Make home support count

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is now hosting the annual Windward Islands School Games.

The yearly exercise seeks to expose young multi sporting talent among secondary school students from the four Windward Islands: Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

As hosts, we have to make home support count. Not necessarily by winning the five disciplines, but by ensuring that the young athletes get the much needed support and encouragement.

Hopefully, they will then in turn lift themselves from the bottom of the standings which has become their place of abode in recent outings.

The inevitable internal wrangling of who should have been selected and who should not must go straight through the window. The underlining differences of who should or should not be in charge of the Games must also be history.

Also, the slip ups that may have occurred during the preparations of the local contingent must be swept away to be dealt with internally, as one should focus on the bigger picture. St. Vincent and the Grenadines must put on a good show, both on and off the fields or courts, as the case may be.

The shortcomings of the organizers and other personnel are irrelevant now, as unquestionably, the Games over the years have been a veritable conduit for the exposure of emerging talents.

It was at these Games that the talent of our own NBA Basketballer Adonal Foyle was spotted some 17 years ago. The rest is history as he has since earned an education and has made a decent living from playing professional basketball in the USA. And as if scripted, Foyle should be in town while the Games are being staged.

The list can also include those from the four islands who have left a lasting impression on the Games, then moved on to greater things.

Out of these Games, we can make the young athletes household names. Again, stars can be born. Who knows? Hence, the call for that unwavering following by Vincentians.

One should not explain what crowd support can give to a team. We saw the overwhelming following that the Under-20 Footballers got when the Caribbean Zone finals came our way in January.

And, with several of the players among the 48 selected to represent this country, that patronage can be extended for another rung.

In addition, the fact that the squad boasts five of the National Under-23 players, two of whom are also senior players, should indicate strength in regaining pride at that discipline, a discipline which for several years went unchallenged for this country, but for which we have lost our way in recent times. The events could not have come at a more opportune time, as sports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is definitely at a crossroads, as there has not been much to shout about in recent times. Therefore, any performance of note from the local lads and lasses will be welcomed.

It is also timed when people are yearning for venues to have clean fun, so the opportunities are afforded on a platter at absolutely no cost on the pockets.

Relatives, school mates, and lovers of sports should turn out in their droves, not only to lend support to the local team, but the Games in general.

So, with the new phraseology of St. Vincent and the Grenadines having “Summer”, then families can plan their outings to give their children a vent for recreational activities.

Obviously, one expects Vincentians to be rooting most for their team.

The selected home athletes, too, must in turn show the Vincentian public that they merited their selection and it was not because they are members of a particular club or that they are close to a particular coach or coaches.

Additionally, the local team’s management must make that ambassadorial responsibility foremost in the minds of the local representatives.

Let us not hear again of persons breaking team curfews or having to be sent home to the parents because of ill discipline. Neither must coaches nor team officials sweep the ills of some of their “star” athletes under the rug.

Team management must also play their roles in carrying out their mandate of being temporary parents for their charges and not be merely persons in positions of authority and not responsibility.

So, apart from making that home support count, let us make the theme of the Games, “Perseverance – the key to Success”, meaningful.

But it is with perseverance that this column hopes to gain success in its continuous call to rid the Sion Hill Playing Field of that “Mound”.