By Kiev Chesney
The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) yesterday received some much needed assistance for its hosting of the 13th annual Caribbean Junior and Cadet Championships from Nigel’s Supermarket and Sleepin’ Hotels.
Nigel’s Supermarket yesterday agreed to pick up the tab for transporting the teams from the airport, while Sleepin’ International Hotels donated a quantity of T-shirts which will be used by the players throughout the championships.
Executive Assistant of Nigel’s Supermarket Shawnette Younge presented a cheque for $84,000 to the GTTA at a brief presentation ceremony yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall whilst expressing her company’s commitment to the sport.
“We at Nigel’s Superma-rket see this as an opportunity to play our part in the development of the sport and we will continue to be committed to any positive initiative involving the youths of the country,” she said.
Sleepin’ International Hotel made sure that all the local players will be well-uniformed with stylish T-shirts.
Supervisor of the establishment, Malika Benjamin, presented Assistant Secretary of the GTTA Linden Johnson with 150 team T-shirts.
Proprietor of Sleepin’ International Hotels, Clifton Bacchus, told Stabroek Sport the he had no problem answering the call made by the GTTA for assistance since he was very passionate about the game both as a player and as a fan.
Bacchus explained that his willingness was also fuelled by the fact that he had not been exposed to proper facilities as a young table tennis player, adding that he made it his duty to assist in the development of the sport locally whenever he could.
“I really love the game and I want to see the sport go to the next level in Guyana so that has motivated me to assist the GTTA,” Bacchus said.
The Caribbean Junior and Cadet tournament will serve-off its first matches on Friday at 9am at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, after which there will be an official ceremony at 5pm at the same venue.
Seven countries including Guyana will participate in the tournament which also serves as a first step qualification tournament for teams and players hoping to compete in the World Junior TT championships and the World Cadet championships later this year.
The countries are the Dominican Republic, St Kitts/Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Curacao and Guyana.
