Italian veteran coach out to impact the lives of talented youngsters in Kenya

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TABLE TENNIS Italian veteran coach out to impact the lives of talented youngsters in Kenya

Abigael Wafula 07:00 - 02.08.2023

Esposito is also planning to travel around the country and impart valuable coaching experience to school-going boys and girls.

Italian tactician Luciano Esposito will be looking to transform the lives of young table tennis players in Kenya with the hope of leaving an indelible mark.

Esposito, a career banker, and financial adviser, is also planning to travel around the country and impart valuable coaching experience to school-going boys and girls aspiring to make a name for themselves as far as tennis is concerned.

In an exclusive chat with Kenya Table Tennis Association, the veteran tactician noted that there is always a different mentality among different players and it all depends on the education one receives.

“On the table in my days, I was a middle-level player and I felt the essence was to pass on the knowledge to young people.

"So, what I have learned for those donkey’s years, I want to pass it to young players and this is exactly what I have come to do in Kenya.

"It’s another new experience in Kenya and the essence is just to evaluate the level of playing here, what I can do for young players, and the kind of adjustment I can give even if I am away.

"But then again, you cannot change much in one month. But coaches and players will benefit immensely from the hand-me-down knowledge,” he said.

He holds the opinion that Kenyan youngsters should strive for higher limits since there is a bright future for table tennis in the country. He added that they should always strive to be passionate, punctual, and committed to whatever they engage in.

“I’m sure Kenyan players will not find my training boring as I’m a believer in doing something new every day, and not being tied to the same things time and time again.

"My style is attack-based, but I also help players learn many other skills in the process. So, in this regard, physical exercise is paramount. I don’t know much about Kenya table tennis as much as I do in athletics and rugby,” he added.

He plans to retire from his banking career next year and venture fully into coaching. He is among the many foreign technical experts Kenya has invited previously.

In 2017, KTTA invited Nigerian legend Segun Toriola to train its players in a camp in Nairobi. Others were France-based ITTF expert Ronald Mugwanya who ran two coaching and umpiring courses, Egyptian Ahmed Dalwatly who ran Africa Hopes Week in Nairobi and previously Pakistani former world-ranked Arif Khan who prepared the Kenya team in the run-up to the final London Olympic qualifiers in Doha.

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