Photo By: Leandro Olvech

Franklyn McLeod and Edith McCloed regenerating table tennis in the Netherlands Antilles

10/26/2009
The Netherlands Antilles, as the name suggests, is part of the Dutch Kingdom, comprising five islands in the idyllic Caribbean Sea; for water sports it is a haven but from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd October 2009, it was table tennis that took centre stage.

Argentina’s Leandro Olvech, the ITTF Co-ordinator of Development Programmes, was present to conduct an Olympic Solidarity Course under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme; a course which involved delivering the ITTF/PTT Level One Coach Education programme.

A total or 22 students attended of whom six were women.

Five Islands
“The Netherlands Antilles is a group of five islands in the Caribbean Sea that belongs to the Dutch Kingdom”, explained Leandro Olvech. “The five islands are Curacao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten, half of this island belongs to France, the capital of the Netherlands Antilles is Willemstad, located in Curacao, where the course was held; all the islands were represented, even the small Saba with only 1400 habitants and an area of 13 square kilometers.”

In many ways the area is similar to Aruba which Leandro Olvech had visited prior to his travels to Curacao.

Language
“As in Aruba, the language spoken at home is Papiamento”, he explained “Dutch is used in the schools and administration but English rules around touristic areas.”

A multi-lingual society; just as he had found in Aruba where he had been warmly welcomed and surprised by the enthusiasm for the sport of table tennis.

Surprise
Equally in Curacao there was a surprise in store.

“I was been really surprised when I arrived to the venue, Curacao has a permanent table tennis venue with capacity for five tables and four of them are showcase style!” enthused Leandro Olvech. “The Netherlands Antilles was almost inactive in recent years in the sport of table tennis but a couple of natives took the charge of the Federation two years ago, they are Franklyn McLeod and his wife Edith, they are on their 70s but work with the energy of teenagers, this couple show up every day at the table tennis centre, coach the children and also the national team.”

Delighted with Course
It is quite incredible but of course age should not be a barrier and with experience comes wisdom.

“We are happy to host this course, the first such ITTF course one ever in our islands”, said the energetic couple. “It was the opportunity to gather the table tennis fans from our five islands together, some of us met for the first time; we are very satisfied with the course and surprised by the social work that the ITTF is doing around the world.”

Equally, Rignald Eugenio, a coach from Saint Maarten was also delighted. “The programme was excellent from easy to hard”, he said. “Good timing, good training materials and the manual was very useful.”

Perfect Balance
Another very contented participant was Maeyla Pandt from Curacao.

“The balance between theory and practical was perfect”, she explained. It was because listening to the theory is one thing but doing it yourself you can correct any mistakes.”

Certainly the visit of Leandro Olvech has been a boost to table tennis in that part of the world.

Promotes Table Tennis
“During the last two weeks the ITTF has been present for the first time in the Dutch Caribbean, one course in Aruba and then another immediately after in the Netherlands Antilles”, said Leandro Olvech. “I hope it boosts development, for sure the participants and the National Federations are fully motivated to go further.”

Good news and a further endorsement of the ITTF Development Programme.

Busy Time
“It was has been a very active month in Latin America, with coaching courses in Cuba, Venezuela, Guatemala, Uruguay, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles and still two courses to follow in Argentina and the Dominican Republic”, explained Leandro Olvech. “Also, there was a training camp for juniors in Venezuela and an Umpires and Referees course in Barbados; it all happened in 30 days, this shows the good co-operation among between the International Table Tennis Federation, the Latin American Table Tennis Union and Olympic Solidarity.”

Co-operation is as always the basis for success.

Vote of Thanks
“My thanks to the National Federations and to the course conductors that made a great job”, concluded Leandro Olvech. “Namely Sweden’s Soren Ahlen, Costa Rica’s Fernando Aguilar, Venezuela’s Francisco Seijas, El Salvador’s Carlos Esnard, Cuba’s Evelio Alvarez, Brazil’s Lincon Yasuda and Argentina’s Alejandra Gabaglio; good work Latin American Table Tennis Union.”

Congratulations to all concerned, the merits of the ever growing ITTF Development Programme were once again thoroughly and indelibly endorsed.

Action stations in Curacao