Canaan Table Tennis Boss Pays School Fees For 24 Players In Cross River

While most association chairmen focus only on medals, the Chairman of Canaan Table Tennis Club and Cross River State Table Tennis Association, Orok Otu Duke, is investing is investing more on the athletes.

This he demonstrated by clearing the school fees of 24 table tennis players across the state, in a move aimed at ensuring sporting talent does not kill academic pursuit.

The breakdown shows that 6 primary school pupils, 13 secondary school students, 2 undergraduates in higher institutions, and 3 candidates awaiting their JAMB results all benefited from the scholarship.

Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Lawrence Etta, who lauded the intervention, said Duke has redefined what athlete welfare should be.

According to Etta, Duke has made the payment of players fees a consistent commitment, not a one-off show. He called on other association chairmen to copy the template, stressing that athletes must be encouraged to combine books and balls.

Etta also listed Duke's other contributions to include installation of solar lights at the stadium, pledging his backing for Duke's continued leadership of the table tennis association.

Duke charged the athletes to pay back with good results which he said will encourage him to do more.

He emphasized that the gesture was to give them a platform to grow both in education and on the table, urging them to double their efforts.

Citing national stars like Offiong Edem, Adam and Cecilia who rose from humble backgrounds through hard work, Duke challenged the young players to aim for national and global recognition and make Cross River proud.

He assured them that their monthly stipends will continue alongside the educational support, but insisted he wants to see champions emerge from the group, both in class and in competitions.