Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun will tomorrow continue their quest for success in the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) Champions League as the Nigerians line up for Sporting of Portugal in their bid for first away win against France’s AS Pontoise Cergy.
Having played three matches so far in the league with two away loss and one home win, the Portuguese giant led by Quadri and Abiodun will be hoping for a victory to restore their qualification ambition from Group A which has defending champion – Germany’s Borussia Dusseldorf, Czech Republic’s TTC Ostrava 2016 and Frecn champion – AS Pontoise Cergy.
From the three matches played so far in the group, Sporting has four points to occupy third place while Borussia Dusseldorf tops the group with six points while AS Pontoise Cergy is second with five points. The Czech team is fourth with three points.
Already in France for the epic tie, Quadri told NationSport yesterday that they are eager to turn the tide around by ensuring that they restore their ambition in the lucrative league. “I must tell you that all the teams in the group are capable of advancing to the quarterfinal of the tournament but you have to be at your best. We
tried our best in previous matches but we were most times unlucky to have lost some matches. But we are bent on getting back to winning ways as we will be playing away to French and former Champions League champion tomorrow.”
He however admitted that the team misses the service of their captain – Jaoa Monteiro who is at present nursing a back injury which might rule him out for this season.
After three rounds of matches this season, top three seeds continue unbeaten, reigning champion and record holder with 11 titles Germany’s Borussia Dusseldorf, four-time winner Russia’s Fakel Gazprom Orenburg and 2011/12 runner-up Russia’s TTSC UMMC.