Lagos ITTF World Tour: Edem Offiong not ready to play to the Gallery in Lagos

 
In 2013, Edem Offiong fought her way to the final but she could not 
finish up against her compatriot, Cecilia Otu-Akpan who beat her to the 
title. Against she worked to the quarterfinal of the women’s singles but 
she met her waterloo against Egypt’s Dina Meshref.
 
   However, when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World 
Tour, Lagos Open serves off on March 10, Offiong is optimistic that same 
fate will not befall her this year.
 
   From the start of this year, things have not been auguring well for 
her but what happened at the last ITTF Africa Senior Championship in 
Cairo would not prevent her from excelling. Offiong promises that the 
title will remain in Nigeria this time around.
 
   “I am well prepared for this tournament because I have it in mind that 
I must do better this year. After the disappointing outing in Cairo, I 
returned to Nigeria and I rested for a week and since then I have been 
training hard in order to ensure that I make it to the podium this year. 
I am in good shape and I hope the home support will help me this year 
especially against the Egyptians and Portuguese Chinese-born player,” 
Offiong said.
 
   The player who plies her trade in the Portuguese league said: “I know 
a lot of people have been talking about the quality of the Egyptian 
player but I want to let them know that the Chinese-born Portuguese is 
indeed a serious threat because she is the number one female player in 
the Portuguese league and she is a very strong player.”
 
   Offiong, who made it to round of 16 at the 2014 Spanish Open in 
Almeria said she hopes to use the Lagos Open title to prepare herself 
for the this year’s German and Spanish Opens.
 
   “I am admits that it is not going to be easy like I expect because for 
anybody to clinch the title this year, such player must be at her best. 
Any player that is coming to Nigeria must understand that the atmosphere 
is always different from anywhere in the world because the fans are 
always there to cheer the host players and visitors must be ready to 
face this as well. I am sure this will work in my favour,” she added.