Wilburg pleased with performance of table tennis team
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
August 27, 2003
MANAGER/coach Joel Wilburg has expressed satisfaction with the performances of Guyana’s senior table tennis team despite they did not medal at the 43rd Central American and Caribbean championship that was staged in Jamaica.
The team, however, was not at full strength, missing Berthnell Richards and Trenace Lowe in the female department and Godfrey Munroe on the male side.
“The team fought gallantly, that’s the best word to describe them, since they were pretty young and inexperienced, and I’m pleased with their performances.”
Wilburg felt that missing Richards was a severe blow to the team since she was experienced in the competitions and would have offered strength to the team. From reports he received, Richards was unable to participate since she missed her scheduled flight.
Coach Linden Johnson was also unable to attend the championship. He however, was high in praise for Jody-Ann Blake who was a sure contender. Lowe lost in the quarter-final round to Trinidad and Tobago’s number one Rhean Chung, on account of injury.
Wilburg noted that Blake sustained the injury when she hit her hand on the table and was in severe pain throughout the match. Lowe had earlier claimed a victory over the Chung and also T&T’s number two seed Aleena Edwards.
Guyana’s other female player, Michelle John, reached the quarterfinals after a victory over the Dominican Republic’s number three seed Johenny Valdez in the women’s singles. She did not progress beyond that point, but she must be commended for her effort at the tender age of 13.
The talk of the tournament was Matthew Khan’s controversial loss to Jamaica’s number one Darren Blake, who is London-based, in the round of 32.
Khan and Blake were locked at 3-all but in the seventh-set decider, the former was leading 6-2 for a sure victory when a Jamaican referee made a call that Khan’s service was illegal and awarded three points to Blake.
Khan, obviously affected by what Wilburg called ‘blatant robbery’, eventually lost to Blake.
He noted that Blake approached him later and admitted that the referee’s call was wrong and was an underhand tactic.
Andrew Daly had his moment to shine when he disposed of Jamaican Nigel Webb in the male singles but was knocked out as well, while Paul Meusa was commended for his effort in taking the 2002 champion Trevor Farley to five sets. Meusa eventually fell to Farley.
The Dominican Republic carted off the male singles title through Lin Ju, while Wu Zu claimed the female title. Both are world-rated players who have been adopted to play for the Republic, a move that has caused concerns among the Caribbean countries.
The CAC Congress has passed a rule blocking the Republic and any other country from this practice, a move which Wilburg supports.
He says that as a Caribbean people we should have only CAC nationals participate in the tournament and as the level rises then we can invite these Chinese or world-rated players outside of the region to participate.
The championship attracted some ten counties in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, the Dominican Republics, Venezuela, Curacao, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Puerto Rico and the hosts Jamaica. It was staged in the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology, Mona, Kingston.
Next year’s senior CAC championships will be staged in Trinidad and Tobago, while the juniors tournament will be held in Barbados.
Venezuela will host the seniors and Curacao the juniors in 2005.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will be gearing for a few more international tournaments before the season closes later this year.
Players are expected to be in Chile, at the U.S. Open and possibly in Iran, if the necessary funding is acquired.