Three teenagers are among the five table tennis players recommended by Dexter St Louis to attend the Swedish Elite Center in Koping, Sweden.
Two 15-year-olds, Aaron Wilson and Brittany Joseph, as well as Arun Roopnarine, 16, are on St Louis’ list, in addition to the Humphreys brothers, Curtis and Alaric.
St Louis told the Express, yesterday, he spoke to Ahlen Soren, the head coach at the Elite Center, and subsequently provided Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association (T&TTTA) president Reeza Burke with all the necessary information.
“The deal is that we can send our best players—best meaning not by our ranking list, which is based on local tournaments, but the ones who are technically, mentally and physically capable of improving. During my time in T&T, I noticed five players—the Humphreys brothers, Brittany, Arun and Aaron. These players will be first served.
“If Stanley Hunte, Reeza, Ian Joseph, Anthony Brown or Dennis La Rose has any other players they feel have the capacity which is required, they will be added to the list, hoping that there is place in the dorms in Sweden, seeing that there is limited space. The training (opportunity) is open from now until June 20, 2014.”
St Louis said the potential benefits of attending the Swedish Elite Center outweigh the cost.
“The price is 150 euros per week, including three meals from Monday to Friday. Players will have to organise their own meals over the weekends. Training is around four to five hours a day divided into two sessions—9 to 11.30 a.m. and 3 to 5 in the afternoon. This is a great opportunity for our players, who on many occasions waste time and money going to tournaments that they hardly benefitted from.
“These players or parents,” the France-based pro continued, “spending money on themselves or their children to go to a world championships just to add to his or her boasting rights, to say I went here or there, is really senseless. Tour or tournaments, however they may call it, cannot be the solution for improvement. You improve by proper training, and believe me this training centre is the answer.”
St Louis said there is need for a better approach to the game by the country’s top players.
“I personally think our national team lacks discipline in the way we prepare and the way we conduct ourselves in going about our work. Don’t get me wrong. (Coach) Reeza and (manager) Collin Cudjoe do the best they can. However, I still feel some players have to be more disciplined than what was seen (at the Caribbean Championships) in St Lucia.”
St Louis also suggested the return of former president Hunte to the administrative fold.
“I had a long discussion on the phone with Stanley. I can hear in his voice the love for the game. Today, Reeza needs all the help necessary, and by the way, Stanley is retired and has the time to invest.”