INDONEWSIAN.COM – Reigning national champion Muiz Adegoke will renew his rivalry with former champion Matthew Kuti as he seeks to defend his status as the 3rd Daniel Ford Elite Youth Table Tennis tournament serves off today, December 19.
The tournament will witness actions from 16 players drawn into four groups with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
The fixture features both the U-19 and U-15 categories in the boys’ and girls’ divisions slugging it out at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Recently, Adegoke has been in blistering form winning the maiden Governor Diri Top 16 Cup in Bayelsa and adding another title at a Lagos club tournament featuring some of Nigeria’s finest players.
He defeated Kuti 4-0 at the Bayelsa tournament. However, his record at the Daniel Ford tournament has been mixed-finishing in the top four at the maiden edition in 2023 but failing to progress from the group stage in 2024.
With his current momentum, he is determined to finally etch his name among the title holders of this prestigious youth competition.
Kuti, once hailed as the next big star in Nigerian table tennis, has struggled recently.
He suffered defeat at a recent Lagos club event. He must rediscover his spark if he hopes to reclaim the title he lost to Fatai Abdulfatai in 2024.
The tournament defending champion Abdulfatai, a left-handed player from Kwara, has also endured a rough patch, bowing out early in several competitions.
To retain his national team place and defend his crown, he will need to summon his best form when it matters most. ***
