GTTA envisions a bright 2017

− National Development Programme is closer to reality

By Delvon Mc Ewan

The year 2016 has been a year of consolidation for the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) according to President Godfrey Munroe but the weather in 2017 is expected to be a lot brighter as the association seek to focus on areas that can allow growth within the sport.

However, he is counting on some assistance from the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), National Sport Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for the manifestation of growth within the sport by the end of 2017 with the

realization of the GTTA National Development Programme.

“I think 2016 was a year of consolidation for us (GTTA), particularly we worked on a major project; getting the sport into the school in a structured way and a lot of energies were directed there. The project was two year in making based on a proposal by the GTTA based on a call from GOA for associations to provide a strategic initiative and at this point it is near the unveiling stage and hopefully by January we are hoping to have it unveiled,” Munroe detailed.

Apart from the process taken by the tennis association for future success there were other highlights within 2016, like the coaching and referees course and the performances from the teams (juniors and seniors) that participated in international competitions. So on the international front there has been fairly good success which is good for the future, Munroe stated.

However, reflecting locally, he said one of the key areas to be focus on, is the hosting of a lot more domestic competitions to keep the players active and assist with the marketing of the sport.

When the National Development Programme is introduced to more than 100 primary schools in early 2017, a broader base of players will be available for training and ultimately feeding the national set up. However, a permanent ‘home’ for tennis is still a top priority for the GTTA but Munroe indicated that realistically it is a few years down the line but remains at the front burner for his association.

By the time the construction of a facility is manifested the sport should already expand and be among the budding sports here since there are new committees in Linden and Essequibo, which were given the necessary resources and training to ensure there is development in those places. Berbice will also be back on board shortly as the expansion mission aims to touch all three counties as outlined in the programme.

Obviously 2016 was not without challenges and the following are the areas that the GTTA will seek to improve; 1. Domestic Competition is one that truly need to be address. 2-National Team structured training; To have it ongoing yearly and not just closed to tournaments because it allows for periodised training for the athletes because the concept is to train to improve and not to tour, so the athlete would understand that it is a cycle of growth to keep improving aspects of their game whether technically or tactically. 3. Revenue Generation Planning; A lot more can be done to fund projects thus the base of the GTTA committee might be broaden in the new year. 4. Seek Elite Support; From the GOA and Government of Guyana. It would not cover only the senior but players in the junior realm, whether for training, academic or wherever the GTTA sees the input is needed.

With these implementations Munroe believes the GTTA would be able to create a coaching career path and as a result there will be a greater nucleus of coaches and the sport will be more accessible to more people.

In addition the President will engage the Sport Ministry for a Chinese coach because in the past the GTTA have had great value inputs from the presence of a Chinese coach but this time around they will be seeking one who could play because it is becoming a global method so they could play on the national team with the local players to bring them up to a higher level and to teach them new techniques.

In relation to females, with the new initiative, Munroe is hopeful that it will bring new and a greater number of females into the sport. He view it as a key priority for the GTTA.

Other than the implementation of the project for January, the tennis body will host the Junior and Cadet Championship in April which will allow for the exposure of approximately 34 players between the ages of 15 and 18. There is an Islamic event where Guyana will send a male and female team to Baku, the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan. However, starting things off in January is a doubles tournament while 2017 will also see the return of the Mashramani and Independence tournaments.