Another silver lining for Vincy Athletics
THE ANNOUNCEMENT earlier this week that top Vincentian Track and Field athlete, Handal Roban was afforded a deal with German sportswear brand Adidas, is welcome news for St Vincent and the Grenadines. The 23- year-old Roban who is enrolled at Penn State University in the USA, has gained a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).
Accordingly, Roban who is an 800m specialist has the legal rights to control how his images are used, inclusive of commercial purposes. Hence, he possesses a level of autonomy and control over his image and appearance.
Also, having the leverage to rock the Adidas brand places Roban in good light, as he has the quality attraction to have such illustrious company willing to have him as part of their marketing assets.
Without the complete knowledge of the extent of the deal, Roban will indeed have the cost of purchasing gear erased from his financial obligations and undertakings.
Indeed, Roban, and by extension St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Track and Field, and sports on the whole, is on a better and higher plain.
Of note too, such accomplishments by Roban, and not forgetting Shafiqua Maloney’s Puma deal inked last year, put the country into focus as it shows that high quality talents can emerge from St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Likewise, the psyche and outlook of current athletes both home and abroad will soar, as they will get that belief that they can be the next to pen a deal. All in all, only good is the outcome for noted sponsors to look St Vincent and the Grenadines’ way and have our nationals on their list of brand ambassadors.
But earning that type of sponsorship and recognition is not an overnight occurrence, as days, months, and years of accumulative commitment, sacrifices, support and pluck, have chartered the course and navigated the destiny.
Therefore, Roban’s deal was only a matter of when, as he has been notching up the performances, setting and resetting St Vincent and the Grenadines’ records, and leaving his mark on Penn State University’ s Athletics history.
At present, Roban is the all-time St Vincent and the Grenadines’ 800 meters outdoor record holder; the custodian of the national 1000m indoor record and 600m, as well as the 800m and 1500m records at the Under-20 age group, to his name.
Meanwhile, Roban is the third fastest runner in the all-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s 600m ranking.
Slowing crafting a personal niche at Penn State University’s Track and Field history, Roban has the second fastest time in the Indoor 600m and the 800m and is number three on the list of fastest times recorded in the Outdoor 800m.
Additionally, Roban is also part of the quartet that holds the university’s record of third fastest time in the 4 x 800m and he has the ninth fastest time on the list for the university in the outdoor 400m.
These are the back-end results from his early days of promise, shown at the Georgetown Secondary School, the St Vincent Grammar School, and Jamaica College.
Medals from titles at the Inter- Secondary Schools Athletics Championships, Windward Islands Schools’ Games, Junior Carifta Games, Penn Relays, NACAC Under-18, Under-20, and Under-20, NACAC open, and the Central American and Caribbean Games, have laid the platform for Roban’s incremental rise as a potential podium finish at a global Championships.
Kudos to the young man who has demonstrated that by a dint of hard work can reap a ton of success as he is accumulating on and off the track.
Roban’s tenacity and stickability to become the athlete he aspires to be, should serve as an inspiration to many young Vincentian sportsmen and women.
An adidas deal for Roban is a steppingstone for him, as ultimately he will turn pro, but is prudently pursuing his studies in Psychology.
What better lesson is there for our budding student- athletes?
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