March 17, (THEWILL) – Following the ongoing construction of a state of-the-art table tennis academy in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital which is already at its completion stage, there are strong indications that Bayelsa youths in particular and Ijaw youths generally, who are interested in playing table tennis will soon be flying in high colours in regional, national and international competitions when the facility is eventually completed and becomes operational.
According to the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow, who single-handed built the academy noted that the idea to construct the academy was borne out of his avowed desire, commitment and determination to uplift and promote table tennis sports among Ijaw youths, reiterating that his vision is to ensure that Ijaw youths compete favourably with their counterparts from around the world in international competitions.
Ama-ebi Stow who is a known philanthropist and the current chairman of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), South/South zone further opined that the construction of the world-class table tennis pavilion and academy would serve as a veritable avenue to harness the natural talents in Ijaw youths generally and expose them to all the intrigues of the game in international dimension thereby paving way for them to win laurels for the region.
He stressed that he had sponsored four Bayelsans and others in international competitions and the world-class table tennis facility would facilitate and amplify the capacity of the youths of the South/South zone in the game, adding that a Bayelsan youth whom he picked up from the street is currently the 8th best player of the game in Nigeria and the captain of Table Tennis Players in Bayelsa State.
He however pointed out that in addition to encouraging them in table tennis, there is also the emphasis on quality education for them which is also integrated into it.
As part of his philanthropic gesture in the game, Ama-ebi Stow has donated two ITTF-approved Stage America 16 table tennis boards to the Sports Ministries of Delta and Akwa-Ibom States with that of Rivers State slated to take place on Monday, March 18, 2024.
The Chairman of NTTF in the South/South zone noted that one each will go to Rivers State Sports Council and the famous Port Harcourt Club making the boards two altogether for the state.
In his words” We have donated two ITTF approved table tennis boards each to Delta and Akwa-Ibom states and that of Rivers State would hold on Monday and we aim to encourage the youths from the South/South zone in the game thereby opening windows of opportunities for them globally.”
“All over the world, sports is one of the avenues to take the youths out of the unemployment market and make them useful to themselves and the society at large thereby curbing crime and criminality among them”, he said.
Dignitaries expected to grace the handover ceremony at Port Harcourt, on Monday, include the Rivers State Commissioner of Sports, the Director of Sports in the Rivers State Sports Council and the President and members of Port Harcourt Club.
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