East Bank Table Tennis Coaching Programme a success
Sep 06, 2016, , http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....programme-a-success/
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level-One Coach Candacy McKenzie contributed to the expansion of the Sport of Table Tennis in Guyana by hosting the ‘’Breaking Down Barriers with Table Tennis Balls’ Programme on the East Bank of Demerara from August 18-30.
McKenzie, who successfully concluded the ITTF Basic Umpires and Tournament referees course under the tutelage of ITTF Umpires Course Instructor Silvia Garro, contributed to making a difference in her community by organizing a ‘School Vacation’ training camp for the children from ages six to fifteen from Grove and Craig on the East Bank Demerara where she resides.
A Table Tennis enthusiast, McKenzie is regular fixture at GTTA’s tournaments; Umpiring, assisting with tournament draws and fixtures with a passion for the development of the sport. The programme was supported by the GTTA with balls, racquets, score counters and barriers.
McKenzie used her knowledge and certification to coach youths in the area to help provide an opportunity for them to learn life skills and to introduce the youngsters to the sport in a fun way in the hope of having them become national players, thus developing the sport on the East Bank and establishing her club.
Using the ground floor of ‘Juju Place’ in Grove which is equipped with two tables, McKenzie went into the community to get parents and children on board the programme and recruited over forty students.
“It was a pleasure to see her aptly going through her instructions with the kids and their attentive ears as some parents looked on with admiration,” President of the GTTA Godfrey Munroe informed.
The sessions lasted from 09:30hrs to noon for the 6-11age-group and from 13:00-16:00hrs for the 11-16s.
Monroe, a former National and Caribbean Table Tennis champion, felt the initiative was a wonderful one with many of the students staying beyond the scheduled cut-off time to play, making the area a hive of activity with youthful Table Tennis players.
At the closing McKenzie expressed her appreciation on behalf of the GTTA and extended gratitude to Parents and Guardians who gave the children the opportunity to participate in the programme.
“I feel that with the player’s interest and determination, these participants will definitely perform well in Table Tennis,” McKenzie opined.
“I am eager to continue working with them in the future in schools, on weekends and in after-school programmes because they all have potential,” added the Coach.