SEVERAL representatives from sponsors of the Guyana team to the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships, including Digicel and Ansa McAl, encouraged the team at a small gathering at the Georgetown Club yesterday.The officials included Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager, Luanna Abrams and Ansa McAl Smalta Brand Manager Anjeta Hinds, who wished the 22-man team well ahead of their departure early this morning for the Cayman Islands, where the tournament will be held from July 14 to 25.
Speaking on behalf of Digicel, Abrams noted how happy and proud the company was to see the team off. Digicel has a longstanding relationship with the GSA as a corporate sponsor to the entity.
“We are so happy to know that our team is going off, and of course we know that they are definitely going to make us proud. For the past couple of years we have been proud sponsors of the Guyana Squash Association, and we are so happy that we continue to support. It is central to our objective for youth and community development.” Abrams said.
Guyana are the defending team champions at the competition. The Guyana team last year copped their 11th consecutive title, and 21st overall team title at the championships, which also features an individual division where players can play for individual titles in the various age categories.
Team captain for the male team, Benjamin Mekdeci, is really satisfied with the team, and highlighted the team’s unity as something that sets them apart from the other Caribbean teams
“I really think that our team dynamic is something that has always stood apart from the rest of the Caribbean, because we really have a sense of unity. It’s one Association and one club, I think that’s something that we have that’s really strong.” Mekdeci said.
Mekdeci will be participating in the Boys Under-19 category where he will be hoping to take home an individual title. He will then lead the Boys’ team which will also be defending the Boys Team title.
This will be Mekdeci’s first year in the Under-19 category after moving out of the Under-17 category he participated in last year. At that time, Mekdeci made it all the way to the Boys Under-17 finals before he was cut down by Barbados’ Jossiah Griffith.
The female team, on the other hand, is being captain by Taylor Fernandes this year. Though she admitted that she feels the weight of the expectations upon them, she is confident they can once again prevail and bring home victory for Guyana.
“It’s kind of nerve-racking because I have the responsibility of leading the team, but I think we can do it. We’ve worked really hard and hope we bring home the 12th title. We have our national coach Carl Ince, who has been pushing us really hard,” Fernandes stated.
Meanwhile, defending champion in the Boys Under-13 category Shomari Wiltshire, is very much looking forward to returning and preserving his title.
“I feel really good, and I think I can win it again. I’ve been training very hard over the past few weeks.” Wiltshire noted.
The 22 players will be accompanied to the championships by team manager Garfield Wiltshire, assistant manager David Fernandes, coach Carl Ince and assistant coach Akeila Wiltshire.