Top ITTF officials, Mikael Andersson and Eva Jeler in Ghana for global talent development drive

ITTF Africa Hopes Program Manager Eva Jeler who is in Ghana has praised the talent on display and the growing coaching base across Africa.

“Africa is full of talents. We know this in table tennis and wherever we go we discover players who could become world leading players,” Jeler told journalists at the opening of the Africa Hopes Week Championship in Legon, Accra.

“What is very important is that the level and number of coaches involved in Africa table tennis is getting better and greater each time. Investing in young players is simply assuring a good future for African players, for the associations, and for everybody. Kids in sports are kids in a safe place. Table Tennis teaches not only sport and movement, it also teaches social skills and mental skills.”

ITTF Sports Development Director Mikael Andersson who also joined the training programme and championship said the program is part of the ITTF’s global talent development drive that reaches 100 countries.

“This is more a training event than anything else, although we have players competing,” Andersson explained.

“We evaluate the players from a technical point of view and also watch them in competition to see their skills. To be in Ghana, in the center of Africa, in the heart of Africa, to provide this opportunity for all the coaches and young players in Africa is very important.”

Present at the launch were David Ahiaba Senyo, Hopes Challenge Coordinator, and Charles Tachie-Menson Jnr., GTTA Technical Director.

Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, President of the Ghana Table Tennis Association said hosting the event as a major milestone for the sport in Ghana.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Ghana to be hosting it. It’s an opportunity in so many ways,” Afadzinu noted.

“Beyond giving the next generation of athletes a platform to be discovered, it also gives our own players exposure and the chance to learn from the best. Having Madam Eva Jeler here, who is one of the best in the world, is a big one for us.”

He added that the tournament provides young Ghanaians “reason to believe and a pathway to progress, to be successful in a lot of things.”

The ITTF Africa Hopes Challenge for players under 12 kicked off first at Legon from July 13 to18, while the Africa Youth Championships and Africa Cup will take place from July 20-29 at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra.

The Hopes Challenge is hosting 36 young athletes from 12 countries namely; South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Tunisia, Togo, Zimbabwe, Benin, Botswana, and host nation Ghana.

As hosts, Ghana had the priviledge of featuring six boys and six girls, compared to the usual quota of one boy and one girl per country.

From next week, the Borteyman Sports Complex will host the Africa Youth Championships and Africa Cup are expected to welcome 300 athletes from 22 countries across the continent.

By Sammy Heywood Okine