2018 Commonwealth Games Oshonaike to NTTF Boss: I’m not desperate for allowances

Nigeria’s longest serving woman table tennis player, Funke Oshonaike says the lure of allowances were not her motivation for clamouring for the inclusion of women in the contingent that will represent the country at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
The President of the Table Tennis Federation, Engr Tikon Ishiaku had insinuated that Oshonaike was whipping up sentiments in the wake of the federation’s exclusion of female players because of her desperation for allowances.
“It is very unfortunate that an athlete, because of the desperation of the allowance she wants to collect, will go about instigating people and whipping up sentiments. Going to the Commonwealth Games is not by qualification. It is the Federations that will select the teams that will give them medals.” Ishiaku stated in a press statement issued by the Sports Ministry last week.
In her response, the 42 year old ping pong veteran insisted that she was in the struggle for the young female table tennis players who have been denied the rare opportunity of getting the needed exposure at the global stage.
“I am never desperate for allowances. How much is the allowance? The last time I got was during the last Olympic Games in Brazil. I’ve been to five international competitions since then and I’ve not been given a dime! I have been made comfortable by my club and employers here in Germany.
“My passion as an athlete,is to play, play and play so that I can’t bring up the young ones with me. The joy of wearing your country’s national colours is second to none. If I was after money, I would have long opted to play for Germany or other countries that motivate their athletes very well, and pressured me to play for them. No, I chose to represent my country for decades. “Whether I brought honour or shame to my country is there for all and,of course, posterity to judge.The immediate past president Mr Enitan Oshodi gave all of us a sense of belonging. He treated us like his children. He took our problems on his shoulders. He gave us a reason to want to die for our country. He made us believe that we are still relevant and role modesl for the up and coming players. He made us give our 100%. Since he left, the body language now is that we are not welcome.
“To buttress my point, I funded my way to the Nigeria international last year. Spending huge sums of my personal money to honour the clarion call to serve my fatherland. We didn’t even get basic hotel accommodation. I had to come from my house to the stadium , a journey of hours, when the Lagos traffic was crazy. I had to later lodge in a hotel not far from stadium .Sometimes, I had to leave my car at home and climb bike to catch up with my training programmes. I was not given a dime and I did not complain. Now somebody is saying I am desperate for the allowance?
“I went for the African challenge and paid my way through, as well. Not a single dime subsidy or cushion was provided. I did not complain. Yet someone will say I am desperate for allowance?
I just represented Nigeria in the German open in Bremen,and funded myself to the tournament as well. Nobody from this board ever called to find out how we are coping. I don’t expect them to drain their resources to send to us just because we are serving our country, but a word or two of encouragement will do any magic. That will motivate any self funding athlete. I did not do all these for the desperation of allowances.
After reading the insult that I was desperate for the allowances, I cried profusely. I did not ever think that a day like this will come ,when my meritorious service to my fatherland will lead to me being insulted.
“When my children saw me crying, my first child asked me why I was crying. I told him nothing, but he calmly asked, “Mummy, is it Nigeria again”?. I told him not to worry.”