PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Chairman of the Rivers State Teqball Association, Halim Zaccah, has said the sport has vast potential to grow nationwide if it receives adequate funding and institutional support.
Zaccah made the assertion on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during an interview with journalists, noting that Teqball’s structure aligns naturally with Nigeria’s strong football culture.
Introduced into Nigeria in 2018 by the Hungarian Embassy in Nigeria, Teqball combines elements of football and table tennis. Zaccah said the hybrid nature of the sport makes it attractive to Nigerian youths and capable of rapid expansion.
“Nigerians love football and we have great footballers. Teqball is a branch of football, and with the right support, it can grow rapidly in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the association has already groomed many young players across the country, adding that the sport is now played in more than 30 states of the federation.
Zaccah disclosed that Teqball, which previously featured as a demonstration sport at the National Sports Festival, would be a full medal event at the next edition scheduled to hold in Enugu State.
He said Rivers State has made significant strides in grassroots development, with players recruited from secondary schools and tertiary institutions, noting that the state currently dominates the women’s category at national Teqball competitions.
The association chairman commended the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, for his support, and also praised the association’s patron, Paul Ngwaba, for his consistent encouragement and guidance.
