Looking forward expectantly

What is done is done; what is past is past. Those are actualities that we have to quickly get the grip and accept as realities of life.

Therefore, it is pointless harping on what has gone, what was missed, what was left undone and what could have been, if this or that was or was not done.

The same can be said about the sporting landscape in St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2024.

It was 12 months of highs, lows, levels, and indifference.

Being positive, this column will stay with those that shone through.

Shafiqua Maloney’s fourth place in the women’s 800m at the France Olympic Games, is by far the best performance by a Vincentian at that global event.

Among the runners up, are St Vincent and the Grenadines senior women’s Netball team winning the ECCB/ OECS International series; the male team qualification for the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2026; along with Jayden George’s continued dominance in Caribbean Junior Squash.

One cannot downplay the second place gained by Sean Stanley at the Commonwealth Masters Table Tennis Championships, as well as Verdant Shetty’s gold medal won at the XIX Central America and Caribbean Youth Chess Championships.

Notable mention must be given to Moeth Gaymes’ elevation to International Netball Umpire status.

Of note too, was Oalex Anderson achieving North Carolina FC’s all-time scoring record. Anderson, who is the captain of the St Vincent and the Grenadines senior men’s Football team, Vincy Heat, plays for North Carolina in the United Soccer League (USL), the second tier in the USA’s Soccer setup.

It was also Anderson who led Vincy Heat to that historic win over El Salvador in the Concacaf Nations League here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field on Sunday, October 13.

Relatedly, the developments of the infrastructure at the Arnos Vale Playing Field facilitated matches in the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup; the Concacaf Nations League; and most recently, the bilateral T20 International Cricket Series between the West Indies and Bangladesh.

What a spectacle the latter provided as Vincentians showed up and showed off, thus putting our hands up for future matches.

Certainly, these were droplets of accomplishments, but at least they were worthwhile in giving glimpses of our potentialities.

More so, anything that can lift the psyche of Vincentians must be embraced.

But are we contented with these bits and pieces of sporting highlights.

Therefore, the ground has been tilled and the insights provided as to the possibilities that can be turned into stardom, should we take sports as a serious national undertaking.

Whilst not the panacea to the growing social problems that our country is grappling with, it can serve as a significant demonstration what may be possible among our young people, especially our young men.

The gloom and feeling of hopelessness that occupy the attention of many Vincentians can be replaced by a paradigm shift in the national apparatus, by placing greater emphasis on youth and sports.

For a change, the small minority that is magnified as the major obstructions to social elevation, can see there is something better.

The year 2025 is here with us, and that is reality. Getting better at what we in sports can do on and off the field, the court, the tables or wherever the disciplines take place, is paramount, as we continue to work at producing better athletes, coaches, managers, administrators, and other key personnel that are subsets of the sports product.

All are critical in the matrices that enable our sportsmen and sportswomen to give of their best, and more so, results that are in Vincentians’ favour.

It is evident that we are at the crossroads, confronted with varying challenges. Equally, there are opportunities that abound which can neutralise those seemingly heavy and onerous nuances.

Let’s take on the challenge to look to 2025 with positivity, productivity and purpose, thus positioning ourselves for progress.