Former Hungarian International Star Hit by Raging Fever in Malawi

Hungary’s Zsusza Olah, the runner up in the Women’s Singles event at the Europe Top Twelve in 1985 and one year later a quarter-finalist at the European Championships, was the expert on duty for an ITTF Development Course in Blantyre, Malawi.

The African country is a far cry from her Hungarian home, much different to the climate of Europe and during her stay there was a fever raging.

It was table tennis fever!

Late Arrival
“I arrived in Blantyre twelve hours later than I had planned, I was very excited”, said Zsusza Olah. “My initial thoughts were, would anybody me at the airport?”

She had no need to worry; she was met by four players in the sixteen to seventeen year age group and by their coach.

Training
“I was surprised because it was very late at night”, said Zsusza Olah. “Five hours after my arrival, everyone was ready for practice at the local youth centre”.

Immediately Zsusza Olah was impressed by the response of the players and all responded to the ITTF Level One Coaches Course.

Malawi
“The girls played with great enthusiasm and certainly they were concerned what I would say about their training”, continued Zsuzsa Olah. “I noticed they wanted to do their best; in the break time, during the ten minutes rest, those who couldn't play in the main session ran to the tables to take the chance to play.”

Quite simply the sound of rubber making contact with celluloid never stopped.

Dance
“The desire for training was fantastic after training the girls performed a special African dance”, added Zszsza Olah. “Junior, Abel, Kingwell, Stanley, Steven, Patrick, Chrissy, Veronika, Shira, Atumeni, Mbalose proved a very good team; they helped each other and they liked each other.”

Spirit
There was a very good spirit amongst the participants, a very good atmosphere. “The coaches, Funny, Emmie, Queen, Georgina, Phoebe, Margaret, Lusungu, Justice, Enos, Evans learnt the basics of table tennis”, explained Zsusza Olah. “There was no glass in the windows, table we used had a damaged wheel and the players didn’t own racket but they were happy.”

Appetite
Furthermore, they had an appetite for table tennis. “They all wanted to improve their knowledge, they all liked table tennis”, concluded Zsusza Olah. “I hope that one day some of these players will become champions.”

The players and coaches had enthused the former Hungarian star; the wish was from the heart.