By Avenash Ramzan
Head Coach of Guyana’s volleyball contingent at this weekend’s Inter-Guiana Games, Levi Nedd, is confident the male team can repeat as champions after a phenomenal 3-1 win against host Suriname in the final in 2014.
Guyana’s male volleyballers have always been a dominant force at the Games, and this year would be no different providing the players can perform to the high level of expectation that coach Nedd has of them.
Since there was no Inter-Guiana Games last year, the volleyballers’ last outing was in 2014 when they pulled off a thrilling win over the Surinamese in their own backyard. In that instance, Nedd was also the coach.
Looking forward to this weekend’s challenge against Suriname, the highly experienced Berbician coach said the players have been gelling well and are ready for the task at hand, fully aware that the Dutch nation players will be seeking revenge.
“Well, I’ll tell you what- most of these guys are from the GuySuCo Apprentice Training Centre in Berbice. They’ve lived there for two years, trained there for two years, they wrote their exams, [and] now they’re out at estates as third year apprentices, so the oneness so to speak is there. Suffice to say, the others who are not from the GuySuCo Training Centre would have been persons who have been training with them on a daily basis,” Nedd, a former national player, stated.
Nedd expressed confidence the players can pull off another title this weekend, as the coaching team comprising himself, Rashad Razak and Jadeshwar Doolchand has been working overtime in getting the player fully prepped for the games.
“With the males, we’ve had some repeats from last IGG to start with, and then they’ve had some form of international exposure before. So I trust they would be able to account for themselves properly,” Nedd pointed out.
The male team will be led by Samuel Fraser and he is one of four players returning from the 2014 team- the others being Ravi Rampertab, Xavier Lambert and Klondyke Rodney.
The other eight members of the team are Marcelious Hector (Vice-captain), Vickram Nandram, Lezon Khan, Jermaine Munroe, Andy Rohoman, Alex Fung- Fook, Kelon Leitch and Joel Cort.
The female team comprises Candacy Mentore, Krystal Paddy, Stefania Williams, Sheliza Edwards, Rushell Dundas, Shania Thomas, Sherry-Ann Fraser, Cassie Junor, Minerva Fitzpatrick, Annalisa Vincent, Ire Cadogan and Fanke David.
Volleyball action will take place on Friday from 13:00h to 17:00h; Saturday from 15:00h to 19:00h; and Sunday from 13:00h to 17:00h. All matches will be played at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Cover photo caption: The male volleyballers during a training session this week
