Interview with Marco Essomba
This interview with Marco Essomba was conducted via email between 12th and the 19th May 2005.

Tony: How old you were when you started playing?
Marco: About 9

Tony: In which other countries have you played?
Marco: I've been to tournaments in Cameroon, Nigeria, France and Tunisia with the Cameroon junior team.

Tony: What major obstacles, if any, have you had to overcome to play table-tennis?
Marco: The combination of studying and playing at high level at the same time.

Tony: On what occasion did you first realised that you had Table Tennis talent?
Marco: I guess when I got a medal in the Cadet Francophone Games in France, in front of the French!

Tony: How has table tennis influenced your outlook if at all?
Marco:Table tennis has shaped my personality and also the way I approach things - giving up is simply not an option. Just like in a match.

Tony: Who is/was your greatest opponent?
Marco:My brother Noah, when I was cadet and we both played in the national team. We fought in every finals of cadet tournaments and I used to cry all the time after losing. I finally learned how to overcome him and stop the crying.

Tony: Can you recall the times you were "in the zone" and everything went perfectly without effort in a game?
Marco: Yes, when I played against Alan Cooke in the Sussex Open in Hastings. Whatever I tried that day worked with no effort. One of those few times when you are really in the zone.

Tony: What are your ambitions, milestones?
Marco: To set an unbeatable record in the British League with London Progress
and qualify for the Olympics Games.

Tony: What prompted you to come to the UK?
Marco: I came to the UK for the World Champs in Manchester 1997. My sister lived here and since I did not speak English, I thought that it would be a positive challenge to train here.

Tony: How did you manage to get involved with London Progress?
Marco: A bit of a luck really! My cousin saw couple of guys on the train with table-tennis bags. He approached them and asked them where they trained. They mentioned Progress. I went to Progress and that's how it all started.

Tony: What has been your most difficult match to date?
Marco: Playing against the Bulgarian N.1 in the World Champs in Paris 2004. I won in 4 sets!

Tony: Who is the most talented female player in your opinion
that you have come across?
Marco: Den Yaping (followed by Tamara Boros).

Tony: Have you had any funny, hilarious encounters during your table-tennis life?
Marco: During the Nancy Evans League, we travelled to Donesk in Ukraine playing for Progress. All seemed good at first until the match started. Within 15 minutes, it was over! With the help of the 400 local spectators, we got beaten so badly that remembering it still hurts! Now looking back, that's probably one of the funniest moments of my table-tennis life.

Tony: How do you combine work and sport?
Marco: Three words: planning, dedication, and determination.

Tony: Thank you, Marco

Click here to view Marco's achievements

Coming soon - An interview with the mighty Egle Adomelyte!