3/06/2006
Rio challenged to ping-pong duel
Put your money where your mouth is, son Southend manager Steve Tilson has challenged Rio Ferdinand to a showdown at table tennis.
Ferdinand recently boasted he could beat anyone in football at ping-pong - and Tilson has called the Manchester United defender's bluff.
The Shrimpers boss, who used to reperesent England at table tennis, told Southend's website: "Bring it on!
"And how about we make it a bit more interesting with a wager - a week of Rio's salary against a week of mine!"
Tilson, 39, whose side are currently second in League One, recently rejoined his old table tennis club, Rawreth, who play in the Essex leagues.
He is waiting for Ferdinand to respond to the challenge, adding: "I'd be more than willing to take him on if we could set something up."
