Looking at the man in the mirror

The more things change, the more they remain the same, or simply are re-arranged to suit the time. Above all, with change should come some sort of noticeable deviation in the way things operate.

As it stands in St Vincent and the Grenadines, all of our national sports associations are amateur in set-up and in the main are voluntary organizations.{{more}}

Except for the elected members of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), who get a monthly stipend for their services, for the others it is either a labour of love or some perks, which are often opportunities to travel.

The latter most times turns out to be offers of positions on the management team when national outfits of the associations go abroad.

It is also common that other travel openings, as well as other offerings of training, scholarships and the like, never leave the reach of the executive members; hence, they become first choice.

This is the reality of the present operations and may well explain the stink which is brewing among the National Olympic Committee, as persons jostle for credentials and perks at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Brazil in August.

Such seasoned practices rank among one of the governance issues which has plagued our national sports organizations’ operations over many years, but which has gone unchecked.

A closer look at some recent developments though, points to a trend which can further deepen the divide.

Bordering on in-house nepotism, the current Kishore Shalllow led executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association has set a precedent, opting since its installation to mainly look inwards when appointing coaches to national teams.

Call it coincidental or fashion it as meritocracy, the senior women’s team, for the past two years, has seen Cleton Burnett and Samantha Lynch as head and assistant coach, respectively.

The duo are members of the executive, like senior team and Under-15 coach- Deighton Butler.

Whilst it can be argued that both Burnett and Butler have coached such teams before, Shallow and company are guilty of laying down the precedent.

A similar case has occurred with football, with third vice-president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation Wayde Jackson, who was elected to the post last November and has since been attached to the coaching staff of the senior men’s outfit.

Additionally, the national football officials see no other personnel but those from within its set-up, along with friends and family, when training of match commissioners is held.

But squash serves up a peculiar situation, where a long-standing national coach has subsequently been elected to head the local association.

In this instance, this may be understandable, as the pool of personnel to administrate the sport is very, very small. Nevertheless, it holds good for what may be a trend.

Can things though, be reversed, so that there is more openness in the selection/appointment of coaches and managers to national teams?

Admittedly, whilst there are few units with managers and coaches with some longevity, their expertise too should be roped in when it comes to the wider national stage.

Therefore, what is the point of other clubs/teams having in place such personnel, when decisions are made for elevation to that national call-up, they are kept out of the loop decidedly, in preference of a close ally of the executive?

For certain, many persons have given up all hope of showing off either their managerial or coaching wares nationally, as the doors to such exposure have been shut tight.

This is notwithstanding that St Vincent and the Grenadines possesses a bounty of trained coaches and other technical officials who lay idle with their certification.

And, even though we often hear that talk of moving the various sporting organizations’ statuses to near professional, even in execution, that has become mere ideal utterances, as many fear that the apple cart will be upset.

Many of our administrators have consumed their energies towards self, as well as their cohorts, while the sport suffers.

Their main interest is to get on national executives, so that their hands can go up when trips overseas are in the offing.

They quickly forget that athletes are the most important elements in all national sporting bodies, and the administrators are useless and bear little significance without them.

It may the time for us to start recruiting from outside of the framework of the sport, to fast track those missing ingredients of selflessness and commitment to the cause of sports development.

But are such persons willing to come forward, as it is easier said than done?