The Nigerian-born table tennis star reveals why he chose to represent the Republic of Benin

By Tosin Omojola

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

In an exclusive interview, Oladele revealed that despite his impressive performances over a decade representing Nigeria, he never had the opportunity to participate in an international championship. Despite being one of Nigeria's top players from 2000 to 2004, he suffered a frustrating cycle of close calls and missed opportunities.

Born in Agege, Lagos State, Oladele credited his father with playing a crucial role in obtaining the necessary paperwork to compete internationally. I started representing the Benin Republic Table Tennis Team in 2004. I was a former Nigerian player and had competed in the Cadet, Junior and Senior categories.

I was Asoju Oba Table Tennis Cadet Champion and Junior Doubles Champion in 1990/91. “I also participated in the Coca-Cola Championship in Ilorin where I reached the semi-finals in singles and finals in doubles in 1992,” he recalled.

Whenever there was a national camp, I was invited, but dropped at the last minute. It felt like I was invisible, he said, underscoring the challenges of a system that often overlooks talent.

A pivotal moment came in 2004 when Oladele 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. He understood my problems and provided me with the documents 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 African U-21 Table Tennis Championship in Ghana in 2004.

Oladele's performance at the championship marked the start of his international career. Despite being eliminated in the semi-finals, I was named Best Player, which opened the door to my first international competition: the 2004 World Championship in Canada, a dream come true for me.

His success continued as he claimed victory at the 2004 Top 16 Table Tennis Championship, defeating prominent opponents such as Seun Ajetumobi, Isiaka Aliu and Bode Kayode. Winning that championship was a testament to my hard work and perseverance, he said.

In 2004, the national coach invited him to the Commonwealth Games camp, where players were selected based on world rankings. When the rankings were released, Oladele was listed as a senior player for the Republic of Benin at position 204, his highest ranking.

However, he was removed from the camp at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan due to his status as a Beninese Republic player, which cemented his decision to represent that country. I had to choose: continue playing for Nigeria, where I was overlooked, or embrace my identity as a Benin player, he explained.

Oladele reflected on his performances in the national doubles and mixed doubles tournaments, where he teamed up with notable players like Idiyat, Dave Idioka, Yomi Olufoye, Gbenga Kayode and Ibrahim Adams. His passion for table tennis remained unwavering as he reminisced about his time playing for Plateau State at the National Sports Festival.

I represented Plateau State from 1997 to 2002 as a contract player 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 festival in Bauchi, I faced tough competition, losing in the doubles semi-finals while finishing as a finalist in the men's team. I was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the men's singles by 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 and mixed doubles, he shared.

Today, Monday Oladele has been recognized for his contributions to table tennis after he was named the Best Player of the Year 2022/23 by the Benin Republic Table Tennis Federation.

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