Fixing table tennis

TABLE TENNIS interests believe that with insightful leadership and the implementation of several initiatives geared to development, Jamaica can again rise above the rest of the region in the sport.

Sunday Gleaner sources, however, indicate that the current administration of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA), which has already disintegrated since being elected more than two years ago, is lacking the acumen to move the sport from the quagmire it has stagnated in for years.

According to sources, the removal of the executive, led by president Andrew Lue, is one of the cures for the ailing sport as the leadership has lost relevance with several of the members resigning their positions. An attempt to get a comment from Lue this week, for the second time, fell through.

One source argued that table tennis needs capital with a leader capable of courting corporate Jamaica.

“Table tennis needs some money to be invested to go forward. For a leader, I would recommend somebody who has some money to invest in table tennis, who corporate Jamaica knows and who has the will for table tennis to be seen on the international circuit,” the source said.

Former president Keith Garvey added: “It is about getting the proper team in place, willing to do the hard work. The problem with minor sport in Jamaica is that nobody wants to go into the trenches and do the work.”

Garvey argued that the JTTA must establish a symbiotic relationship between players, coaches and sponsors, which will help to chart the path for Jamaica to return to the top of the Caribbean. This must start with a good plan that includes investing in younger players that will participate in regional tournaments to develop.

Meanwhile, the other sources agree that finding a suitable home for table tennis will also assist in taking the sport on the island from the doldrums, with one stating that this will allow players with time to spare to go to the facility to hone their skill.

HOME FOR TABLE TENNIS

A source contends that the home for table tennis will help the island’s profile, with members of the various national teams being able to practise there. The source also stated that the facility would be better able to attract international coaches to assist the island’s players.

Meanwhile, restarting business house and intercollegiate competitions are other methods to uplift the sport on the island, according to a source, who emphasised the importance of the latter, which can be used as a drawing card to attract recruits.

The source stated intercollegiate table tennis would reopen the door to local universities offering scholarships, which is the end goal of many parents when they allow their children to participate in the sport.

It is this stage that Garvey envisages will make long-term gains for Jamaica.

“This means starting from the foundational level, ground level, which is getting into the primary schools, the all-age schools. They will have to go out into the parishes and start with even six schools in each parish, but start at that level.

“Get equipment into these schools as it is a numbers game, so they must push it at that level because that is where talent comes from and popularise the sport at that level. They need to spend the little money they have on grassroots table tennis, build from the bottom up,” Garvey said.

Another way to lift the profile of Jamaica’s table tennis, according to one source, is for an international coach to take charge of the national programmes. The source argued that the current stock of Jamaican nationals being used as national coaches is incapable of progressing the sport.

“We need international help to take the players to where we need to go for Jamaica to be on the map, and I do not feel any of these coaches can do the job,” the source said.

job.nelson@gleanerjm.com