27 Mar 2017

Abilio Cruz has been the expert on duty for many courses organised under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme; he is one of the most course conductors with a wealth of knowledge, his caring and thoughtful approach is appreciated by all.

At the end of such initiatives it has been his privilege to present students with certificates; on Saturday 25th March, once again he presented a diploma; the citation read quite simply Reinan and Ana.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Successful students quite clearly and in each other’s eyes perfect partners, from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, from different hemispheres; in the beautiful Atlantic island of Madeira, Brazil’s Reinan Wiest married Portugal’s Ana Neves.

“In Madeira they fell in love, today they are husband and wife thanks to table tennis; it proves that table tennis players belong to one family”, Abilio Cruz

Both had attended courses led by Abilio Cruz before moving to England where they are currently coaches; under the Greenhouse Sports Scheme, Ana is a coach at Morpeth School, Reinan at the Ernest Bevan Academy.

In addition to Abilio Cruz, guests included several Portuguese international players in addition to England’s Matthew Stanforth and girlfriend Ana Silva.

The wedding party in Madeira (left to right) Leila Oliveira, Mariana Gonçalves, Ana Neves, Renan Weist and Ana Silva (Photo: courtesy of Abilio Cruz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General News Abilio Cruz Reinan Wiest Ana Neves