President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Godfrey Munroe says his association is trying its utmost at this late stage to prepare a team to represent Guyana at the Junior and Cadet Championships that will be held next week in Trinidad and Tobago.
Munroe, Monday night released the final team for the championships that will begin next week, adding that a panel of four coaches have been selected to work along with the players.
The players are: Boys ’U18 category, Stephan Corlette, David Duncan, Scott Garraway and Bryton Murray; boys’ U15, Shemar Britton, Kyle Edghill, Elishaba Johnson and debutant Sheldon Atherley from Bartica.
Two-time and recently crowned junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year Chelsea Edghill will lead to girls’ U18 contingent along with Akecia Nedd, Anna Joao and Jewel Todd. The U15 girls’ team will be spearheaded by top U15 campaigner Priscilla Greaves and includes Kristie Lopes and pre-cadets Neveah Clarkston and Salena Jackman.
The four-member coaching panel comprises national coach Linden Johnson, former junior champion Idi Lewis, Dwain Dick and Lisa Lewis. Munroe stated that the coaches have been combining their knowledge and experience to help the juniors as much as they can at this late stage.
According to Munroe, the team is currently training thrice daily and will continue to do so until it departs.
Munroe said that the GTTA encountered difficulties planning training sessions for the team as several players were involved with end of term and other examinations in school.
Nevertheless, Munroe stated that the training so far has been fairly good as the coaches try to work on the mental and aspects of the players, specifically working on their tactical games.
Munroe had stated previously that the junior would have gotten match practice against some of the country’s top players in the GTTA Team Table Tennis League which was supposed to commence earlier this month.
The league has not yet commenced but Munroe said that the association has gotten some much needed assistance from a few senior national players including Christopher Franklin, Edinho Lewis and Natalie Cummings.
