FCT Football Association chairman Adam Mouktar Mohammed has launched Teqball commonly referred to as “football-table tennis” in Abuja.
An exhibition match of Teqball between Emmanuel Nwabueze and Thankgod Adindu, who both shone at the African Teqball tournament in Sal, Cape Verde, last year was staged as part of this launch.
“This is a nouvel form of football in these parts and we now plan to properly organise it in Abuja starting from the grassroots,” Mouktar Mohammed said.
“It’s a very technical game, which demands a lot as well as improves your personal skills in a joyful way.
“We will partner primary and secondary schools in the first instance by distributing the tables to them as well as getting instructors across.
“We have also secured the full support of the embassy of Hungary in this regard as the sport has its roots in Hungary.”
Interestingly, Galadima Academy of Abuja won a Teqball table in November when they emerged champions of the last Dreamland Academy-Hungary Embassy Tournament.
It is a ball sport that resembles table tennis but it is played on a curved table with a ball similar to football and players can hit the ball with any part of their body except the hands.
The sport was founded in 2014 in Hungary and can be played as a singles game between two players or between three of four players as a doubles game.
It is played at international level under the auspices of Federation Internationale de Teqball (FITEQ).
Officials also said plans have reached an advanced stage to form an executive committee for the Nigeria Teqball Association, which will govern the sport in the country.