Christophe, Munroe spearhead TT team to C/bean c/ships
By Faizool Deo
Stabroek News
June 30, 2004
Former Caribbean men's doubles champion Sydney Christophe and Godfrey Munroe will spearhead the Guyana men's table tennis team to the 44th annual Central American and Caribbean table tennis championships billed for Trinidad and Tobago from August 1-8.
Munroe and Christophe have been named along with Matthew Khan and Christopher Franklyn in the men's team which will have Andrew Daly and Paul Meusa as stand-by players.
Both Munroe and Christophe were missing from the team which took part in last year's tournament.
Former Caribbean junior girls champion Bertnell Richards returns to the women's team after missing last year's championships. Her return along with that of seasoned campaigner Vida Moore will greatly boost the women's chances of landing a medal.
The women's team will be spearheaded by reigning Caribbean junior girls' champion Jody Ann Blake and Michelle John, runner-up to Blake.
Trenace Lowe and Rhonda Farley are the stand-by players.
The selected men's team reads, Khan, Christophe, Munroe, Franklin, Daly and Meusa.
Women: Blake, John, Richards, Moore, Lowe and Farley. The first four players on both the male and female sides will have their expenses taken care of by the Guyana Table Tennis Association, while the two stand-by players would most likely have to take care of their own expenses.
The selections committee, under chairman Joel Wilbury, includes Linden Johnson, Debbie Mckenzie, Leon Yaw and chinese coach Zhou Ping.
Wilburg, speaking to Stabroek Sports said that Munroe, who finished 11th with 26 points during the GTTA's season which included tournaments and three sets of Trials, was selected since he had done well in the third and final Trial the only one in which he participated.
"Munroe informed the selection committee that owing to the illness of his father he would miss the first two Trials.
The selection committee met and concluded that since Munroe has a good track record, if he did well in the final Trial we would select him," Wilburg said.
Wilburg further stated that the selection committee picked the team not only on performance but also on attendance, discipline and age.
When the announcement was made yesterday after the practice session at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall not all the table tennis players were happy, Wilburg, though, stated that the best team was selected to represent Guyana.
"I know that most of you are disappointed but what you must understand is that only 12 players can take part, so this should inspire you to work harder, so that next year your name would be on the list," he told the players.
Chinese coach, Zhou Ping, who has been in charge of the players since last September is very confident that those selected will do well in Trinidad.
"The players have greatly improved, as far as their performance is concerned.
"Last year the male team placed sixth while the female placed fourth, I am sure that with the level of their expertise that performance would be bettered this year."
When asked which of the players he is impressed with, Ping replied that Khan and John were very good. Both players had come out on top of the Trials that were held over the last few weeks..
Both Khan and John have also indicated to Stabroek Sports that they think they can do well in Trinidad.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Table Tennis Association will hold junior trials on Saturday at 14:00 hrs, and Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 hrs.
When these trials conclude the selection committee using the same criteria of selection as they did for the senior side will select under 18, under 15 and under 12 teams to take part in the Junior Caribbean Championships from August 28th to September 4th in Venezuela.
This is the first year that the under 15 and under 12 teams competition will be held at the regional level.
The officials for both teams will be named shortly.