Aruna Quadri will be expected to spearhead new club TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell’s challenge for honours and put up performances worthy of his ranking as a top twenty player club president Stefan Frauenholz has said.

Quadri made the move to the German Bundesliga side in February after a decade in Portugal the last six of which were spent with Sporting Lisbon whom he led to the Portuguese title last season.

And ahead of the start of the European League next month, Frauenholz says Quadri’s presence in the team and stature as a leading player naturally translates to increased expectations on the player.

While not outrightly stating a goal for the team this season, Frauenholz hinted that a place in the play-offs would amount to success and suggested that Quadri’s six-year run without a loss in Portugal portends well for the Bundesliga team.

The club supremo also assured that fans of the Bundesliga side are set for a season of excitement and thrills with Quadri’s brand of entertaining tennis.

“TTC is confident about the new season. Quadri Aruna is a top 20 player. The Nigerian has not lost a game in Portugal in six years. He plays very attractive table tennis and is very pre-stressed. I think fans will enjoy him a lot,” Frauenholz said.

“The TTC board does not want to commit to a clear season goal. The playoffs would be nice, but you also know that everything has to fit. Quadri Aruna must strike as desired and Ruwen Filus also needs a super shape. It’s a real surprise bag.”

Apart from Quadri, the German team will be relying on 23-year-old Hong Kong rising star Siu Hang Lam who is regarded as the ideal addition to the existing squad while teenage sensation Fan Bo Meng will also be crucial to the team’s ambitions. The youngster won a total of five games in his first season in the Bundesliga.