Segun Toriola: Nigeria’s unsung hero

Unfortunately, his name may not ring a bell as much as those of former athletes like Mary Onyali -Omagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya Osheku, Chioma Ajunwa, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo or George Finidi. The reason for this seeming ‘obscurity’ is not far -fetched. He is from a lesser followed sport in Nigeria. Toriola is the first […]

Unfortunately, his name may not ring a bell as much as those of former athletes like Mary Onyali -Omagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya Osheku, Chioma Ajunwa, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo or George Finidi. The reason for this seeming ‘obscurity’ is not far -fetched. He is from a lesser followed sport in Nigeria.

Toriola is the first Nigerian male athlete to feature at five Olympic Games, a feat that was achieved four years earlier by his fellow ping-pong star, Bose Koffo and former African Queen of the track, Mary Onyali Omagbemi at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. By the end of the 2008 Summer Olympics, only thirteen table tennis players worldwide had appeared at least five Olympics.

On the continent, he has won virtually everything that is to be won in table tennis but he is still counting. Maputo Games therefore provides another opportunity to add something to his already bulging silverwares cabinet. His is going to be the nation’s torch-bearer at least in tennis in Maputo as it is said his presence alone will inspire confidence in the rest members of the team.

Toriola a France based professional player, will lead four other top players selected for the games. They include two other France based compatriots Monday Meroutoun and Kassim Nasiru and Portugal based Quadri Haruna and Segun Ajetumobi to complete the five-man male team.

Apart from Toriola, the table tennis team will bank on the presence of German Funke Oshinaike who will lead a team of five women which includes Udem Effiong, Cecelia Otu Akpan, Janet Friday and Hussain Halima to make up a team of 10 table tennis players for the Games in Maputo.

Toriola, born 18 September 1974 in Ilorin, Kwara has been ranked as the best Nigerian tennis player since 1995. He has been amongst the top table tennis players in Africa since the mid 1990s. Ranked number 1 in Africa from 1998 to June 2008, when Egyptian Eli Saleh Ahmed became the leading African table tennis player. However, since 2009, Toriola has again been the number 1 in Africa. He is renowned for his unusual style of forehand play, which makes him an awkward opponent for many. Despite lacking good footwork has an excellent topspin, which has allowed him to pull off many upsets with top world players.

During his career he has won multiple medals in international singles tournaments. Some of his important achievements are:

4 African Table Tennis Singles Championships (1998, 2002, 2004, 2006) and 2 Doubles Championships (1994,1992)

A Commonwealth Singles Championship (2002) in Manchester (United Kingdom)

A Commonwealth Doubles Championship and Singles Bronze Medal (2006) in Melbourne (Australia)

4 All-African Games Singles Gold Medals (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007), 4 Doubles Gold Medals (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007),1 Mixed Doubles Gold Medal (1999, with Bose Kaffo; they also won silver in 2003 and 3 Team Gold Medals (1995, 1999, 2003).

He represented Nigeria at five Summer Olympics debuting at Barcelona. His biggest achievement at the Olympics has been reaching the Men’s Singles 1/8 final at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, beating amongst others former world number 1 Jean-Michel Saive as well as David Zhuang. His 1/16 match-up with Jean-Michel Saive was seen by many as one of the highlights of the Men’s Singles Tournament. He narrowly lost 4-3 to favoured Oh Sang-Eun in the 1/8 final.

From the foregoing, there is every need to celebrate this international athlete of uncommon character and talent. He has truly put the name of the country on the world map but is yet to attract the kind of attention he deserves.

Even as he is yet to win an Olympic Games medal, the former Commonwealth Champion is still full of energy and topspins that can take him to yet another Olympics in 2012. Invariably, the history of the game in Nigeria and the continent of Africa would remain incomplete without a mention of his name. Segun Moses Toriola is clearly one of Africa’s best table tennis players and deserves to be celebrated.