by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Staged throughout in the National Sports Institute, the expert on duty was Spain’s Ramon Ortega Montes, alias Moncho, the Development Officer for the Latin American Table Tennis Union.
Currently, there are political problems in Venezuela but Moncho was assured by Francisco Seijas, for many years, the country,s national coach, that he was in no danger; elections were due to be staged.
A total of 31 students attended the course of whom six were women, physical education teachers and full-time professional coaches were prominent.
Notably there was one course member from Oporto in Portugal, Daniela Gomes, the ITTF Development, Education and Training Projects Officer; the remaining members being from Venezuela. The cities represented were: Aragua, Barinas, Carabobo, Coyedes, Cuatire, Delta Amacuro, Distrito Capital, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Suare, Tachira, Yaracuy and Zulia.
Most beneficially, for the Para element, two wheelchair players, one Class 4, the other Class 5, assisted.
Additionally, Moncho visited the Venezuelan National Olympic Committee and met Eduardo Alvarez, the President. Moncho explained the possibilities of TTX being played on the beach where a new centre for volleyball is planned. Also, he played table tennis against Eduardo Alvarez, the surface being the meeting room table, the racket, the ITTF Level One Coaching Manual; innovation.
Overall, 24 students passed the course.
“I really understood what has to be taught and to have the goal of teaching each one of the single participants from a course. It helped me to understand the structure, the protocols and many, many things.” Daniela Gomes
“I have learned a great deal, I came with almost no knowledge and now I’m leaving with a great knowledge of table tennis. My goal is help children and other people in my region, Delta Amacuro.” Luis Daniel Lopez
“I’m a teacher and work with children, I liked a lot the course and I’m very happy as I’m leaving the course with a New Windows 10, the gift Ramon gave us.” Erik Gonzalez
“Things so different from the things I knew before and also there are different ways to teach.” Michel Garcia
“I have been a professional player for many years now, most of the time, the things I learned here, many coaches did not tell me before.” Alexis Tovar
“For me the most challenging part was to play with your other hand.” David Pannacci
“It was a different course, I laughed a lot and also I learned a lot.” Iris Rocio Perez
“I want to put all in practice with the children of my school, city and my table tennis family. I’m ready and willing.” Michelle Leal
“I was really impressed with so many things, among them, the punctually of all participants from minute one, the participants tried so hard to understand what I was explaining. All the time they were focused. I will always remember Jonathan Pino, a member of the Venezuelan national team. He was the expert at multi-ball; he adapted to the needs of the course.” Moncho
