Western Zone of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has stated that over 30 players comprising Nigeria Customs Service, among others, will be participating in the median edition of its table tennis competition.
The Deputy National President of ANLCA, Mr Segun Oduntan, while speaking on Tuesday in Lagos during the pre-event press briefing, said the competition has been billed for two days.
“In numbers, there are about 40 to 30 players who have expressed interest in participating in the table tennis competition. We have almost 30 of our companies that are showing interest,” Oduntan said.
Speaking further, Oduntan explained that the competition was born out of the association’s desire to ensure that people keep fit despite their normal daily hustles, adding that people do a lot of things to keep fit.
“We deem it fit that to keep fit, apart from the normal work stress, it’s an example of showing to our members that you have to keep fit. You have to do exercise.
I don’t know. Other people, different sports make people keep fit. Some people do basketball, football, and whatnot,” Oduntan said.
Oduntan mentioned that they are starting with the Western Zone chapter for the maiden edition with plans to spread to other zones in the subsequent editions.
“Don’t be surprised, subsequent years, it might be national that we have to move, or people have to come from other parts of the country because ANLCA as an association is spread all over the state of the federation, but we have to start here first,” he said.
He said the association selected this period because they want everyone to come together, “all other stakeholders, all people we interact with, our fellow professional colleagues so that we have an ambience where sport brings people together.”
Earlier, the Zonal Coordinator, Western Zone of ANLCA, Mr Femi Anifowose, stated that the competition is about coming together, “after months of working hard, we should come together and have a friendly tournament so that it will be easier for everybody to know.”
Anifowose maintained that the competition is vital considering the poor state of health of so many Nigerians.
He added that exercises are needed for one to discover some sicknesses and the best way to treat them.
“That is why we bring out this tournament so that it will go a long way. This is the first of the tournament associations to organise, and we believe that a lot of people will be participating. And it will be a continuity programme,” he said.
The PUNCH reports that the inaugural edition of the N10m prize money table tennis tournament, organised by the association in partnership with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, will commence on December 6th at the Not Bad Sports Arena in Egbeda, Lagos State.
