The rapturous applause that attended his exit from the Table Tennis event of the Rio Olympics could have been mistaken for a victorious ovation.
Nigeria’s legendary table tennis icon, Segun Toriola, exited the Rio Games but held his head high the way only legends do.
Toriola’s conqueror in the men’s singles of the table tennis event, Japan’s Niwa Koki, joined in acknowledging the iconic star, who raised his hands to return the sporadic applause.
Not long after his defeat, Toriola, who made history by joining the elite stars’ club of players to have attended seven Olympics, turned out to be the beautiful bride sought after by many countries to sign as their coach.
“Countries are queuing to see who will out-bid each other to land Toriola as coach,” a very dependable source said in Rio.
Interestingly, too, Nigeria is also desirous of landing the history maker as their coach.
The President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Enitan Oshodi, said they have always been interested and would want to concretise the deal, noting, however, that Toriola was still much fit to continue with his club functions.
Oshodi said: “He’ll be an asset and has always been to our younger athletes.
“We’ll see how to make it even if it means living abroad and coaching from there as it were.
“The young man deserves all the accolades he gets.
“That is the result of discipline and hard work.
“And honestly, they are the things lacking in our youth players.
“They are in a hurry to ride expensive cars without working for it.”
Just as the International Table Tennis Federation plan to honour his historic 7th Olympic appearance, there are feelers that officials of Team Nigeria are also planning to roll out the red carpet to this eminent Nigerian Ping Ponger.
