Table Tennis Academy rollout underway in Berbice
The Guyana Table Tennis Association has noted a positive response to the roll-out of the National Table Tennis Sports Academy in Berbice.
The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA’s) nursery academy was launched earlier this month in Georgetown.
GTTA general secretary and National Sports Commission coach Linden Johnson has since been spearheading the rollout of the programme in region 6.
The nursery academy is focused on primary school students ages 6 to 11, (grades 4 and 5).
He has so far visited more than 12 schools in Berbice.
The National coach said, “We’re getting good support from the school even though the programme is just happening between the school’s break time. But I think it’s a good opportunity for young players in Berbice.”
“In fact, these fundamentals can also allow them to move on to the club level. That is one of the things we’re also working on in Berbice; getting clubs functioning so that younger players can progress from there.”
The academy aims to raise the standard of table tennis being played across the country and develop athletes who can go on to represent the country.
Johnson adds that Berbice has produced many quality players over the years.
“Berbice produce a lot of good players. Years ago they had the Christophe brothers (Michael and Sydney), Desiree Lancaster, she’s still part of the table tennis development programme, and we got the para-athlete (Gibran Sarfaraz)”
Gibran Sarafraz is one of the top para-athletes in the Caribbean and he currently resides in Corriverton. He is currently hoping to participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games as a para-athlete.
As the programme is being rolled out, Coach Johnson has also been conducting basic coaching for Secondary School students in Berbice who have chosen table tennis as their physical education elective for the Caribbean Examination Council’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination.
So far, approximately 40 students have benefitted from this.
As the programme rolls out, Johnson will also be conducting “12-hour training programmes” to prepare teachers to coach students in the fundamentals of the sport at the various schools.
