News >> Trophies Galore
Trophies Galore for Deserving Successes
By Filipe
The 2009 GCTTA Prize Giving function that was held on the 31st January at the Bosmont Recreation Centre was an exciting affair. And the food on offer, an appetizing delicious treat all round.
Prizes on offer ranged from the personal to the traditional winners circle for efforts during the 2008 GCTTA League season. The personal awards ranged from the Chairman’s awards of recognition to the Head-Coach outstanding achievements awards.
The whole affair transpired in an efficient mode of quick introductions, handing out of awards and a wrapping-up talk by the Chairman of GCTTA.
In walking around the buffet tables, the conversations ranged from past successes to what plans are in the offing for 2009. Interesting and exciting conversations that highlighted the fact that Table Tennis should remain a vibrant sport for a while to come.
The one point that sticks out from the function, was the verbalised expectations of the youngsters in attendance – more successes, more training and more medals. Given these expectations, it is surmised that the Coaching fraternity will have their hands full during 2009.
The various awards handed out were:
| Chairman’s Awards: | Coach of the Year | José da Silva | ||
| Team Coach of the Year | Sameera Maal | |||
| Coaching Initiatives | Arnold Louw | |||
| For the Love of the Sport | Johannes Mathole (Attridgeville) | |||
| Head Coach Awards: | Outstanding Achievement | Danisha Patel | ||
| Outstanding Achievement | U17 Boys Team − 2008 SA Junior Championships (Lloyd, Bhavik, Kalpesh, Shivesh) | |||
| Ambassador to the Sport | Fahima Sayed | |||
| Best Newcomer | Irfaan Essof | |||
| Most Accident Prone | Shivesh Dindayal | |||
| Outstanding Performance Award: | Sameera Maal | For winning her 5th Consecutive Senior Ladies Open Title | ||
| GCTTA Incentive Awards: | Most Improved Junior – Male | Lloyd Reddy | ||
| Most Improved Junior – Female | Meenal Manga | |||
| SATTB Honorary Life Member: | This award was bestowed upon Brian Williams by SATTB at their 2008 AGM in Cape Town | |||
| 2008 League Season Awards | Individual Winners | |||
| 2nd League | Rinaldo Baratti | Bronze | ||
| Evans Motaung | Silver | |||
| Sheldon Mayet | Gold | |||
| 1st League | Vivian Reddy | Bronze | ||
| Julian Nxumalo | Bronze | |||
| Barry Metcalfe | Silver | |||
| Lloyd Reddy | Gold | |||
| Premier League | Sameera Maal | Bronze | ||
| Hasmuhk Jeram | Bronze | |||
| Ismail Badat | Silver | |||
| Chijioke Osuji | Gold | |||
| Team Winners | ||||
| 2nd League | BFTTC G | Bronze | ||
| Anchors F | Silver | |||
| Flames D | Gold | |||
| 1st League | BFTTC D | Bronze | ||
| Flames C | Silver | |||
| BFTTC C | Gold | |||
| Premier League | Flames A | Bronze | ||
| Maccabi A | Silver | |||
| Anchors B | Gold | |||
| Best League Average by Club | 3rd | Anchors with 25 points | ||
| 2nd | Flames with 31 points | |||
| 1st | BFTTC with 43 points | |||
Special Mention: The successes achieved by the Veteran and Senior athletes during 2008 was applauded by all - http://gctta.atspace.com/news/2008/sa.html
The highlight of the afternoon was the mention of Cal Morris, who together with an old GCTTA member, Tony Economellis, succeeded in wining the Men’s over 75 doubles Gold at the World Championships in Brazil (http://gctta.atspace.com/news/2008/gold.html) A feat never before attained by any South African Table Tennis athlete.
The sentiments expressed at the function by all in attendance were indeed, well deserved!
