Teenagers wonder who conquered Africa

Profit bronze at the 2021 ITTF African Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon is certainly the best moment for 17-year-old Samuel Boboye, who made his international debut at the event.

Although a beginner, Boboye conquered the entire continent by storm and defeated Algerias Larbi Bouriah in his first international match.

Boboye secured a flawless 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5) victory for Bouriah, who had represented his country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

He went on to win his first round with a second 4-2 (11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8) victory against Nelson Nsoh Nji of Cameroon. a tie with Egyptian veteran Ahmed Saleh.

Although the former African No. 1 eventually subjugated him, Boboye says the experience he will always cherish.

I knew Algeria’s No. 1 is a very good player and Olympics, but my idea was to go do my best and give my best and win 4-0. I didn’t believe it when I beat him 11-7 in the first game, then in the second game, I beat him and I was so excited. Quadri Aruna urged me to the game, even Olajide Omotayo was present, they said, come boy, you can do it.

After winning the second game, even though I knew Saleh was a very good player, I wanted to give my best. I led the game, but I couldn’t continue it. He’s an experienced player, that’s how he beat me, so I need more experience. However, it was a good experience for me, Boboye said PUNCH Sports Extra.

He continued with Azeez Solanke to win bronze in the doubles event after losing to Aruna and Bode Abiodun in the semi-finals.

He said it was a great opportunity to be on the same team with Aruna, Abiodun and Omotayo.

I never thought I would get on the team; There are a lot of good players in Lagos, so making the team was a great achievement.

Also read

I didn’t think one day I would be on the same team as Quadri Aruna, Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo, during every race, I watched them play, they motivated me. They played with them, they all encouraged me, told me to keep practicing and never give up. Bode Abiodun even told me I would be the next Quadri Aruna, he added.

He took the calculation earlier in May when he defeated Matthew Kut in three innings and became national cadet champion.

A senior Secondary School 3 student who started playing table tennis in 2016, considers success in the sport with Amaebi Stowe, vice president of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association.

When I won my first table tennis tournament, I was so excited that I didn’t even know what to do at that moment, I hugged my chairman, my second father, Amaebi Stowe, in my hall. He has been very supportive, bringing players from the states of Lagos and Edo to train me, buy my supplies and more, Boboye said. PUNCH Sports Extra.

While many children who play sports don’t get enough support from their parents, Boboye says his father, a retired wrestler, gave him the support he needed.

My dad was a very good wrestler, but he’s retired, so I took his place in the sport. I was a footballer and played table tennis outdoors, so one day I was playing PSP, and a friend took me to a sports center called Prominziro Country Club, where I saw a regular table tennis and venue owner, a player, play with me and said I should come downtown every day. That’s when he started coaching me.

When my father saw me playing table tennis, he encouraged me and wished me the best in my career; my mother also encouraged me a lot, she added.

Copyright PUNCH

All rights reserved. This material and other digital content on this website may not be copied, published, transmitted, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the express written permission of PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]