National Cadet and Junior TT teams intensify preparations

Mar 28, 2009 Sports

– sponsorship coming in at unexpected rates

Godfrey Munroe

Linden Johnson

By Edison Jefford
While preparations for the Caribbean Cadet and Junior Table Tennis Championships are expected to intensify over the weekend, the Guyana Table Tennis Association has noted the slow rates of returns from sponsorship requests.
National table tennis coach, Linden Johnson told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that training at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall are expected to intensify over this weekend following the completion of the Easter term examinations.

“We will be working on the tactical and mental aspects this weekend. We were working with individuals over the last week but the entire team will be meeting together from this weekend because exams are completed,” Johnson held.
He said that the team has a good chance of retaining their titles despite the inclusion of the usually strong, Puerto Rico and Santa Domingo teams. He was optimistic about the chances of Trenace Lowe and Nigel Bryan especially.

“I think our chances are good. Once they put themselves together they could do well. The more seasoned campaigners such as Lowe and Bryan have to lead from the front and I am also looking at Chelsea Edghill,” Johnson informed.
The national coach attached to the National Sports Commission indicated that the exalted regional forum for cadet and junior table tennis players also acts as the catalyst for the Latin American and World Table Tennis Championships.
Guyana are the defending champions in the girls’ under–18 team event, boys’ under–15 team contest, girls’ singles, girls’ doubles, mixed doubles and under–15 mixed doubles categories at the April 12–19 championships in Saint Kitts.

General Secretary of the national association, Godfrey Munroe told this newspaper when contacted yesterday, that he has received some responses from sponsors. He said those were not as expected but he is till optimistic.
“We have some responses from a few entities. We still have a long way to go in terms of procuring the necessary sponsorship. I am very optimistic that we will get the full compliment of players to attend the meet,” he said.
Munroe said that sponsorship is a bugbear but the association is lobbying. “Hopefully we will be able to work it out through lobbying. I think they will go because we have a good representative team this year,” He added. The 15–member national team is expected to depart Guyana on the April 11 and return on April 19.