The Grand Patron of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Apostle Zilly Aggrey has commended Ama-ebi Stow for changing the fortunes of table tennis in the state.
Apostle Aggrey gave the commendation at the opening ceremony of the South South Veterans Table Tennis championship at the Fortress in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
He noted that he was excited to see the entire South-South and Nigeria converge on Yenagoa for the South-South Veterans Table Tennis championship and the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Tournament, describing the championship as special.
The former Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association chairman, asserted that he was marveled by the gigantic edifice constructed by Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow for table tennis, maintaining that the structure has given Bayelsa a new direction in table tennis.
Apostle Aggrey urged the stakeholders within the Niger Delta to invest in the development of table tennis in order to replace aged athletes, stating that the game between Samuel Boboye and his counterpart was indicative of an avalanche of talents in the country.
He explained that Ama-ebi Stow’s passion for sports, particularly table tennis, has complimented the efforts of the Governor, Douye Diri whose undiminished love for sports has continued to give Bayelsa global recognition.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Mr. Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow in an interview, said all the Niger Delta states are represented in the championship, adding that the idea of the championship was to get the best team in the region.
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Technical adviser to the governor on sports (table tennis), noted that apart from the prize money and trophy, the essence of the tournament is to showcase to the nation that Bayelsa remains the number one state in the country having dominated the nation in the last National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to him, the South-South Veterans Table Tennis Championship and the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis competition has provided an opportunity to market the governor’s developmental programmes to the world, even as the state prepares to host the nation in 2028.
The South South Veterans Table Tennis championship will come to an end on November 30, while the 1st Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Championship will commence immediately to climax on December 1, 2025 at the Fortress.
