The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) treated their contingent that recently returned from a victorious campaign at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in Barbados, by hosting a barbecue in their honour at the Georgetown Club on Tuesday night.

Champions!!! Members of the junior squash team display their trophies for photographers during the barbecue in their honour at the Georgetown Club.

The team, who deserve a lot of praise and recognition, retained the boys’ and girls’ Caribbean championships as well as the overall team championship. This is Guyana’s 16th overall championship since the inception of the championships 28 years ago in 1981, Guyana therefore holds the esteem as the most decorated country to take part in the event.

According to Robert Fernandes, Manager of this year’s team, the current generation of squash players has taken up the reins knowing fully well that they have to carry on the winning legacy of their predecessors.

Fernandes related that it was this that motivated the underdog boys’ team to secure their victory. “Everyone stepped up, Guyana has a long tradition of winning (at CASA) and the team was aware of this and so everyone did their best” he said.

In recent years Guyana’s triumphs are owed, in large part, to the expert tutelage of national coach Carl Ince who is a member of an elite club that consists of the world’s twelve Level 4 Elite England Certified Squash Coaches.

Fernandes is of the opinion that Ince’s coaching coupled with the immaculate squash facilities in Guyana are key to the success currently being enjoyed by the GSA. “Once Guyanese have proper facilities and high quality coaching they can compete on par with the Caribbean and the World” he affirmed.