– raises concerns about female volleyball and basketball teams
The National Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday released the names of the athletes who will be representing Guyana in the second leg of the 2009 Inter-Guiana games set for October 16-19 in Suriname.
The host will join Guyana and French Guiana as they compete in both male and female volleyball, basketball, cycling, and now chess.
Speaking exclusively with Stabroek Sport yesterday, Director of Sports Neil Kumar said that administratively they are fully prepared for the games and he is confident that Guyana will do well in the male basketball, volleyball and male and female cycling, but could not say the same for the females in the first two disciplines.
“I am really dissatisfied with the preparation of the female volleyball and basketball teams but you have to be cognizant of the fact that the basketball federation has done nothing for female basketball for different reasons but I am hoping to have a far better relationship with the federation particularly Mr. Patterson (David) to see how we could help and do something for female basketball in this country,” said Kumar.
The sports director also noted: “I’m looking at the secondary schools programme just like how we have had the male programme, I think next year we can start very early for the females also. But I’m really impressed with the male basketball team, you know, all the feedback has been good and I expect them to do very well and also with the male volleyball team.”
An upbeat Kumar feels that Guyana have never been so prepared for the games and noted that from this weekend, the NSC will be looking to encamp the entire contingent until their departure next Thursday.
The first leg was hosted here in April of this year and after the conclusion of the Athletics, Football and Swimming championships the Dutch-speaking Suriname won, scoring a total of 38 points, while Guyana settled for second with 28 points and French Guiana once again finished at the bottom with 24 points.
Suriname were able to place second to Guyana in the track and field competition and easily won the male and female swimming and football championship and at present hold the distinction of being the entire IGG title holder since winning outright in 2007.
That year, Guyana only participated in the second leg and also hosted volleyball and basketball, and it was the same year that cycling was included.
The first leg was held in French Guiana and Guyana did not compete because of the hosting of the Super Eight matches during the ICC Cricket World Cup event.
Guyana are the defending male volleyball and basketball champions and a lot of weight is being put on the two disciplines to retain their title and with cycling which was introduced in 2007 now being officially part of the competition, a win in each gender category can bring the title back home.
“Our new permanent secretary (PS) at our ministry, Mr. Alfred King personally said that he was impressed with the preparation of the male volleyball team and also I think that Levi Nedd has been doing an excellent job with the team. He has been pretty consistent. The cream of the team will be coming from Berbice.”
However, the Director of Sports stated that based on what he has seen in Suriname over the past few weeks, the host country definitely have a better female volleyball team and in that country, the associations of the various disciplines are rallying behind the preparation of the teams, unlike in Guyana.
“For example, the Volleyball Association hasn’t had a meeting for the whole year, basketball is the same thing, I can’t say the same thing about swimming, cycling, chess and athletics, you know, so there is a big difference here with these associations and I hope we can talk and get things sorted out,” Kumar said.
“As it relates to the basketball team I think we have paid special emphasis with basketball and because of the IGG we had two school tournaments this year, one in February and the next one in August and out of that we managed to bring these boys together. So I think that they will do good and not only that I hope I can assist them with some scholarships or so out of this tournament.”
As it relates to the host country, Kumar said that the team will be housed at the Queens Hotel in Paramaribo and all the playing venues are well prepared.
Cycling
Female – Marica Dick and Naomi Singh.
Males – Christopher Holder, Enzo Mathews, Geron Williams and Chris Persaud.
Basketball
Females – Minnifa Fox, Ginelle Ifill, Denelle Joseph, Quandie Small, Robyn Thomas, Tamara Hunter, Telesha Samuels, Gabriel Chalmers and Lowquantor Gibson.
Males – Akeem Kanhai, Orin Rose, Richard Mohandatt, Shelroy Thomas, Yannick Dundas , Clive Wilson, Elton Jefford jr, Kadeem Jacobs, Wainright Haynes, Darrian Lewis, Drexel Amsterdam and Prince Giddings.
Coaches – Abdullah Hamid and Robert Cadogan
Officials – Lugard Mohan, Aubrey Young and Dennis Clarke.
Volleyball
Female – Daneilla Samaroo, Denelle Joseph, Naketa Austin, Cambie Jones, Latoya Lewis, Leonna Miller, Renika Seepersaud, Rosanna Rigby, Tiffany Whittington, Tessianna Jones and Leoni Robinson.
Male – Jamaal Duncan, Rashad Razak, Jared Jhingree, Abdul Lawrence, Quacy Matherson, Soham Dhanpat, Rohan Dhanpat, Trelon Licas, Kevon Stewart, Nicholas Rodney, Jason Seelochan and Julius Seenarine.
Coaches – Levi Nedd and Jadesh Doolchand.
Officals – Trevor Smith, Randy Adams and Lennox Rowe.
Chess
Taffin Khan, Cristal Khan, Shair Khan, Rashad Hussain, Saeed Ali and Raan Motilal