Por CBTM
Africans teaching Africans has always been one of the aims of the ITTF Development Program. Not only to educate their coaches but to produce quality Course Conductors to assist Africa in becoming more self-sufficient.
Olympic Solidarity Course
"Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day. Teach him how to fish he'll eat forever".
With this background, French educated, Kaka LAWSON of Togo, conducted the Olympic Solidarity Course in Dakar, Senegal in December 2005.
Impressed
"The efforts of Kaka LAWSON were well appreciated by the participants, the Senegal Table Tennis Federation and the Senegal National Olympic Committee", commented the dynamic Senegal Table Tennis Federation President, Balla LO who was very impressed with the course.
"The greatest problem of Senegal table tennis is the lack of coaching at any level; today, we think and hope that this problem has a very good solution", he continued. "We know that there is a large room of improvement, a lot of work to be done by the participants, but, their motivation and interest on what they have learnt, gives a big hope for the future of table tennis in Senegal; the course was practical and simple and the participants have the feeling that they understand now what school boys/girls, beginners are wanting from them".
Kaka's view on the present
Senegal is situated in West Africa. Dakar, the capital, is one of the important cities in Africa.
Table tennis appeared in Senegal in 1946, with French citizens being based in Dakar following the colonization. The Senegal Table Tennis Federation was formed in 1968.
The National Team has taken part in many world and international competitions. Senegal has twice organized the African Championships (1980 and 2003); the number one player of the country, Momamed GUEYE, was one of the eightplayers who represented Africa in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. He is currently playing in Levallois, France.
Kaka's view for the future
The other national players are not bad also with six or eight of them a good level but they are getting old, the Federation needs to do basic work with the young girls and boys, this is the principal resolution of the chairman, Balla LO.
The National Federation have four regional leagues, with three hundred and fifty players. Apart from Dakar, some leagues (THIES and KAOLACK) have many problems with venues and table tennis equipment.
The new members of the federation are old players, their goal is to introduce table tennis in all schools and villages, and to develop table tennis in the whole country. The ITTF Level 1 Course in Dakar is a very good opportunity for them to solve the problem of coaches they need for their leagues, clubs and schools.
The challenge for Senegal is now to build on this promising foundation.
Source: www.ittf.com
