We did it our way

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ performance, in the just concluded CBN/Winlott Inc Windward Islands Schools’ Games, is what most people who have a keen interest in sport expected.

Therefore, placing at the bottom of the four participating islands is reflective of the standard, psyche and appreciation for sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

To recap on our 2017 efforts, it is recorded that as host, St Vincent and the Grenadines failed to win a single discipline. Second places in football, male volleyball and male basketball were our best showings.

But what was most worrying was our last place in three of the disciplines.

As it stood, we found ourselves at the back in female basketball, female volleyball and netball.

Looking at the results from the surface, the talent pool possessed among our student-athletes is far better than the outcomes.

Everything points back to preparation, as it was evident that the St Vincent and the Grenadines contingent was not adequately programmed for what lay ahead of them.

From the stands and the sidelines, it was a live-in for one week at the West St George Secondary School; it was just another set of competitions in a multiple of disciplines… you put on the national uniforms, show up to the venues and participate.

The reality is that those who know sports and are aware of the nature of the WISG and the current state of sports in SVG did not expect to be overall champions, but looked forward for something to shout about.

As a consequence, we failed; hence, we were prepared to fail.

Our teams, in general, lacked that tenacity needed to take them past their opponents.

There was not the hunger to win and national pride was almost non-existent.

This is not to say that there were not some efforts, which show there is material to work with in all of the disciplines.

Therefore, the Windward Islands Schools’ Games should serve as a barometer for the standards which we deem high, but is mediocre relative to the three other islands – Dominica, St Lucia and Grenada.

It was good then that the contingent put on a show over the week of competitions, that their strengths, weaknesses and indifferences were exhibited for all Vincentians who were present at the various venues to assess and make their judgements.

The WISG hence should be the breeding ground and measuring tape for selection of those who are eyed for going on to another level of development and hopefully stardom.

But deeper is what occurs in the regular day-to-day life of Vincentians, which is hampering sports.

It appears that other hindrances came to the fore, which prevented St Vincent and the Grenadines from putting together the best possible representation at the WISG.

The bickering among coaches, the perceived country-versus-town and other geographical divisions came to the fore during the WISG.

Similarly, it came over that some persons were either decidedly absent from the happenings of the WISG, or were sidelined from the WISG.

The conspicuous non-attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies of the WISG, as well at some of the other venues, of the director of Sports and Physical Education deepens speculation of the divide among key personnel of the government framework critical to sports here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

These off the court and field happenings may well be part of the confluence of factors why St Vincent and the Grenadines is no longer a contender for top honours in the WISG.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ authorities have just under one year to plan and ensure that when our team heads out to St Lucia next July, at least we do not again occupy the last place.

But most of all, that our attitudes toward sports and participation must be lifted ten-fold if we are to see a change in fortunes in the WISG or other competitions for that matter.