THE 43rd annual Caribbean Table Tennis Championships that ended at the University of Technology's auditorium on Friday night was a total disappointment for the home team - and particularly so for England-born Darren Blake from whom so much was expected but who, by winning only a few matches, failed to impress.
The former England representative will be back, however, and he promises to do better, much better, next time around.
One and One caught up with Blake after his loss at the Championships.
Question: Darren, Jamaica were happy when you decided to come and represent them, they were depending on you to lead them to victory, and you did not. Is it disappointing for you?
Darren Blake: Well, obviously I am disappointed in my performances. To be honest, I did not expect to lose to some of the players to whom I lost - not in this type of major championship, and not when I am in tiptop shape. That is life, however. You just have to move on. You just have to deal with it and come again.
Q: Just what went wrong? Was it that you were not in top form, was it that the players were better than you expected, or did it have anything to do with the change of climate?
DB: The condition was a major part. It is a lot different playing here than it is playing in England. The floor is one example. Here it is a concrete floor. In England it is a red, carpet-like floor and you get a lot better grip. The way I play, with my fore-arm, I need to move a lot and here I was sliding too much. I need to get used to it. It is the same for the Caribbean players when they come over to Europe. They are used to sliding and there they get too much grip. I just have to get used to the condition here.
Q: What about the heat and its effect on your strokes? You may not remember Carl Morgan who also came in from England in the 1980s to represent Jamaica. He complained about the heat and the effect it had on his play.
DB: Oh yes. I suffered a lot from that. Basically it is because there is no air conditioning in the hall so its get hot and the heat, the humidity, makes you sweat a lot, sweat gets onto the bat and the ball keeps dropping off the bat.
Q: You could see that happening time and time again and that must have affected your confidence - as was the case with Morgan before he got used to it and then won the Caribbean men's singles title.
DB: Oh yes. When that sort of thing happens, you become tentative - unsure.
Q: So after a disappointing performance, where do you go from here? Will you be back?
DB: Oh, definitely - and for the rest of my career. I have made my choice and I have to stick to that choice. After representing England for a number of years - including at the World Championships, I decided I wanted to represent Jamaica. Because of the rules, I had to stop playing for England for three years and I did that in order to qualify.
Q: Why did you decide to do that?
DB: Playing for England is tough. You have to train hours after hours each day. I was going to University so I could not do so. I figured, however, that with the time I could train, I could help Jamaica and that was that. I now realise, however, that I need to do some more training and I will be doing that. I am committed to playing for Jamaica, I have enjoyed playing with the guys, I want to continue representing Jamaica and I will be here as often as I can in order to get in the groove. In fact, I am planning to come home - to do my Masters (degree) here. I have to get back the form I had while playing for England. I want to win matches for Jamaica, to win the title for Jamaica.
Q: Forgetting a veteran like Stephen Hylton, what about the players here? How good are they?
DB: Well there are a number of good youngsters here. You have Gavin Hylton and Darren Strachan who are both 19, and although he is bit older, you also have Nigel Webb. He is improving every time. He had a poor tournament but I think the reason for that is that he puts a lot of pressure on himself.
Q: Somehow, they don't seem to be really improving so what's the problem? What do you think?
DB: They don't seem to be training enough - certainly not as a team, or seriously enough. I think they need a centre where they can train for long periods and together, I think they need a top class coach and I think they need to play away, in Europe, as often as possible so as to gain the level of experience necessary to really develop their skills.
Q: So all in all, you believe there is a good future for Jamaica's table tennis.
DB: Oh yes, no question about that. The players, certainly the male players, have the talent. What they need is help - proper guidance, good coaching, good facilities and I promise you, I will be ready next time. I will be fitter, I will be in top form and I will be more accustomed to the conditions.
- Tony Becca
