By Orin Davidson
Former junior tennis player and New York-based coach Esan Benn feels that support for tennis from all levels in Guyana has been disappointing and says that the authorities would be best advised to seek help from the fraternity in the United States and elsewhere.
According to the former national under-18 champion: “There are quite a few coaches and associates of the sport here (United States) who would not think twice about giving back to the sport, but we have to be asked.”
“The government, the association or whosever, [needs] to develop relationships with our coaches and players outside of Guyana, and there are some here (New York) who have given back in the past and would always do so,” he emphasized.
In light of pleas for help from new Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) president Christopher Ram, Benn said too many empty promises have been made in the recent past that have hurt the development of players and facilities.
Benn said that he and other overseas-based coaches have staged clinics and donated equipment on their own initiative but expressed disappointment that the powers-that-be did not think it wise to maintain these contacts.
Further, Benn pointed out that at present Guyana has only one full-time coach in Shelly Daly, and noted that this is grossly inadequate. He said that this situation makes it imperative that the authorities seek help from the coaches who are working in the US and other countries.
On his last visit to Guyana, Benn staged a week-long camp for players in 2007. This clinic, which was held at the Pegasus hotel facility, was subsequently featured in the prestigious International Tennis Pro magazine.
Benn pointed out that other Guyanese coaches including Bill Adams and Edmund Plass, Andy Wong and Diwani Lewis have done likewise and would be happy to continue to contribute. In addition to these, Leon December, Kayume Naj, Marvin Jeffrey and John Bruce also work in New York, he stated.
He opined that with the tennis talent present in the country coupled with an administrative body that has been in existence for many decades, several local players should have been active on the regional or even international circuits.
According to him, ever since his stint at a university in North Carolina and as a senior coach at Raleigh Club there, he has been trying to promote Guyana as a country with tennis potential in his many endeavours across the United States.
“Tennis is a big sport around the world, it has great benefits for players and more youngsters should be made to embrace the sport in Guyana,” said Benn.
Players can get scholarships and can go on to have lucrative careers as professionals or even as coaches, the former St Rose’s High school student added. Benn is one of a number of Guyanese to earn tennis scholarships in the last 15 years.
He is aware of the rehabilitation of the courts at the National Sports Commission (NSC) venue by the Ministry of Sports, but it appears to him the project seems not high on the ministry’s priority list, given the long delay for its completion.
“Whenever it is finished I would welcome the opportunity to work with local players there,” Benn stated.
