by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF Africa Press Officer

The first fixtures are scheduled for Saturday 30th September

Makanjuola Kazeem, now in his second season with ASD Marcozzi is not only looking forward to the challenge presented competing in Europe but also hopes that good performances will mean a return to the Nigerian team.

Furthermore, should Men’s Doubles be on the agenda, he could prove a most valuable asset; at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Nigeria Open, he won the Men’s Doubles title in partnership with Quadri Aruna.

“Playing in the ETTU Cup is an opportunity for players to compete against others from another country and this has exposed me to different styles in table tennis. Last season, we topped our group and we made it to the quarter-final before we were edged out; this year, we want to do better than and confirm our status amongst the leading teams.” Makanjuola Kazeem

A total of 20 clubs will compete in the initial stage which comprises four groups each with five teams; the aim is to gain a top two finish in order to qualify for the second stage where a further eight teams enter the competition.

Once again proceedings are organised on a group basis; the teams finishing in first place in each second stage group advance to the third stage where further teams enter the competition and matters are organised on a knock-out basis.

The defending champions are Stella Sport la Romagne of France; they beat Vaillante Sports Angers TT, also of France in the final of the 2016-2017 competition.