Twelve year old Mariany Gonçalves was one of the players to catch the eye at the ITTF World Junior Circuit event in Funchal in August 2006; playing on home soil in Madeira she excelled all expectations to win the consolation competition in the Junior Girls’ Singles event.
A player with a bright future, alongside some forty other players of similar ilk, she was present in Buzau, Romania from 11th to 17th September 2006 for the Eurokids Training Camp, part of the increasingly successful ITTF Development Programme.


It was the second Eurokids Training Camp of the year and was under the direction of head coach, Poland’s Jarek Ko³odziejczyk

Accommodation
“We stayed in `Sport Hotel B90’, a good standard hotel one hundred metres from the hall where sixteen table tennis tables were at our disposal on a solid parquet floor”, explained Jarek Ko³odziejczyk. ” The food was served in the hotel and bottled water for the players to drink during practice was provided by the hotel’s reception.”

Buzau is a venue that has been used previously by the European Table Tennis Union and the local organisers were well aware of what was needed to facilitate a training camp of an international nature. They appreciated the need for both intensive training, refreshment whilst also affording the chance to relax. “The organisers provided a small snack during the afternoon sessions for all of the participants”, continued Jarek Ko³odziejczyk. ” On the Friday morning a visit to the local Olympic size swimming pool was kindly organised.”

It was a gesture that was appreciated by the participants at what must have been one of the best attended international training camps of the year.

Attendance
“The camp attracted a great deal of interest”, explained Jarek Ko³odziejczyk. ”The European Table Tennis Union was overwhelmed with applications and didn’t want to refuse anybody, the hotel was big enough, so this enlarged number of entries was accepted.”

Decisions have to be taken and only hindsight can judge the merit of such actions and the head coach had some misgivings. “In the hall it was much more complicated as we had sixteen tables tennis tables, eighteen from Thursday, but coping with forty-four players was a testing task”, he said. “However, thanks to the high level of co-operation from all the coaches, we coped but it is my strong suggestions for the future that we reduce the number of participants according to available playing conditions, two per table.”

Programme
The high numbers tested the logistical skills of Jarek Ko³odziejczyk but he managed and designed a successful programme.

“Most of the practice sessions combined three factors”, he explained. “On five or six tables we did multi-ball training, other groups practised their skills according to their level of play whilst further players did exercises related to coordination and movement.”

In addition, there was video analysis, the recently published Michael Maze DVD was available and the now traditional Eurokids tournament was held.

Value
It was a full programme and the camp underlined the value of the Eurokids and similar programmes.

“Maybe we were just lucky this time but I clearly noticed that more players than usual understood basic English which is a good sign in my opinion and makes my job easier!” said Jarek Ko³odziejczyk. ”Also, we tried to go beyond the just the table tennis arena and gave the children information related with nutrition, rest, balance plus how to achieve a balance between school and training.

Tunisia
A feature of the camp was the attendance of players from outside the European Table Tennis Union with Adem Hmam and Miroua Ridene from Tunisia being present.

“They were most welcome”, said Jarek Ko³odziejczyk. ”It was the third group from outside Europe, Iran and Egypt had attended in the past; they were quickly accepted into the group and spent a most worthwhile time with their new found friends.”

Co-operation
The acceptance of the Tunisians into the group underlined the high level of co-operation that Jarek Ko³odziejczyk received and, with so many players on duty, the assistance from other coaches was also greatly appreciated.

“I must thank Ramon Ortega from Spain who almost single handed organised the tournament using his laptop computer to design the necessary schedule and collect results”, said Jarek Kolodziejczyk. “I’m grateful for the time he gave; it was invaluable as it enabled me to watch the players in a competitive situation.”

Hospitality
A worthwhile course, which finished with a splendid dinner organised by the very hospitable Sport Hotel B90 staff; they had worked tirelessly throughout the whole week to contribute to the success of the programme.

It was an enjoyable and valuable week with a most satisfying and harmonious conclusion.