Monrovia—In a generous act aimed at supporting youth skill development in Liberia, Nigerian table tennis veteran Mr. Adebiyi Adelani has donated a basket of tennis balls to the Liberia National Table Tennis Association (LNTTA).
By: A. Macaulay Sombai, [email protected]
The donation occurred earlier this week as part of Adelani’s commitment to enhancing the resources available to young athletes in the region.
Adelani, who is currently in Liberia for a contract job, shared his motivation for the donation, citing a lack of training equipment at the LNTTA headquarters. After playing locally in Nigeria and connecting with LNTTA officials through a friend, he decided to contribute not only tennis balls but also pledged to replace the facility’s light bulbs to improve their training environment.
“I have been training here for the past four months and noticed the need for training materials,” said Adelani. “I decided to help out because I believe in fostering young talent. This donation is just a starting point; I will continue to support tennis development in Liberia.”
He emphasized the importance of ongoing training for children aged seven to nine at the LNTTA, asserting that these programs are crucial for honing their skills and preparing them for local and international competition.
“The current training sessions are encouraging. They keep the youth focused and ready to perform well in both local and international competitions,” he added.
Jacob T. Cooper, Vice President for Technical Affairs at LNTTA, praised the donation as timely and significant.
He affirmed the association’s commitment to utilizing the new equipment to train passionate young players and expressed gratitude to the parents for their support. Cooper also urged parents to ensure their children arrive on time for their training sessions.
The donation marks a positive step towards enhancing the sport of table tennis in Liberia and nurturing the next generation of athletes.
