Junior C’bean Squash C/Ship... Team Guyana ready for battle in Jamaica

Junior C’bean Squash C/Ship… Team Guyana ready for battle in Jamaica

Jul 04, 2018 Sports

The National Junior Squash team leaves for Jamaica on Friday. (Sean Devers photo)

By Sean Devers
Barbados ended Guyana’s 12-year-winning streak last year when the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships was held in Guyana, although Taylor Fernandes took the Girls U-19 title and 14-year-old Shomari Wiltshire won the U-15 title.
This year’s tournament is being held in Jamaica from July 8-14 and Guyana’s aim is to reclaim their team title but with Fernandes unable to defend her title due her being over-age this year, title-hopes rest on the Caribbean best U-15 Racquet wielder, Wilshire to help this Country to another team title.
Unlike their period of Caribbean dominance which began in 2004 when their U-17s and U-19s spearheaded the team to glory, this year Guyana will bank on Wilshire and the U-15s and U-13s to prop up the older team members if they aim to bring back the bacon.
The team’s premier Sponsor is Exxon Mobil and the Company that has the contract to drill for Oil in Guyana was represented by their Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe who said that this was her first day on the job and was happy to spend it with such a great group of Boys and Girls.
“We are pleased to be associated this young team as they Journey to Jamaica to represent their Country and we wish them well.”
President of the Guyana Squash Association, the hard working David Fernandes, who travels with the team as Assistant Manager to former Southern Caribbean Squash Champion Garfield Wilshire, said sponsorship is very important in keeping Sports alive in Guyana.
“I am sure the GOA and the Government will be supportive of teams which bring glory to this Country as the Junior Squash team has done by winning the Caribbean title 12 times in a row,” Fernandes stated.
Fernandes thanked the Sponsors, Coaches and parents for the support and encouragement of the team members.
“A bid has been made for Squash to be included in the Olympics and hopefully if it is in the 2024 Olympics you could be Guyana’s first Squash players to compete at the Olympics,” he told the eager youngsters in the team which were present yesterday decked in their National Uniforms.
“Winning is not the most important thing but how you play the game is. Winning is a bonus for playing hard and fair,” Fernandes added.
Team Captain Low said Squash has given her the opportunity to travel to new places, make friends and meet people. She urged her team mates to make the most of this opportunity by playing to their best and making their Country proud.

Team Captain Rebecca Low speaks at yesterday’s press briefing.

ExxonMobil’s Senior Director Public & Government Affairs Deedra Moe at yesterday’s Press briefing.

“Once we are in it, our aim is to win it,” declared the affable Low with a confident smile on her face.
While Coach Carl Ince was not present yesterday, Taylor Fernandes, one of three Assistant Coaches, said the strength of the team is the Boys and the depth.
“We a have few overseas players but I believe the performances of the U-15s and U-13s could give us a great chance of winning Medals this year,” Fernandes said.
Apart from their premier Sponsor Exxon Mobil, Bounty Farm Ltd, Fly Jamaica, Connections Travel Service, GOA, Go-Invest, Ansa McA, Pas Cargo, Burger King and John Fernandes Ltd are the other Sponsors who have come on board.
The Team reads:
Boys: Alex Cheeks, Rithew Saywack, Daniel Islam, Anthony Islam (overseas based), Shomari Wiltshire, Samwel-Ince-Carvalhal, Michael Alphonso, Shiloa Aspegado.
Girls: Rebecca Low, Abosaide Cadogan, Madison Fernandes, Kirsten Gomes, Aliyah Persaud, Paige Fernandes, Christiana Fernandes.
Individuals: Gianni Carpenter, Lucas Jonas, Demetrius De Abreu, Ethan Jonas, Mohrayan Baksh, Nicholas Verwey, Louis Da Silva, Quin Lilico, Chad De Abreu.
Support Staff: Garfield Wiltshire (Manager), David Fernandes (Asst Manager), Carl Ince (Head Coach), Taylor Fernandes (Asst Coach), Nyron Joseph (Asst Coach), Tiffany Solomon.

Shomari Wilshire could play a key role for Guyana.

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