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Learning control the coaching session at the YMCA saw a predominantly female participation
Photo By: Ramon Ortega Montes
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03/16/2012
Present in Haiti from Monday 7th November to Sunday 18th December 2011, the country which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, Spain’s Ramon Ortega Montes, “Moncho”, returned on Sunday 19th February 2012.
The reason for leaving a European winter behind and seeking a sun drenched part of the world was not just to gain a sun tan. Moncho was present to work, to conduct the next part of a Developing a National Sports Structure Programme.
Supported by Olympic Solidarity and organised in conjunction with the ITTF Development Programme, the second of three parts forming the whole itinerary, will conclude on Monday 19th April 2012.
First Task
The first task for Moncho on his return to Haiti was to evaluate the work previously undertaken and hold an equipment seminar, in addition to visiting the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and a Refugee Camp.
“I arrived, everybody welcomed me like a long lost friend returning; I felt very much at home”, explained Moncho. “Meetings followed, I was shown pictures of what had been taking place during the two months I had been away, they showed me the work that had been carried out in various schools, they had organised a tournament; things were moving forward, it was good to see the progress.”
Preparation
The efforts most certainly pleased Moncho and he congratulated everyone; the next step was preparation for the ensuing four weeks.
“Usually a Developing a National Sports Structure Course follows an accepted pattern; in the first part the expert teaches, in the period between the first and second visits the locals try to put into practise what has been learned, in the third part this policy continues with the expert adopting a supervisory role”, explained Moncho. “They introduced me to Vladimyr Mathieu, a Level One coach who was not here during my first stay because he was attending a sport scholarship in Germany; during this current visit, he will be with me all the time; therefore, part of my work is to teach him as well.”
An exchange of ideas with Moncho (green shirt) at the helm of the Evaluation Meeting
Photo by Valdimyr Mathieu
Equipment Seminar
Plans in place, the next step was to arrange an equipment seminar. Many boxes containing rubbers, blades and glue had cleared customs and were available for distribution.
A total of 15 students attended the equipment seminar; they came from ten schools and from the Haiti Table Tennis Association.
Racket Care
“I showed the group how to apply the rubber to the racket blade and basically how to take good care of a table tennis racket”, continued Moncho. “We were able to make about 50, all of a good standard.”
The affixing of the rubber to the blade was met with eyes wide open.
“One of the participants, Esaie Termonfils, asked for permission to fix his own racket, yes, of course, I answered, expecting that from now on his racket will be with legal glue!” smiled Moncho. “Also, Thenor Nickholls from the Jean Jacques Rousseau School arrived a little bit late but very quickly he understood how to fix the rubbers with some explanations from Roudy Necessaire and myself.”
Learning to affix rubber to the blade of a racket was met with a sense of anticipation
Photo by Ramon Ortega Montes
Help from Butterfly and Mizuno
The blades were supplied by Butterfly and rubbers from Mizuno.
Visit to Refugee Camp
One challenge over, a second faced Moncho with a visit to the Carradeux Refugee Camp, just one slight problem, it appears there was no table tennis table!
No problem, a table was duly transported to the venue; a meeting point for everyone but with no walls.
The Refugee Camp, a roof, no walls and one Stag table tennis table, no problem for Moncho
Photo by Valdimyr Mathieu
Military Presence
“We had a lot of spectators and even the military from the nearby United Nations Headquarters came to see that nothing untoward was happening”, said Moncho, for whom it was another test of his ingenuity; just as it had been on his first visit when confronted with three hundred children and no equipment.Minute by minute more children arrived; we had some 39 players of whom five were girls; strangely many teenagers just stood at the side and watched”, continued Moncho. “The next day it was time to go to the YMCA; the job for Vladimyr was to find some way of transporting a table tennis table.”
Vladimyr duly succeeded.
Special Opening
“They opened specially on that day for us because normally it would be closed, so it was big thanks to their Director Gwenael Apollon”, said Moncho. “A total of 38 children with very different ages, 23 of them female, plus one adult took part; Fabrice Joseph and Vladimyr Mathieu, with some help from Roudy Necesaire organised matters as I had suggested.”
Three coaches on duty plus Moncho to supervise; the end result was a successful course with proceeding organised in the playground at the back of the YMCA buildings.
A late timing point but plenty of enthusiasm, at the YMCA players line up for table tennis
Photo by Ramon Ortega Montes
Perfect Way to Evaluate
“They were taught how to play forehand and backhand strokes; we tried some combination exercises with the session lasting about two hours”, explained Moncho. “However, most important was when the session had finished; we went to the local petrol station to discuss the organisation of the coaching session and to drink beer!”
It was seem the meeting was conducted in high spirits!
Carnival Time
“The following day we visited Saint Joseph School in Petion Ville but when we arrived there was no-one for table tennis; the reason being it was immediately after the Carnival and after several days of holiday, dance and parties, the children did not come to school!” said Moncho. ”Therefore, we went to the premises of the Haiti Table Tennis Association to discuss future plans.”
Nevertheless, despite the slight hiccup, progress in Haiti is being made; next on the agenda is a visit to Cap-Haitien in the north and north east of the country.
The travels of Christopher “Moncho” Columbus in the New World continue.
Moncho (centre back row) with aspiring players; potential abounds, they just need the opportunity
Photo by Valdimyr Mathieu
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