You benefit most

There is a growing lack of enthusiasm towards participation in sports among persons who either have the ability or the opportunity.

No more is participation in sports a must, neither is having even a small bit of ball skills of importance.

It has reached a point that some persons refuse and as we say “cut style” when given the opportunity to partake in sports or more so represent their country.

It has gone so far that sportsmen and women often ask what direct benefit do they get from participating in sports?

It is almost a cliché for one to begin to list the benefits of sports to one’s development.

First and foremost, sporting events were designed for fun, so there is ready provision of recreation and distressing. The physical benefits to be gained from participation in sports are innumerable. Needless to say that character building, self -discipline and the potential to earn a decent living are all derivatives from involvement in sports, especially if you reach the highest ranks.

Today, national players, especially footballers, get a stipend whenever they travel. Not only the senior players, but those at the Under-16 level. They are privileged to obtain visas to other countries they would have otherwise struggled to get on their own. They get accommodation in some top class hotels. They are compensated for loss of income when required to perform national duties. Additionally, they are reimbursed their transportation costs to attend practice, or are provided with transportation to and from practice sessions. Some are even afforded allowances at the local club level.

The current members of the national Under-20 Football team are given a monthly stipend which works out to be about $60 per session, or even further, $30 per hour. But the flip side of this, when practice is called, few show up.

Many have the audacity to pass as an excuse that they have no money to get to the training sites.

Past national players, many of whom have contributed more to the sport and were more adept and nationalistic, may feel undone at this. Many may think they were unfortunate to have been born at the time that they were.

These players, though, played for the love of the sport and more so the love of their country. They only enjoyed some box food, but played their hearts out for their communities, their clubs and their country.

On overseas tours, they at times travelled by boat and that was sufficient.

In those days, sports scholarships were few; national players were not assured of being employed whether part time or full time.

Despite the opportunities that present themselves today, some of our sportsmen and women are not capitalising on the openings available. They do not want to burn the midnight oil, sacrifice and up the ante.

Many are not using some of the examples of the 1980’s and beyond, who have grasped with both hands the opportunity to obtain an education while praticising their craft. Obviously, the former took precedence with the passage of time.

Over the years, we have seen Track and Field athletes who have made full use of the opportunities presented, and today are professionals. Among them are Dr. Carl Ollivierre, Dr. Lennox Adams, and more recently, Dr. Eversley Linley and Dr. Nickie Peters.

Garth Saunders, Orde Ballantyne , Khalil Cato, Marlon Byron, Esworth Coombs, Bigna Samuel, Jacqueline Ross, Thomas Dickson, Azik Graham, Adonson Shallow, Kineke Alexander, Kabon Sampson, Jean Cummings, among others, have used their sport as a stepping stone to a career. My contemporaries at the St. Vincent Grammar School, Anthony John, Sebastian Warner and Lenford O’ Garro add to the list.

Netballers Saska Diamond, Gailene Gordon, Halimah de Shong and Giselle Peters are beneficiaries of a higher learning through the conduit of sports. So, too, have Nichole Sandy and Vasha Adams, albeit mainly at Basketball.

The exploits and achievements of Adonal Foyle, Sancho Lyttle and Sophia Young on the US pro Basketball circuit need not be expounded.

National footballers Fitz Bramble, Des Morris, Clint Providence, Ezra Hendrickson and Renson Haynes used their sport as a spring board to certification.

Cricketers Rommel Currency and Lauron Francois are presently at the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago, respectively, compliments their abilities.

While this list is not exhaustive, they are enough examples for the present players to mirror and make something of their lives, as when it is all over, they benefit most.

No one, though, is benefitting from the presence of the Mound at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

Email: kingroache@yahoo.com