Sports Development: Tennis player, Olatunji Adewale wins ANLCA Table tennis tournament held in Lagos
By Babatunde Aremu
After 48 hours of rigorous and competitive matches , 46 year old lagos based Tennis player, Olatunji Adewale has emerged winner of the 2-day maiden Edition of the Annual Table tennis tournament organised by the western zone of the Association of Nigerian Licensed customs Agents (ANLCA) held Friday, December 6 and 7 , 2024 at the Not bad sports Arena, 12 Dele Olupona street, Egbeda , Opposite,faith Academy, Gowon Estate,Lagos.
Born on October 6, 1978, Olatunji won the final match of the Table tennis tournament out of the 26 players shortlisted for participation after defeating a Transporter, Igwe yenechukwu who takes the second place trophy of the competition.
Adewale was presented the first place trophy of the tournament with a cash prize of ₦200,000.00( Two hundred Thousand) Naira by the President of ANLCA, Mr. Emeka Kingsley Nwokeoji ably assisted by the VP of the Association , Otunba Segun oduntan as well as Deputy comptroller of customs, Mr. Mike Ohadike (Rtd).
Igwe yenechukwu who emerged the second prize winner was presented the Trophy by the Comptroller, Nigeria customs service, Lilypond export command, ijora , Ajibola Odusanya with a cash prize of ₦150,000( One hundred and fifty thousand Naira) only.
Abdul Basit Abdul fatai also emerged winner of young professionals at the Table tennis tournament after defeating Ayanwale jamiu.
President of ANLCA, Mr. Emeka Kingsley Nwokeoji in an exclusive interview with Seaflypo news said the aim of the Table tennis tournament organised by the Vice President, Otunba Segun oduntan and the western zone of ANLCA in partnership with the Nigeria Table tennis Federation ( NTTF) is to promote sports development in the maritime industry, bring stakeholders together and raise more awareness on the need for them to engage in regular exercise .
The ANLCA president said:
” We want to use this opportunity to sensitise people that it should not be all work and also encourage them to keep fit . We are sports men, My Vice President plays table tennis, I also play Golf and tennis although not table tennis. We need this exercises so that we can function maximally”.
For the Comptroller, Lilypond export command of Nigeria customs service, Ajibola Odusanya, he commended the organisers for a good job done.He however wants them to step up the involvement of stakeholders especially the Comptroller General of customs, Adewale Adeniyi in subsequent editions of the table tennis tournament so as to add more colour to the event.
Member, Board of Trustees of ANLCA , Ademola Mumuney who also applauded the organisers for the success of the tournament expressed optimism that subsequent editions would be extended to other Geo- -political zones in the country where ANLCA operates.
The Table tennis tournament was also attended by former president of ANLCA, Chief Elochukwu , other BOT members of the Association , stakeholders in the maritime industry,Table tennis Professionals & players from within and outside Lagos State, Nigeria.