Monday Oladele, a former Asoju Oba Table Tennis Champion, shares the compelling reasons for his decision to switch his allegiance from Nigeria to the Benin Republic.
In an exclusive interview with www.aclsport.com, Oladele disclosed that despite his impressive performances, he spent ten years representing Nigeria without ever participating in an international championship.
However, despite being ranked among Nigeria’s top players from 2000 to 2004, Oladele faced a frustrating cycle of close calls.
The Agege-born table tennis player credited his father with playing a crucial role in helping him obtain 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 bred in Agege, Lagos State, who played in the Cadet, Junior, and Senior categories. I was the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Cadet Champion, and Junior Doubles Champion (1990/91). I played in the Cocoa Cola Championship in Ilorin losing in the Semifinals (Singles) and Final (Doubles) in 1992 and 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 shares, underscoring the challenges he faced in a system that often overlooked talent without representation”, he told www.aclsports.com
“A pivotal moment arrived 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 dad understood my struggles; he provided me with the documents I needed to compete abroad. Upon returning 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 2004 African U21 Table Tennis Championship in Ghana marked a breakthrough while representing the Benin Republic, as I was named Best Player despite being eliminated in the semifinals.
“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 as I claimed victory in the 2004 Top 16 Table Tennis Championship, defeating prominent opponents like Seun Ajetumobi in the quarterfinal, Isiaka Aliu in the Semifinals, and Bode Kayode in the final; winning that championship was validation of 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 I was listed as a senior player for the Benin Republic at position 204, which was my highest ranking. However, I was removed from the camp at Adamasinga Stadium in Ibadan due to my status as a Benin Republic player, which solidified 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 Benin player.
“I won most of my doubles and mixed doubles national tournaments 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 recalls his time playing for Plateau State in the National Sports Festival.
The Espalion TT of France player shared, “I represented Plateau State from 1997 to 2002 as a contract staff, competing in the National Sports Festival throughout that time. In the 1998 festival held in Imo, I reached the finals in 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 semifinals of the doubles, finishing as a finalist with the men’s team, and exiting in the quarterfinals of the men’s singles against Tajudeen Salawu Jegede.
“In 2002, at the National Sports Festival in Edo State, I again reached the finals in the doubles but lost, while I made it to the semifinals in both the men’s singles, where I was defeated by Seun Ajetumobi, and the mixed doubles. This was my journey at the National Sports Festival before I relocated to the Benin Republic.”
Monday Oladele was awarded the 2022/23 Best Player of the Year by the Benin Republic Table Tennis Federation.
