President of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) David Fernandes is hoping that the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic subsides in the coming months so as to expose the country’s top juniors to some much-needed international squash in an effort to further foster their development.
“There are tournaments that are being scheduled but worldwide the situation is getting worse… the senior US Open was recently called off but we have a few tournaments to go to especially the juniors are slated to attend the Canadian and US Open both of which will be held in December,” the country’s top squash official told Stabroek Sport.
Conscious of the serious threat that the deadly disease poses and in light of those possible tours in December, Fernandes said that he hopes the situation improves.
“…So we are hoping that something happens by then; either a vaccine or a cure.”
Earlier in the year, Fernandes was adamant about exposing the likes of Shomari Wiltshire, Michael Alphonso, Abosaide Cadogan, Kisten Gomes, Nicholas Verwey, and a few others to topflight squash outside of their comfort zones.
He had expressed to this publication the association’s intent to send a junior national boys team to the 2020 Pan Am junior championships in El Salvador ahead of the junior Caribbean champions in Bermuda.
Both events were cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
The chief squash administrator, who has been a diligent and long-serving member to the local squash fraternity, is also calling on the authorities to consider opening up a few of the goGovernment administrated facilities for players to train.
He, however, noted that if the consideration is heeded, players should observe the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations on how to stay safe.
“… One of the major concerns we have is no access to courts because the national racquet centre is closed for both lawn tennis and squash and the Georgetown Club is closed so there no way for the athletes to put in some work.
“It’s really hard if you can’t access a court to play at the top level squash. It’s really hard because this is something we would have never guessed would happen in our lifetime.”
Even if there is a possible window for the juniors to compete internationally later in the year if a vaccine or another medical alternative is developed, Fernandes pointed out that the seniors are pretty much done for the year since a number of senior tournaments have already been shelved.
He explained that there are a few South American senior tournaments scheduled for October, however, Guyana’s participation is unlikely because access to training facilities is not possible at this time while the glum economic climate will also impact the association’s decision.
