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Alwyn Callender is only Guyanese International Squash Referee
Alwyn Callender
By Sean Devers
Sixty-year-old Alwyn Callender has been involved in Guyana’s Squash as a player, Manager and Coach for 23 years and more importantly he is the only Guyanese International Squash Referee.
Callender has been living in New York for the last eight years although he frequently travels to his homeland due to Squash. He was one of eight Referees who officiated in the 2012 World Squash Championships. He also lived in England from 1993-2003.
In the CAC Squash tournament in Mexico there were only three Referees from this part on the World. Two of them were from Barbados along with Callender, who last year became a fully qualified Squash official after doing his first Referee exam in 2005.
It’s interesting to note that Callender first picked up a Racquet at age 34 and has three veterans Titles to his name and the Ex Caribbean Masters Champion is now a full time Squash Coach in New York.
Callender, who is set to compete in the Caribbean Masters Championships in the Cayman Islands from August 15-25 and says he is encouraged by construction of the National Racquet Centre by the previous Administration since it now allows those who would have not likely gravitated to Squash a chance to play.
“Squash is still considered an elite sport and this provides another quality Squash facility which should widen the pool. If the pool gets bigger then we as a team should get better and I think the National Racquet Centre could play as huge role in our junior players continuing to dominate Squash in the Caribbean,” Callender opined.
“Guyana has dominated Caribbean Squash for the past 10 years and last year Barbados lost both the ladies and Men’s titles to Guyana. Carl Ince does a wonderful job technically with the players and it’s great to see someone like Nicolette Fernandes (former C’bean Squash Champion) playing in the last local Squash tournament, rubbing shoulders with the younger ones,” Callender added.
Callender said that Robert Fernandes also plays a key role in the development of local players since he coaches at Everest for free and would even go to various areas to pick up the players to take them to practice.
“Nyron Joseph is one of the best young players in the Caribbean and came out of Fernandes’ programme. I believe in Robert’s dream and donated some equipment to him. Garfield Wilshire is another person who gives his all to Squash and has three kids who are really good at the sport,” Callender said.
Callender added that the President of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA), David Fernandes, is another one whose heart is in sports and especially Squash and Hockey.
Callender said he was pleased with the involvement of the parents and family members of the players with regards to funding and disclosed that the players many times have funded their trips when they go overseas to represent Guyana.
He lamented that not enough people play Squash in Guyana but that is slowly changing now and one of the reasons is the construction of the Racquet Centre.
Callender pointed out that his dream is to see a National ‘Grass Roots’ programme with qualified Coaches and more Squash Courts around the country.
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