Former national men's squash player Ramon Chan-A-Sue is enthusiastic about the number of talented squash players in the country. Chan-A-Sue, who is now occupied as a full time coach in Canada was back home for the Christmas holidays and in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport said he was impressed with the talent he has seen in Guyana.
Many people might not know it but Chan-A-Sue serves as coach of Guyana's men's team. Additionally he was the coach of the girl who defeated Nicholette Fernandes in the final of last year's Canadian open Kyla Grigg.
Asked how difficult it was coaching another player to defeat a player from one's own country, Chan-A-Sue said it was very difficult.
He said he was torn by emotions - his patriotism for the land of his birth and his loyalty to his charge.
In the end he said his professionalism own over.
Chan-A-Sue lauded Fernandes and Kristian Jeffrey for their performances in reaching the finals and semi-finals respectively of the United States junior championships last month. Chan-A-Sue said their achievements in reaching the top four was amazing given the quality of players in the US.
But while acknowledging the undoubted talent that resides here Chan-A-Sue was looking at how that talent could be developed.
"How your are going to tap those resources, that's going to be the challenge," said Chan-A-Sue who at one time was a member of the Guyana men's team which boasted four of the top players in the region.
That six member men's team included apart from Chan-A-Sue players of the calibre of Max Weithers, Richard Chin, Garfield Wiltshire, Roger Arjoon and Khalil Alli. The formidable team was virtually unbeatable at the regional championships.
And, while basking in the successes of that team, Chan-A-Sue is at the same time lamenting the fact that there is not a corresponding amount of junior boys players around. "We have not really produced solid juniors since Reagan (Pollard) and that concerns me," he said.
SPORT AND EDUCATION
Chan-A-Sue said in Canada the kids balance education and sport. They use sport as a vehicle to jump start and further their education adding that he did not think that some of the athletes here understood that concept.
Chan-A-Sue said he is of the opinion that parents should encourage their children to participate in sports activities whilst pursuing their education since he felt that "sports and education go hand in hand."
NO LEVEL PLAYING COURT
Squash players in Guyana suffer from many disadvantages, Chan-A Sue feels suggesting that there might not be a level playing court.
He highlighted some of the differences between squash players in Guyana and those from Canada which, he pointed out were:-
1) Access to coaching
2) Access to competition
3) Access to quality players and quality training sessions Chan-A-Sue pointed out that the young kids in Canada play tournaments every two weeks from September to April which makes them almost always tournament ready. "The competition is always there to push the athletes to a higher level," he said pointing out that such is the case with Grigg and Rackita Kumar who also holds a victory over Fernades in the Canadian junior final.
He revealed that there are different levels of competition in Canada ranging from the National championships which is a closed tournament to the Winter games.
Chan-A-Sue says that coaching in Canada can be quite lucrative but that prospective coaches must have playing experience behind them.