletes.

“I started coaching in 1991, that time there was no Para table tennis, Spinal Cord Injury of Nigeria, when they were camping there, that when I got to know them and began teaching them.

He went on lead various states to regional and national glory, before the Heartbeat State joined the list in 2004, when he was appointed to revive table tennis in the state, a mountain like task at the time, due to lack of knowledge about the sport.

After completion of his first contract, the results were visible and he was then reinstated to keep on developing the game in the state.

“That time they knew nothing, they couldn't even play a single ball to the Table. So I started with them. Over the years they have gained more and more experience and now we are consistent champions,” he said.

He commended his team for their outing at the games, adding that he has his eyes fixed on the National Sports Festival, later this year.

“It was a great performance, next on the cart is preparation ahead of the National Sports Festival,” he explained.

If the name of Table Tennis heros and legends are being written, surely Coach Goriola Olayiwola Wahab's name will be written in gold.

He thanked the Edo State Sports Commission, (ESSC), for making it possible for the team to compete at the Games, as funds for the Games are yet to be released.

He also had some nice words for the National Sports Commission, for putting together a memorable event for the special athletes.