New umpires for FTMK and new opportunities in 2014
Fundashon Tènis di Mesa Kòrsou (FTMK) is aware of the importance of restoring the Curaçao’s umpire team to its former international level. In June 2014, an ITTF official mr. Moncho Ramon Ortega travelled to Curacao to give an umpire and referee course.
Twenty one candidates from several age groups enrolled in the umpire course. And four candidates took the referee course. The classes were concluded with a certified ITTF exam. Ten people passed the umpire exam. Passed: Riordan Ilario; Son Makaya; Ulrich Hernandez; Denzel Martien; Carol Boutisma; Frank Mac Leod; Vertyl Sams; Jefftey Isenia; Raymond Wilsterman; Zayne Gijsbertha; Furthermore, one person attained a referee diploma. Passed: Ingrid van der Hilst. After receiving their diploma, the recent graduates had the opportunity to gain experience during the team championships of FTMK in September 2014. This event was followed up in October by the Curacao Invitational Master Tournament and Dutch Caribbean Youth Tournament, which provided the perfect occasion for the new umpires to show their skills.
Together with Marco Torrealba, a referee from Venezuela with the assistance of Winnie Isenia and Ingrid van der Hilst, the umpires were able to produce a flawless international tournament in Sentro Deportivo Curaçao with participation of countries like Mexico, The Netherlands, Aruba and Bonaire. The Dutch Caribbean Youth Tournament was yet another successful tournament guided by our umpires. FTMK has done and will continue to do its utmost to create new opportunities for all current and future match officials.
Our new umpire corps is gradually also entering the international stage. The ability of our current group of umpires was recently showcased by the successful participation of umpire Ulrich Hernandez in an international tournament in Barbados last October.
Hopefully the umpire corps will continue to expand in the coming months and years, so that our current umpires will reach the same level of excellence of previous generations of Curacao umpires.
