INTERVIEW: Concentration on football will kill Nigerian sports, says Toriola

Nigerian Table Tennis legend Segun Toriola says the country’s over-reliance on football will kill the growth of other sports unless the sports authorities get their priorities right.

Toriola, who was honoured by the World Table Tennis Federation for his exemplary role for decades as well as his seventh appearance at the Olympic Games, spoke with TheCable on his career successes and the challenges he had to confront and overcome. He revealed that Nigerian sports authorities did not appreciate him as a person in spite of his multiple achievements, as they looked down on other sports.

INDUCTION TO WORLD TENNIS HALL OF FAME

I am so happy for the 7 club recognition award from the ITTF and it is also good for Nigerian and African players. ‎I believe all the players in Nigeria will now love to play at seven Olympics games, too.

RECORD 7 OLYMPIC GAMES APPEARANCE

Playing at the Olympic games makes athletes feel good; great, in fact. It is the number one sports event in the world so for having been able to have participated in seven Olympics, it makes me feel very happy.

My first Olympics was Barcelona 1992. It was a big surprise because I was in the same team with our ex stars like Atanda Musa, Late Yomi Bakonle, and Sule Olaleye. They were all senior players and I was the only junior player in the team‎. It was an awesome experience for me.

SHOCK EARLY RIO OLYMPIC GAMES LOSS

‎I really tried my best but I can say luck was not on my side

MOST PRECIOUS LAUREL WON

‎All laurels I won mean the same to me. There are no achievements more special than others because it is not easy for me to have won any of them.

CONSTANTLY AWAY FROM HOME AND FAMILY

‎My family understands the intricacies of my kind of job and I always try my best to spend time with them whenever I am home.

COACHING OFFERS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES

‎Yes, it is true that I have multiple offers from other Countries in Africa but I did not sign any contract with any of those countries as I am remaining with Nigeria in different roles. I have not signed anything with any country. And about Nigeria offering anything, the answer is no because Nigeria does not really care about their stars. For example the IOC/ ITTF recognised me for my seven Olympics participation but Nigeria has done nothing. Just my federation that recognised me.

HAS NIGERIA BEEN FAIR TO SEGUN TORIOLA?

‎No, definitely! Nigeria has not been fair to me, they are not. Only my federation is fair to me and let me tell you, you cannot get rich playing for Nigeria. That is why our sportsmen and women keep traveling out for their professional career or nationalizing to another country.

CONCENTRATION ON FOOTBALL IN NIGERIA

‎It is very bad that football gets all the priority in Nigeria; it is the reason why Nigerian sports is going down and down every year. They only concentrate on football alone. The government has to start taking care of other sports before it is too late.

RETURNING TABLE TENNIS TO GLORIOUS DAYS

‎Yes. Nigeria has athletes; Aruna Quadri is one of them, but the problem is that for now Nigeria has just two or three players that can do that. And that is not good for our table tennis.

TORIOLA’S ACHIEVEMENTS

All-Africa Games
Gold medal – first place 1995 Harare Singles
Gold medal – first place 1995 Harare Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1995 Harare Team
Gold medal – first place 1999 Johannesburg Singles
Gold medal – first place 1999 Johannesburg Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1999 Johannesburg Mixed Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1999 Johannesburg Team
Gold medal – first place 2003 Abuja Singles
Gold medal – first place 2003 Abuja Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2003 Abuja Team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Algiers Singles
Gold medal – first place 2007 Algiers Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2011 Maputo Mixed Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2003 Abuja Mixed Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2007 Algiers Team
Silver medal – second place 2011 Maputo Team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Maputo Doubles
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Manchester Singles
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Manchester Team
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Melbourne Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Melbourne Team

African Championships
Gold medal – first place 1992 Lagos Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1992 Lagos Mixed Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1992 Lagos Team
Gold medal – first place 1994 Cairo Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1994 Cairo Team
Gold medal – first place 1998 Port Louis Singles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Bizerte Singles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Bizerte Mixed Doubles
Silver medal – second place 1992 Lagos Singles
Silver medal – second place 1994 Cairo Singles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Bizerte Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Bizerte Team
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Port Louis Doubles