He started to play volleyball a little over five years ago and today 20-year-old Kristoff Shepperd is enjoying marvellous success at the international level.
Shepherd recently copped the best server award during the Inter-Guianas under – 21 volleyball tournament in Cayenne.
The University of Guyana International Relations student sat down with Stabroek Sport recently and recounted the joy of copping the award, labelling it the most prized in his fledging career.
Asked whether the achievement was the apex of his career, Shepperd recalled: “Yes, because it is my first individual international award.
“This award has boosted my confidence immensely because it shows that I’m the best under – 21 server in the three Guianas for 2020 and that is a great accomplishment but as my club coach said, ‘it doesn’t stop there.’
“I still have a lot of work to put in and to take my game to the next level.”
Evidently one of the hardest working players around, Shepherd is certainly among Guyana’s brightest prospects moving forward.
During his five years in the sport, he has represented Guyana on four occasions and suited up for Demerara at the senior level once.
Looking ahead to the 2021 edition of the Inter-Guianas under – 21 volleyball tournament, the 20-year old said that he is keen to produce similar high calibre performances to help Guyana regain the championship success they tasted in 2019.
However, in assessing Guyana’s unfortunate run in this year’s tournament, the university student disclosed that more time to acclimatize would have made a difference.
“Personally, I think that if the team had arrived in French Guiana at least two days before the competition, we would have done better, since we would have had time to acclimatize and get enough rest.
“I’m quite pleased with the team’s performance. Due to the circumstances that we as a team have been through, we went out there and we played the game we love. Although we were defeated by Suriname which hasn’t happened in years, I think that from last year to now, team Guyana has improved their overall game tremendously.
“Now we have to go back to the drawing board, see what we did wrong and come harder next year.
“I encourage [everyone] on the team and those who will be trying out for the team next year to continue training hard and continue to put in that work and let’s go back there next year and take that championship.”
