Nigeria's table tennis star Quadri Aruna is set to begin a new chapter in his club career as he leads Amiens STT against Lille Metropole TT in the French Pro B League opener on Tuesday. The match will take place at the Albéric-Labaume Gymnasium in Amiens, northern France. Aruna, currently ranked 80th in the world, joined Amiens in May and is expected to provide experience and leadership to the team.
Aruna, 37, has established himself as one of Africa's leading players over the past decade, becoming the first African player to break into the world's top 10. He aims to regain consistency and climb the world rankings while helping Amiens secure a return to the Pro A division. Aruna stated that his transfer to Amiens is about rebuilding his form and pushing the team towards promotion.
Amiens boasts an experienced squad, including Austria's Robert Gardos, Portugal's João Monteiro, South Korea's Cho Seungmin, and France's Denis Dorcescu. Monteiro brings considerable European experience, having won three European titles, while Gardos provides further experience at the highest level. Dorcescu is entering his fourth season with Amiens.
Lille, Amiens' opening opponents, also has a strong international line-up led by Croatian Andrej Gacina, ranked 50th in the world. Lille's squad includes Ukraine's Yaroslav Zhmudenko, Iran's Amir Hodaei, Romania's Rares Sipos, Madagascar's Fabio Rakotoarimanana, France's Romain Brard, and Hungary's Marton Szita. The strength of both squads underlines the competitive nature of the Pro B division.
The Pro B division features several African players, including Nigerians Olajide Omotayo and Taiwo Mati, who will team up at Le Havre ATT to face Boulogne Billancourt AC. Former Nigerian international Segun Toriola will combine playing duties with coaching responsibilities at Nantes. Benin Republic's Salifou Abdel-Kader will feature for Compiegnois TT, while Algeria will be represented by Stephane Ouaiche, Mehdi Bouloussa, and Maheidine Bella.
Aruna's arrival has added considerable experience to the Amiens side, which aims to challenge for promotion. The season also offers Aruna an opportunity to rebuild his form and continue his pursuit of a return towards the upper reaches of the world rankings. With a strong squad and a favorable home crowd, Amiens will look to start the new campaign with a strong performance.
The French Pro B League opener marks a new beginning for Aruna and Amiens, as they seek to make a statement in the competitive Pro B division. With several African players participating in the league, the tournament promises to be an exciting and closely contested affair. Aruna and his teammates will be eager to make a strong impression and set the tone for the rest of the season.
Key points
- Quadri Aruna to make competitive debut for Amiens STT in French Pro B League opener.
- Amiens aims to challenge for promotion to the French top flight.
- Several African players feature in the French Pro B League this season.
