…As Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association Unveils Foreign Coach and Festival Squad…
It was a joyous moment as stakeholders in the sports sector from across the country converged on Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, to inaugurate a world-class, ultra-modern table tennis facility—the “Coastal Fortress.”
The Coastal Fortress is a state-of-the-art facility built by Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow, the chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, to provide table tennis players with proper preparation for tournaments.
Inaugurating the impressive edifice, Governor Douye Diri—accompanied by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and other political appointees—remarked that the initiator of the project, Mr. Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow, has written his name in gold, describing the event as a momentous occasion.
He noted that sports development remains one of the key pillars of his administration’s “ASSURED” Prosperity programme, maintaining that sports is one avenue that can positively steer youths away from crime and criminality.
According to the state helmsman, sports have given youths in the state a means of livelihood beyond education, asserting that mastering a sport has ensured that many young people around the world become self-reliant.
He added that Team Nigeria’s brilliant performance at the recently concluded African Senior Wrestling Championship in Casablanca, Morocco, was a reflection of the significant investment in sports development—highlighting that wrestling remains a sport in which Bayelsa enjoys a comparative advantage.
While appreciating the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association chairman for his investment in table tennis, Governor Diri asserted that Mr. Stow has eased the pressure on the government, urging other well-meaning Bayelsans to also invest in sports development.
Governor Diri further announced the appointment of the South-South representative of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Sports and Table Tennis, describing him as a role model for the younger generation.
“As you know, sports development is one of the key pillars of our Assured Prosperity programme. Sports is one area we can utilize to steer our youths away from crime and criminality,” he stated.
“For me, it brings great pleasure to be here and witness what this young man has accomplished. I believe this facility will be immensely beneficial to the people of Bayelsa State and Nigeria,” Governor Diri added.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Bukola Olapade—represented by the Special Adviser on Sports to the DG, Mr. Ebidowei Oweifie—remarked that the event was a testament to the Governor’s unwavering passion for sports development.
Earlier, Commissioner for Sports Development Dr. Daniel Igali noted that sports development would be incomplete without quality facilities, emphasizing that Mr. Stow’s initiative has uplifted the spirit of the government.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Mr. Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow, reflected on his journey in table tennis, which began in 2018 when he served as Vice Chairman under former Director of Sports Chief Patimidi Tukuru.
He explained that the Fortress is not merely a personal venture but a contribution to the sporting future of Bayelsa State. The facility is designed to bridge the gap between children from poor and wealthy backgrounds, ensuring that every athlete is treated with equal opportunity, regardless of their background.
The NTTF South-South representative noted that the facility is equipped with a range of modern amenities to support both training and comfort, including two restaurants, a chairman’s office, a reception area, sports lounges, separate changing rooms for athletes, and four additional conveniences.
In separate goodwill messages, Senator Benson Agadaga, the Senator representing Bayelsa East who also serves as chairman of the occasion, and Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Honourable Tare Porri, applauded the visionary Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow for complementing the government’s efforts, adding that the facility would keep young people in the state actively engaged.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the foreign coach, Luciano Esposito from Italy, in addition to the presentation of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Team—who will be representing the state at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
