1991-SEPTEMBER SET RESUSCITATES TABLE TENNIS GAME IN GCI

The good old days of Government College Ibadan is gradually coming back to the fore, as 1991-September Set of GCIOBA rescued Table Tennis from oblivion in their Alma Mater.

While the School has continually gained overwhelming fame over time in outdoor games such as Cricket, Hockey and Soccer; the game of Table Tennis has now been resuscitated, courtesy of the 1991-September Set.

The Set started by refurbishing a Standard Table Tennis table for the senior school students as well as the acquisition of table tennis bats, eggs and nets; after which the Set, through its Sports Committee headed by Jide Awe went on to organize a Three-Day Interclass Table Tennis Competition for the senior school students. The Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Third-place and final matches took place on Wednesday, 31st March, 2021 at the School Assembly Hall.

Over 100 students participated in the qualifying stage, after which 32 students qualified for the Round of 16 stage. After the Round of 16 stage, 8 students, _(Phillips of SSS 1A, Lateef Farouq of SSS 1D, Badejo of SSS 2A, Otimoh of SSS 2G, Olalekan of SSS 1B, Salaudeen of SSS 1G, Oyelade of SSS 2A and Olagunju of SSS 2F)_ qualified for the Quarter finals. At the keenly contested quarter finals, Lateef Farouq of SSS 1D, Otimoh of SSS 2G, Saludeen of SSS 1G and Oyelade of SSS 2A defeated their respective opponents and proceeded to the Semi Finals stage. At the Semi Finals, Oyelade Abdulsamad of SSS 2A & Lateef Faruq of SSS 1D won their respective games and went on to slug it out with eachother at the Final, while the defeated Otimoh Tobilola of SSS 2G & Salaudeen of 1G slugged it out with eachother and Otimoh Tobiloba of SSS 2G emerged as the Third Best Table Tennis Player of Government College Ibadan. The final saw Oyelade Abdulsamad of SSS 2A and Lateef Farouq of SSS 1D emerged as the overall best Table Tennis player and second-best Table Tennis player respectively of Government College Ibadan.

Shortly before the final game, Sesan Ogunsanwo, a distinguished Grierson of the 1963 Set, who witnessed the competition from the Quarter finals to finals; appreciated God Almighty for the grace granted unto him to ably and gladly witness the resurrection of Table Tennis in GCI. The ancient Old Boy who was the Table Tennis Captain while at GCI as a student, and later the Captain of Western Region Table Tennis Team, pledged to partner with 1991 September Set to ensure that the ping pong game does not die again. He regarded the newly resuscitated indoor game as his baby project and earnestly urged the School Principal, Mr. Adewale who was in attendance alongside the two Junior School Principals and the Senior School Vice Principal - Administration, not to let the game go into oblivion again.

Sesan Ogunsanwo (1963) who represented Nigeria in Table Tennis at the All-African Games in Lagos in 1971; donated cash sums to the two finalists and presented the gift items to Oyelade Abdulsamad of SSS 2A - the overall best Table Tennis player of GCI.

The Table Tennis coaches, Mr. Lasisi, Mr. Amusan, and Mr. Azeez were also rewarded by the sponsoring Set.