53
28 February, 2016
THE
Sunday Tribune
Fabio Lanipekun 08050498512 lanipekunfabio@yahoo.com
Rise and rise of Segun Toriola
Toriola: Symbol of enduring legacy
B
Y the time the Nigerian contingent arrived in Harare for the 1995 All Africa Games, there were two Toriola brothers whose performances were eagerly awaited. Professor Toriola had left the Nigerian shores to teach at the University of Zimbabwe and his commitment and knowledge of table tennis propelled him to head the all important technical committee of the table tennis tournament of the Games. The other Toriola was his youngest brother, Segun, who in 1992, had made his debut at the Barcelona Olympic Games. There are nine Toriola brothers with Ilorin background and all into table tennis, but not all as successful as 41-year-old Segun whose baptismal name is Moses. Last week Segun Toriola broke new grounds by becoming the first Nigerian, indeed, the first African, to feature in seven Olympics when the 2016 Games hold in Rio in August. Toriola debuted in Barcelona 1992, was at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 where he made it to the fourth round of the men’s singles. He was also at the London Games 2012 and will be looking forward to excel in Rio 2016. Why am I dwelling so much on table tennis? The answer is simple. Since organised table tennis began in Nigeria (Lagos) especially, in 1951, certain indisputable facts have emerged. The game is well entrenched in the south west than any other part of the country. Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states are clear leaders. Players brought up in Lagos have been more successful than others. Representing Nigeria at international tournaments has always been based on trial matches when players are picked after hectic round robin matches. Picking of players is strictly based on current form and on no other sentiments. Since Nigeria
have been playing international championships 95 per cent of players were from the south west, based purely on merit, as there is no room for federal character or quota system. Apart from Chinwuba in 1951, all the men’s single champions have all been born and bred in the south west and in the women’s category, Ethel Jacks resigned briefly before Lawunmi Majekodunmi took over in 1976. The story of Ethel Jacks and the Hathiramani’s Cup will interest readers. In those Nkrumah’s days in Ghana when sports was placed on a high pedestal, Ethel Jacks, born of Nigerian parents, but resident in Ghana, remained the West African women champion for several years and terrorised Nigerian women until Majekodunmi unseated her
in Cotonou in 1976. Thereafter Jacks relocated to her origin, Rivers State to strengthen the Nigerian squad. The Hathiramani’s Cup was donated by an Asian businessman resident in Ghana and who had been an ardent follower of the close rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana, especially in table tennis. The Cup was to be contested by men and the winner will walk away with the golden trophy. Space denies me of narrating the full story and we shall conclude the dramatic story of the Hathiramani’s Cup next week. Rounding off we should ask ourselves. If Nigeria had known of their natural strength in table tennis, why have we not been paying attention to the sports instead of concentrating on football, football, football?
SEGUN Moses Toriola, born on 18 September, 1974 in Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria is a Nigerian professional table tennis player. He is the youngest of nine brothers. Since 1995 he has been ranked as the best Nigerian player. He has been amongst the top table tennis players in Africa since the mid-1990s. Ranked number one in Africa from 1998 to June 2008, when Egyptian Eli Saleh Ahmed became the leading African table tennis player. However, since 2009, Toriola has again been the number one in Africa. Renowned for his unusual style of forehand play, which makes him an awkward opponent for many. Despite lacking good footwork has an excellent topspin, which has allowed him to pull off many upsets with top world players. During his career he has won multiple medals in international singles tournaments. Some of his important achievements are: *4 African Table Tennis Singles Championships (1998, 2002, 2004, 2006) and 2 Doubles Championships (1994, 1992). *A Commonwealth Singles Championship (2002) in Manchester (United Kingdom). *A Commonwealth Doubles Championship and Singles Bronze Medal (2006) in Melbourne (Australia). * 4 All-African Games Singles Gold Medals (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007), 4 doubles gold medals (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007), 1 Mixed doubles gold medal (1999, with Bose Kaffo; they also won silver in 2003) and 3 Team gold medals (1995, 1999, 2003). He represented Nigeria at six Summer Olympics debuting at Barcelona. His biggest achievement at the Olympics has been reaching the Men’s Singles 1/16 final at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, beating amongst others, former world number one Jean-Michel Saive as well as David Zhuang. His 1/32 matchup with Jean-Michel Saive was seen by many as one of the highlights of the Men’s Singles Tournament. He narrowly lost 4-3 to heavily favoured Oh Sang-Eun in the 1/16 final. His fifth Olympic appearance in 2008 made him the first Nigerian man to appear at five Olympics. This feat was achieved four years earlier by sprinter Mary Onyali and also in 2008 by fellow table tennis player Bose Kaffo. By the end of the 2008 Summer Olympics, only 13 table tennis players worldwide had appeared at least five Olympics. With his participation in 2012 Olympics in London he became the only Nigerian athlete to appear at six Olympics. He therefore joined João N’Tyamba of Angola and Maria Mutola of Mozambique as only third ever African athlete to compete in so many Summer Olympics.