by Ian Marshall, Editor
Quadri Aruna is named alongside Egypt’s Omar Assar, Ahmed Ali Saleh and Ahmed Nadim in the team supported by ENPPI, a multi-national petroleum company with offices worldwide, including Cairo and Alexandria.
In previous years, the event first staged in 2005, Omar Assar and Ahmed Ali Saleh have respectively represented the Al-Ahly and Zamalek clubs, each winners on three occasions, neither club competes in the men’s events this year.
However, Al-Ahly, four times the women’s champions, including the most recent three occasions, compete. Moreover, in their line-up there is a name to note. Romania’s Elizabeta Samara joins forces with Dina Meshref, Yousra Helmy, Mariam Alhodaby and Marwa Alhodaby.
The two day event is followed immediately by the three day ITTF Africa Cup; a two day break and the 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open begins, play concluding on Sunday 11th August.
Most certainly Khaled El-Salhy, the President of the African Table Tennis Federation, is eagerly looking forward to the action.
“The tournament is a good test for the African players and a good preparation for the main event, the ITTF Africa Cup, which is a qualifying event for ITTF World Cups. We have a good number of entries and I hope the ITTF can consider staging a World Club Championships in which the champion of Africa can compete with the champions of others continent.” Khaled El-Salhy
A thought from Khaled El-Salhy; in 1999 a World Club Championships for men was held in Shanghai, the following year for women in Tangsha. In 2001 in Macao events were held for both men’s and women’s club teams; since that date the competition has not been staged.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, both ENPPI and Al Ahly commence matters as the top seeds. Next in line in the men’s team event is Nigeria’s Soj Club represented by David Faleye, Azeez Jamiu, Hurudeen Hassan, Jida Ogidoiulu and Ojadide Omotayo.
Winners in 2011 in Rabat, Cannan Queen occupy the no.2 seeded position in the women’s competition; they will be represented by Offiong Edem, Cecilia Akpan, Ganiyat Aruna and Vivian Oku.
2019 Africa Club Championships: Seeding (Thursday 1st August)
2019 Africa Club Championships: Former Winners (2005 – 2017)