GTTA in last minute rush for funding

Apr 08, 2009 Sports

–The Medicine Chest supports Bryan

Nigel Bryan

By Edison Jefford

Funding for local athletes is a known nuisance in sport and up to yesterday, the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) was enthusiastically attempting to cover all bases with The Medicine Chest registering support for Nigel Bryan.

General Secretary of the association, Godfrey Munroe told Kaieteur Sport that because of the travel arrangements, additional costs were incurred for the days that the athletes will have to be accommodated beyond the tournament.

Godfrey Munroe

Guyana is expected to field a team to the Caribbean Junior and Cadet Championships that is scheduled for Saint Kitts, April 12–19. Currently, 16 local players are identified for the prestigious regional table tennis competition.

“We are still behind but we should get the full compliment of players to attend but we are still short of funding for some players,” Munroe informed, adding that the lack of funding too often affects the prospects of promising athletes.

The GTTA General Secretary made the valiant point that athletes preparing for a national assignment should not have to go through the additional psychological pressure of being in suspense over whether or not they will participate.

Munroe’s point came on the heels of the departure of another national team–the athletics team to the Junior Carifta Games in Saint Lucia where similar efforts to mobilise funding at the last minute ensured that all the athletes travelled.

“Its [poor funding for athletes] not a good thing but that has been the case in Guyana for a long time now,” the General Secretary said while remaining optimistic that each of the immensely talented players will compete in the event.

Arun Fraser

Positively, the proprietor of The Medicine Chest, Jackie McDonald came forward to back the under–15 gold medallist of last year’s competition, Bryan, who has moved up to the 18 years and under age category this year.

This newspaper understands that GTTA vice–president, Arun Fraser played an important role in brokering the sponsorship. Fraser said yesterday that Bryan is one of the brightest prospects ahead of the anticipated championships.

Meanwhile, manager and delegate of the national table tennis team, Deirdre Edghill said that three more major sponsors should cover the team. “I don’t have much time left but I am still trying. We need three more sponsors,” she declared.

Apart from Edghill, the other members of the management staff expected to travel with the team includes coaches Linden Johnson, Munniram Persaud and Colin France and Yonnette Rosheuvel as assistant manager and chaperon.