Nothing much to smile about

In a matter of a day, 2016 will be history and another year will be recorded as gone.

In all spheres of life, many persons reaped some success; for others it was an indifferent year and for yet others, one worthy to forget.

Sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), for the last 12 months, has been one of indifference, although there were some pockets of achievements, but nothing much to gloat and rejoice about.

Whilst not setting the world alight with their performances, there were some individuals whose efforts are worthy of mention.

Youth cricketer Gidron Pope’s contribution towards the West Indies Under-19 lifting the Youth World Cup for the first time and he being selected to the World XI is high for commendation.

Likewise, another cricketer, Kesrick Williams, playing a lead role as a fast bowler for the Jamaica Tallawahs to win the Caribbean Premier League, with him going on to be selected to the West Indies Twenty/20 team and West Indies A, put him among the best Vincentian sporting pluses for 2016.

Williams crowned off the year with being contracted to the Bangladesh Premier League.

Also, top female distance athlete Linda Mc Dowall’s win in the Caricom and NACAC Chatoyer 10Ks and being named the top female performer at the Grenada National Championships will get her a tap on the shoulder and a salute.

Also, Sean Stanley’s trumping of the World Road Tennis Championship’s foreign male category brought a spark during a year of relatively dim returns.

Not to be slighted is the combination of Zak Burke, Jerome Burke Jr and Claude Bascombe Jr gaining two gold medals and one silver medal at the Caribbean College Karate Championships, held in Jamaica; they make the highlight reel as well.

During the hosting of the Rio Olympics in Brazil, smiles were brought to Vincentians’ faces when one of their own – Nikolas Sylvester – won his heat in the men’s 50m freestyle, and although he did not advance from the preliminary round, it was an occasion to chirp.

Similarly, squash player Jason Doyle became the first male from the Caribbean to break into the top 10 with his ninth place in the World Junior Squash Rankings released by the World Squash Federation in November.

Collectively, SVG’s Under-19 male cricket team retained the Windward Islands title, which was again welcomed.

However, what took much of the attention within the period were the many downfalls, under-achievements and much administrative malaise, which have become the best we can do.

During 2016, several national sports associations held their charges to ransom by their sheer neglect for their disciplines.

Some either failed to function totally, while others operated with thorns of discord and barely survived the period.

For another year, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Bodybuilding, Power Lighting and Fitness Federation was totally inactive.

The period of slumber is heading for a natural death, as almost for six years, this organization still has not functioned, although a president is still claiming her legitimacy as head of the national sporting body.

Not in the same boat, but travelling in a similar carrier, are the national bodies which oversee tennis, basketball and volleyball.

The trio has had a turbulent ride, with much of their internal disagreements reaching the public eyes and ears.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association, although mustering to put together an executive, has little to show for their tenure over the past eight months since installed.

Similarly, after struggling to convene an Annual General Meeting, the executive of the SVG Basketball Federation is now on bare bones, as non-functioning of members and resignations have topped the achievements of that organization.

Let us not forget that there was much constitutional manoeuvring at the staging of the AGM in April, and with promises of elected members’ commitment to basketball.

Not escaping the dragnet was volleyball, with an interim committee forced to take the reins to keep the sport alive.

The accusations and ill feeling that emerged in between the settling down must have far-reaching effects to potential servants of that volleyball organization, which, over the years, was on a positive pathway of thriving and set for a take-off in local popularity.

And, not immune to the mire that has upstaged sports here, the state agencies responsible for carrying out sports, during the last 12 months, have found themselves short-changing those who look to them for guidance.

So, there was little was to smile about in 2016. But must this be always so?

Obviously, no, as we have been joyous before with some acceptable to standout performances, both on and off the courts and playing fields.

It is not a pie in the sky dream to end 2017 with grins and unbridled joy.

This, though, will not be a possibility with the current way sports is looked at nationally.

Whilst one wants to be optimistic for sporting prospects for the ensuing 12 months, turning things around cannot occur if there is not a change of mindset from all who have an input in sport and its development.