Captain of Guyana’s junior squash team, Benjamin Mekdeci said that he believes the team’s chances of winning a 13th straight Junior Caribbean squash title is better than ever, alluding to the abundance of talent present on the Guyana side.
“We’re playing at home and our chances are better than ever to win our 13th straight title. It’s my final year and it’s all I can hope for,” Mekdeci told Stabroek Sport.
The 18–year-old was making reference to the abundance of talent in the Guyanese squad to defend Guyana’s decade-long reign at the Caribbean level.
“This is my first day back [Saturday] and I looking at some of the juniors and I just can’t believe the growth we’ve had over the last 10 months I’ve been gone,” said Mekdeci.
Mekdeci, who missed the Woodpecker Products junior national squash championships because of studies abroad, said he is committed to the team and Guyanese can expect nothing but the commitment to the unit whether he’s in Guyana or studying abroad.
The captain, who is in his second year at the helm, noted that he will be giving it his all on the court while also banking on his experience and preparation to carry him through the tournament, in his final year.
Even though he missed the local competition, Mekdeci has been sharpening his skills since he is part of the squash team at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he studies.
Meanwhile, Shomari Wiltshire, who is expected to walk away with the boys Under – 15 title said that his preparation is coming along nicely.
“Well, I’ve been training every week. We have been training six days out of seven every week to do well at this tournament because we really want to win our 13th title,” the 13-year-old said.
Taylor Fernandes, on the other hand, who will lead the female charge, said that she is excited about the tournament and wishes success for all the girls.
“Most of us can bring top three and I really just hope the best for our girls. We’ve been training really hard and it will be a really exciting tournament for us.”
Fernandes named Beau Fernandes, Abosaide Cadagon, Makeda Harding as some of the few females who should easily do well at the tournament which runs from July 1 – 9.
