Table Tennis Federation host five-day coaching clinic

mainly targeted at female participants.
Slovenian expert Polona Susin, who is the ITTF development officer responsible for the development of table tennis in the world, is training 20 participants on the technical aspects of the game.
He will also touch on mental and physical preparations for a tournament, including coaching athletes with a disability.
This programmme precedes a two-day training camp for junior table tennis players that starts on Monday and ends with recommendations for the development of the game by the trainer.
“Those who wish to enhance their career in table tennis will find it necessary to take part in this course as per requirement by the ITTF.
“Today we did introductions but I am pleased to have a big group of women partaking because it’s the solid base for the development of table tennis,” said Susin.
Susin, who also conducted the same courses in Botswana and Liberia, said the sport had developed in Africa with Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia emerging as the powerhouses.
“In most countries you will notice potential, even in athletes, but the lack of funds hamper their opportunities to be exposed.
“However, at Level 1, it has nothing to do with money which might come into effect later when coaches need motivation.
“It is important that coaches maintain a partnership between themselves and establish co-operation between schools to maintain continuity,” she said.
Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union president John Muringani said this course had come at the right time when they were preparing for the Four Nations Tournament in Zambia this month.
“We lacked coaches who are accredited because the last time this was conducted procedures were not followed.
“This resulted in the participants failing to get their certificates,” he said.
Muringani said the involvement of women in table tennis has improved.
Zimbabwe’s players last participated in competitive tournaments in 2009 in South Africa and at the Four Nations Tournament in Malawi where they won a bronze medal.