As tributes continue to pour in following the death of former Caribbean table tennis men’s singles champion, George “The Chief” Brathwaite, his dear friend, Errol Caetano – a Caribbean champion himself – is the latest to deliver touching words on his passing.
Caetano is the first Guyanese male player to win the prestigious men’s singles crown at the annual Caribbean Table Tennis Championships.
“I was introduced to George when I was 15-years- old at the CNE in Toronto by Derek Wall, another old friend that has passed. Seeing that we were both from British Guiana, now known as Guyana, we slowly developed a friendship and over the years became not only good friends but also competitors,” Caetano said.
He added that he admired George “not only for his talent, but his dedication to the sport and to his training.”
He described him as a natural athlete.
“George was not only a table tennis player but a track and field star as well back home. A natural athlete that once he put his mind to something he would not quit until he had completed it to the best of his ability. We had many hard-fought matches and many good times together.”
According to Caetano, the relationship between the two grew in the 1970s following a stint together in China and their time on the national table tennis team.
“In 1971, we were lucky enough to be invited to China after the world championships in Nagoya Japan. George on the American team and me on the Canadian team; it was a life-changing experience not only for us but I think for the sport in North America.
“In 1972, I was invited to play for Guyana in the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in Trinidad where I had the honour of playing with George not only as a teammate but also playing in the doubles event with him.
“The team consisting of George, Gordon Stevens, Garth Issacs and myself where we were fortunate enough to win the team event, the men’s doubles and I managed to beat Robert Earl of Barbados in the finals of the men’s singles. It was a very successful tournament for Guyana and he was very proud of that. We were then invited back to Guyana following the tournament for a little celebration where we spent a few quality days together. George then returned in later years to win the singles title himself and that’s the determination I am speaking of: never quit until you succeed.”
In concluding his impressionable tribute to the Guyanese table tennis icon, Caetano said “Rest in peace my good friend you have touched many people’s lives in a positive way.”
