T/Tennis: Why I switched from Nigeria to Benin Republic Oladele

On Monday, Oladele, a former Asoju Oba table tennis champion, shared the compelling reasons for his decision to switch his allegiance from Nigeria to the Republic of Benin.

In an exclusive interview with www.aclsport.comOladele revealed that despite his impressive performances, he represented Nigeria for 10 years without ever participating in an international championship.

Despite being among Nigeria's top players from 2000 to 2004, Oladele suffered a frustrating cycle of close calls.

The Agege-born table tennis player credited his father with playing a crucial role in obtaining the necessary paperwork to participate in his first international championship.

The Zone 3 West African Champion said I started representing the Benin Republic Table Tennis Team in 2004. I was a former Nigerian player, born and raised in Agege, Lagos State, and played in the Cadet, Junior and Senior categories. I was Asoju Oba Table Tennis Cadet Champion and Junior Doubles Champion (1990/91). I played in the Cocoa Cola Championship in Ilorin, losing in the semi-finals (singles) and finals (doubles) in 1992 and was a notable national player in Nigeria.

Whenever there was a national camp, I was invited, but dropped at the last minute. It felt like I was invisible, he says, underscoring the challenges he faced in a system that often overlooked talent without representation, he told www.aclsports.com

A pivotal moment came in 2004 when I received an unexpected invitation from the Benin Republic Table Tennis Federation. I saw it as a lifeline. I left training at the National Stadium in Lagos and embraced the opportunity with the support of my father.

My father understood my struggles; he provided me with the documents I needed to compete abroad. When I returned to Cotonou, I presented the documents to the former president of the federation, which allowed me to participate in the 2004 African U21 Table Tennis Championship in Ghana.

Oladele revealed that his performance at the 2004 African U21 Table Tennis Championship in Ghana marked the beginning of his international career.

My performance at the African U21 Table Tennis Championship in Ghana in 2004 was a breakthrough while representing the Republic of Benin as I was named the best player despite being knocked out in the semi-finals.

That tournament opened the door for my first international competition. This led to his participation in the 2004 World Championship in Canada, a dream come true for me.

My success continued when I emerged victorious in the 2004 Top 16 Table Tennis Championship, defeating prominent opponents such as Seun Ajetumobi in the quarter-finals, Isiaka Aliu in the semi-finals and Bode Kayode in the finals; Winning that championship was a testament to my hard work and perseverance.

The national coach invited me to the 2006 Commonwealth Games camp in 2004, where players were selected based on their world rankings. When the rankings were released, I discovered that as a senior player for the Republic of Benin, I was ranked 204, which was my highest ranking. However, I was removed from the camp at the Adamasinga Stadium in Ibadan due to my status as a Benin Republic player which cemented my decision to represent that great country.

I had to decide: I could continue playing for Nigeria, where I was overlooked, or embrace my identity as a player from Benin.

“I won most of my national tournaments in doubles and mixed doubles with Idiyat (Mixed Doubles), Dave Idioka (Doubles), Yomi Olufoye (Doubles), Gbenga Kayode (Doubles) and Ibrahim Adams), he reflects.

His passion for table tennis remained unwavering and he fondly remembers his time playing for Plateau State at the National Sports Festival.

The Espalion TT of France player shared, I represented Plateau State from 1997 to 2002 as contract staff and participated in the National Sports Festival during that time. At the 1998 festival in Imo I reached the finals of the Men's Team, Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.

During the 2000 National Sports Festival in Bauchi, I faced tough competition, losing in the doubles semi-finals, finishing as a finalist in the men's team and playing in the men's singles quarter-finals against Tajudeen Salawu Jegede.

In 2002, at the National Sports Festival in Edo State, I again reached the finals in doubles but lost, while I reached the semi-finals in both men's singles, where I was defeated by Seun Ajetumobi, and mixed doubles. This was my journey at the National Sports Festival before moving to the Republic of Benin.

On Monday, Oladele was named the Best Player of the Year 2022/23 by the Benin Republic Table Tennis Federation.