NTF, Sports Veterans Mourn Okoya-Thomas
The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), has described the death of Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas as a huge loss to sports worldwide.
In a tribute to the sport philanthropist and socialite, NTF President, Sani Ndanusa, said; “It is with very heavy hearts and unspeakable sorrow that the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) received the news of the demise of our lovable and very enthusiastic tennis patron – Chief Molade Okoya- Thomas (MFR) – which occurred on the 1st of February in Lagos at age 79.”
Ndanusa said the passing on of the distinguished sponsor and fund raiser was a huge loss not only to the tennis community nationally and internationally but to the entire sports world.
“Chief Okoya-Thomas was the face of the NTF in the major international tennis competitions like the Wimbledon, the US Open and the French Open which he attended consistently and passionately up to the end of 2014. He was a truly consummate sports and business ambassador of Nigeria,” Ndanusa pointed.
Ndanusa, a former sports minister noted that as president of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Okoya-Thomas prevailed on his uncle, Chief Ajisomo Alabi (Lord Rumens), to not only continue the sponsorship of the Lord Rumens Classics that brought former world stars like Thomas Muster, Jacob Hlasek and Paul Haarhuis to Lagos but to take it to a higher level.
“We are, however, consoled by the fact that he has left huge footprints in the sands of time and his work here on earth has been acknowledged by presidents and young sports men and women all over the world.
Also, Association of Sports Veterans Nigeria (ASVN) led by Chief Jonathan Ogufere, said yesterday that the death of Okoya-Thomas was still sending shock waves within the Nigerian sporting fraternity.
The former President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) and board member of the Nigeria Football Association said in a statement that his association“is still in shock over the death of our patron. I will be lying to you if I say we have come to terms with the reality of his death. No we have not,” he noted.
“At the last Asoju Oba Cup, the 47th in the series, we the Veterans as usual were given a pride of place and we did not for a second have any inkling that that was the last we will see of him. He was a unique Nigerian, detribalised, selfless and a born philanthropist who used God’s blessing to enrich mankind.
“At the youthful age of 32 he established the Asoju Oba Annual Table Tennis Tournament, as the sole financier and sponsor, one that ran uninterrupted for 47 years as his own contribution to creatively engage the youth. Today the competition is the longest running in Africa and one of its kind in the world.
“There is no table tennis player in this country today that has not stepped on the Asoju Oba to stardom. It is instructive that he has always seized every opportunity to say that the event will outlive him.”