Tennis star Monday Oladele Explains Why He Switched from Nigeria to Benin RepublicT
Monday Oladele, a former Asoju Oba Table Tennis Champion, has revealed why he decided to leave Nigeria and represent the Benin Republic in international competitions.
In an interview with aclsports.com, Oladele shared that despite being one of Nigeria’s top players from 2000 to 2004, he never got the chance to participate in an international championship.
“I spent 10 years playing for Nigeria, but I was always dropped at the last minute from national teams,” he said. “It felt like I was invisible.”
Oladele explained that the turning point came in 2004, when he received an unexpected invitation from the Benin Republic Table Tennis Federation. With his father’s help, he secured the documents needed to make the switch.
“My dad understood my struggles and got me the papers I needed to compete internationally,” Oladele said. “With those documents, I joined the Benin Republic team and played in my first international competition, the 2004 African U21 Championship in Ghana.”
Oladele’s performance in Ghana was a breakthrough, earning him the Best Player Award despite being eliminated in the semifinals. This success opened the door for him to participate in the 2004 World Championship in Canada, which he described as a dream come true.
“I also won the Top 16 Table Tennis Championship that same year, defeating top players like Seun Ajetumobi, Isiaka Aliu, and Bode Kayode. It was proof that my hard work had paid off,” he said.
However, his decision to represent Benin Republic was not without challenges. In 2004, Oladele was invited to Nigeria’s camp for the 2006 Commonwealth Games but was later dropped because of his new status as a Benin Republic player.
“At that point, I knew I had to make a choice: stay with Nigeria, where I was overlooked, or embrace my new identity with the Benin Republic,” he reflected.
Oladele’s success continued, and in 2022/23, the Benin Republic Table Tennis Federation named him Player of the Year.
Looking back on his career, Oladele fondly remembered playing for Plateau State at the National Sports Festival between 1997 and 2002. He reached several finals and semifinals in events such as men’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, despite tough competition.
“Playing for Plateau State was a special time for me. I competed hard in festivals from Imo to Edo and gave my best in every game,” he said.
Now settled in Benin Republic, Oladele continues to pursue his passion for table tennis, determined to make the most of his international career.
