The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) began its International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) level one and women’s development coaching programme on schedule yesterday morning although the Argentine facilitator Alejandra Gabaglio was not present owing to a flight delay.

GTTA’s Assistant Secret-ary Linden Johnson informed Stabroek Sport at the opening of the programme that Gabaglio along with a participant from Cuba had  encountered problems with their flight arrangements but said he was  confident that it will be rectified soon.

Minister responsible for sport Dr Frank Anthony delivers the feature address at the opening of the ITTF Level one and Women’s development coaching course. (Clairmonte Marcus photo)

“The coach and a participating coach who is coming in from Cuba had problems with their flights coming in but we expect them shortly,” Johnson said. However, General Secretary of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe, told Stabroek Sport later yesterday that Gabaglio had already departed from Miami yesterday afternoon and was scheduled to arrive late last night on Caribbean Airlines flight 483.

The GTTA executives, however, proceeded with the start of the programme at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the opening ceremony was attended by the  Minster of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony. Dr. Anthony said that he was pleased with the initiatives taken by the GTTA to develop the sport locally adding that he felt that getting  local coaches to become qualified was  the way forward.

“Without having accredited persons, we would not be able to spread the game as rapidly as we need to spread the game locally and that is important.”Anthony also ad-vised the GTTA to fully utilize the Chinese coach Cheng Jian Hua, who is on a one-year stint here and other qualified coaches to qualify more persons in level one.

“We have enough qualified persons here to help qualify coaches in the level one because it is not too technical, it’s mostly the basics,” he said. The sports minister said too that qualifying more persons in the first level will attract the attention of administrators of the sport to create opportunities for them to be further qualified.

Munroe said that the programme has so far attracted 24 participants from as far as Bartica, Linden, Corriverton and West Bank of Demerara. Munroe also said the Argentine coach is expected to assume control of the programme from today.