Nigeria's Quadri Aruna has made a winning start to his French Pro B League campaign with Amiens STT. Aruna helped the club to a 3-2 victory over Lille Metropole TT. He then recorded a 3-1 win over Iran's Hossein Hodaei. Aruna joined Amiens in May and is expected to play a key role as the club targets promotion to the French top division. His strong start has boosted Amiens' chances in the league. The club currently sits third in the standings.
Algeria's Mehdi Bouloussa was instrumental in Courbevoie STT's 3-2 victory over Compiégnois TT. Bouloussa's performance contributed to his team's win. In Nantes, Nigerian table tennis legend Segun Toriola combined his role as player-coach with action at the table. Toriola's team, Nantes, defeated Frejus AMSL 3-1. Toriola featured alongside Egyptian youngster Youssef Abdelaziz and Greek veteran Panagiotis Gionis. Their combined efforts led to a convincing win.
Nigeria's Olajide Omotayo and Taiwo Mati also began their campaign with a victory. However, neither player featured in Le Havre ATT's 3-1 win over Boulogne Billancourt AC. Algeria's Stephane Ouaiche helped Caen TTC to a 3-0 victory over Miramas AS. This result sent Caen to the top of the table. Ouaiche's performance was key to Caen's success.
Maheidine Bella's Proville ASL lost 3-1 to Pontoise-Cergy AS. Bella's side took their only point from the tie. Benin Republic's Salifou Abdel-Kader was not included in Compiégnois TT's lineup. Compiégnois TT suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bouloussa's Courbevoie STT. Abdel-Kader's absence did not help his team's cause.
Amiens STT, with Aruna, are currently third in the standings. Caen TTC occupy top spot after the opening round. Aruna and Amiens will return to action on Tuesday, September 29. They will travel to face Toriola's Nantes. This match promises to be an exciting encounter between two strong teams.
Segun Toriola's experience as a player-coach has been valuable for Nantes. His team's win over Frejus AMSL was a testament to his leadership. Toriola's partnership with Abdelaziz and Gionis has strengthened Nantes' chances in the league. Their combined experience and skills will be crucial in the coming matches.
The French Pro B League campaign has started strongly for African players. Aruna, Bouloussa, Toriola, and others have made significant contributions to their teams' successes. The league will continue to be competitive, with teams vying for promotion to the top division. African players will likely play a key role in shaping the league's outcome.
Key points
- Quadri Aruna leads Amiens STT to a winning start in the French Pro B League.
- African players make a strong start to the French Pro B League campaign.
- Amiens STT currently sits third in the standings after the opening round.
