South Africa U18 table tennis team in Seychelles |22 March 2018
South Africa’s national under-18 (U18) table tennis team is currently in Seychelles for friendly matches against their Seychellois counterparts.
The South African tennis players will engage in training sessions and competitions with the local side.
Friendly matches and training will be in preparation for the Jeux de la Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien (CJSOI) to be held in Djibouti next month.
The South African team consist of four male and four female players and they are also preparing for their involvement in the African Junior Table Tennis Championship 2018 to be held in Côte d’Ivoire from April 5-11, 2018.
South African coach Siho Vica, who has been training his team for the past two years, said they responded to the Seychelles Table Tennis Association’s request for the friendly training encounters as it was seen as a worthwhile opportunity.
“Seychelles has the same humidity as in Côte d’Ivoire and this will help the players to adapt themselves with the climate condition and when we get there, we will be ready,” coach Vica said.
Last year, the same South African U18 table tennis team was part in the African Junior Table Tennis Championship in Tunisia and the ladies’ team came out fourth with a bronze medal.
Seychelles coach Jimmy Vel said it is a great opportunity for his young players to rate their level of play and at the same time help the association to decide on the final selection of eight players (four boys and four girls) who will represent Seychelles at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Djibouti.
The two national teams held their first training sessions on Monday afternoon.
Today (Thursday) both the South African and Seychelles U18 table tennis teams will play in a friendly match at the Omnisports Gymnasium, Roche Caïman.
Tomorrow (Friday) there will be the doubles and mixed doubles friendly matches, while the male and female singles will be played on Saturday.
The South African team leave Seychelles on Sunday.
P. J.