Constant programmes, practice, Government support needed for development, says Coach Gomes

…As GTTA concludes intensive training camp

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), in efforts to develop that sport, had, from August 22, hosted an intensive training camp conducted by enlisted high-performance coach Alexandre Gomes.
This training camp was intended for elite-level players with advanced technical skills, while primarily targeting Guyanese players to enhance their technical, tactical, and strategic abilities and ultimately boost their performance in competitions.
Another focus of this initiative was on mentoring and preparing athletes for upcoming tournaments.
Speaking exclusively to Guyana Times Sport coach Alexandre Gomes expounded on the talent that Guyana possesses, and the key elements needed for them to play at a higher level.

Gomes said, “They have practised very well over the last two weeks, and we can see there’s a lot of potential. They (have) improved a little bit, but, anyway, we need more time. But I can say that Guyana has a lot of talent, but they need to practise more this way. Yes, of course, for that they need to change some things here, like have more (of) a programme for like what they are going to do, like a plan and a little more discipline; and, of course, they have the possibility to play at a high level one day.
“I think it’s okay, but if you really want to go one day to a high level, they have to practise more; but they have qualities for that, and they need the Government support to (hold) more camps, more international tournaments, this kind of things.”
This publication also managed to speak with national table tennis player Shemar Britton, who touched on the importance of the camp in his development and said the camp serves as preparation for the Pan American Championship.
“Oh, well, this is actually my fourth time working with Coach Alex, and Coack Alex is a person of phenomenal knowledge. So, whenever he is around, I find my game improving a lot because of his wealth of knowledge and the techniques he imparts in me, (and) also my teammates,” Britton has said. “I am preparing for Pan American Games in October, so this camp was much-needed tune-up for those championships,” Britton said.
Gomes is said to be a well-respected member of the international table tennis fraternity. Throughout his coaching career, he has worked with elite players, including Nigerian player Quadri Aruna who is ranked in the top ten in the world.
Apart from leading Peru’s national team for a number of years, he has coached national teams from the USA, China, Europe and Asia.
Currently, he is one of the lead coaches at the 888 Table Tennis Club in Burlingame and San Diego, a prominent high-performance training center in the United States. (Omar McKenzie)