The Nigeria Deaf Table Tennis Association (NDTTA), says corporate sponsorship of events will complement the National Sports Commission?s (NSC) efforts in uplifting the association.
NDTTA Secretary David Oladeji said in Lagos on Wednesday that NDTTA, under the Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF), was enjoying a favourable rapport with the NSC.
Oladeji said that the NSC was trying its best for the NDSF, noting that support from corporate and spirited individuals would boost activities in both the NDSF and the NDTTA.
According to him, the NSC is sponsoring three teams in the NDSF, comprising athletics, football and table tennis, for the Deaflympics Games in Bulgaria in July.
He, however, said that corporate bodies could complement the NSC?s support in the area of sponsoring national and international championships, seminars, workshops and courses for the federation.
“Some of these deaf and special athletes are very talented, so, we should look beyond their disability.
“At least, it was the special athletes that did Nigeria proud at the last Paralympics in London 2012.
“What the able-bodied athletes could not do, the special athletes proved otherwise.
“These deaf players are good, but they need the support of sponsors and well-meaning Nigerians to develop their skills,?? he said.
He noted that for the deaf players to improve, there should be regular national and international training tours, saying this was where corporate bodies and spirited individuals could assist.
“Constant training without competitions to show-case their skills will be a futile exercise, but if we can boast of at least two big corporate bodies sponsorship in a year, then the sky will be the limit,?? he said.
Oladeji, who commended the special athletes for their undaunted interest in sports, said he was confident that they could make a livelihood without begging on the streets.
Adegboyega Adenuga, a coach and a sign-language interpreter, said it was interesting to interact with the athletes, especially when the sign language was understood.
Adenuga, who said he enjoyed working with the players, also appealed to sponsors to identify with the sport. .
“I have been working with these special athletes for a while, I was formerly with special athletes in athletics before I came to deaf table tennis and I know that most of them are talented.
“Few of them are still raw talents discovered at the 18th National Sports Festival last year in Lagos, they have yet to participate in international events.
“So how will they develop if they cannot compare their skills with their international counterparts?
“However, I want to appreciate the NSC for making sure that some of them will attend the Deaflympics Games in Bulgaria.
“Government cannot do it alone, so, I am appealing to corporate bodies to assist,?? he said.
