Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association To Commence Rehabilitation Of Table Tennis Court

***While Preparation For Forthcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State To Commence Subsequently

The Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association (BYSTTA) is set to renovate the Table Tennis Hall within the Bayelsa State Sports Complex.

According to the chairman Bayelsa State Table Tennis and South South Zonal Representative on the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Mr. Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade, The renovation will span a minimum of two weeks, during which the association plans to execute several upgrades to enhance the hall’s utility, compliance with international standards, and overall functionality for
athletes.

In a statement signed by Mr. Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade notes that The renovations will give athletes the opportunity to have access to facilities online with international standards which will give them equal advantages with their peers when they compete in the National sports festival in OGUN state and in other competitions to come.

“The statement reads further.
1. Padding the Walls with Finished Wood. This will help address the recurring issue
of wall-stains, which currently necessitates repainting every six months. The use of finished wood will offer a more durable and aesthetically pleasing solution, reducing maintenance costs.

2. Installation of Solar Power. We plan to install a solar power system to ensure a consistent and reliable power supply. This will allow our athletes to train for extended hours, especially during low visibility, without interruptions due to
power outages.

3. Covering the floor of the hall with NTTF/ITTF high-performance 4.5mm-thick
flooring. The floor in the hall will be covered using specialized table tennis flooring of 4.5mm thickness to align the facility with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) standards.
This upgrade will ensure our athletes train under optimal conditions similar to
international competitions.

4. Replacement of the Hall’s Entrance Gate. We will install a new, more secure entrance gate to safeguard upgraded facilities, including ITTF-approved tables and other equipment.

Upon the completion of these renovations, I will be personally donating a STAGAmericas-16 Tournament ITTF-approved table to be used in the hall to ensure that our athletes have access to standard and compliant tables. This donation will significantly improve the quality of training, helping to better prepare our athletes for future national and international competitions”

“Additionally, immediately after the renovation, our athletes will commence camping in preparation for the upcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Because of the existing dimensions, the hall, upon completion of the renovation, will be dedicated to our cadets, junior, under-17, para, and deaf athletes. Our senior athletes will continue their preparations at the newly constructed hall (The Fortress), located on Oxbowlake Road, which will be ready by December 2024”

The chairman Bayelsa State Table Tennis and South South Zonal Representative in the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Mr. Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade affirms that the renovation of the Table Tennis Hall is critical for creating an environment conducive to the development of athletes, particularly those in the cadets, junior, under-17, para, and deaf categories. He expressed the readiness of BYSTTA to begin work immediately and
ensure that the hall is transformed into a modern training facility in line with the associations commitment to elevating the standard of sports in the State.

Mr Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade said upon reopening the hall (after the renovations), the association will hold a welcome back ceremony for two of its coaches whom the BYSTTA sent to obtain NIS Certification in preparation for ITTF Certification, which is strategic as it will enable
Bayelsa State to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other states in the federation and
internationally regarding qualified coaches.