Twenty-six receive Level 1 certificates..
Mills urges cycle coaches to move Guyana forward
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
July 19, 2003
ANOTHER 26 coaches received Level 1 certificates from Olympic Solidarity, this time in cycling at a closing ceremony at the Thomas Lands YMCA, Thursday night.
The two-week course was conducted by International Instructor John Mills of Great Britain, during which there was nearly full attendance every evening.
“And that is really unusual; very, very unusual for this type of course,” Mills said.
Mills said the dedication was reflected in the results, both in the practical and written tests, with ten students registering more than 90 percent in their overall marks, while Hector Edwards gained a 100 percent. Two women did the course.
“I would encourage you to keep learning, to carry on with the work you are doing, and really try and move Guyana forward,” Mills said.
Mills added: “There is plenty of enthusiasm. Clearly there is loads and loads of enthusiasm. What we need to do as coaches is to guide that enthusiasm and channel that enthusiasm; and turn that enthusiasm into added success for the Guyana Cycling Federation.”
The instructor presented the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) with Level II coaching manuals.
Guyana Cycling Federation president Jonathan Creavalle said he was heartened to know that the sport now had 26 level 1 coaches.
“These individuals will certainly be an asset to the federation,” Creavalle said.
In delivering the charge to the participants, president of the Guyana Olympic Association K Juman-Yassin pointed out that over the years coaches were trained in several disciplines through Olympic Solidarity and the GOA, but were not involved in the sport they were trained for.
“A lot of coaches have passed through these courses, but when you look back and you ask where are the coaches now, sometimes you can’t see them,” Juman-Yassin said.
The GOA head urged the fresh crop of coaches not to follow their predecessors, but use their training to benefit the sport.
Juman-Yassin noted that there was a level of maturity in this set of participants because many of them hold positions of responsibility, thus he believed they would take the task at hand seriously.
“Fund raising is a very important aspect. And we all have to try to work together to ensure that funds are there that our young cyclists could have the type of equipment that we would like them to have. A lot of time you see talent go abegging because equipment isn’t there,” Juman-Yassin said.
Another area that prevents local athletes from turning out good performances at international meets, was the lack of training facilities.
“Our young people over the years have been allowed to pasture, so to speak. They have not been able to compete in the facilities in which they should, so when they go abroad for competitions, they are like ducks out of water,” Juman-Yassin said.
The GOA head said that with no international standard facility, athletes have not been able to reach their full potential and many go on the wayside.
“Sport in Guyana, has been at the crossroads for a long time. We are like the Cinderilla,’ Juman-Yassin said.
Juman-Yassin advised the participants that they have to put pressure on the politicians, both in the government and opposition, for them to see the need for sport facilities.
“Unless we as citizens pressurise the politicians, they will not react. And that is not singular to only to Guyana. The position remains the same in any country in the world,” Juman-Yassin said.
In the meantime, Juman-Yassin challenged the newly certified coaches to spread themselves out, such as adopting a school, to put out what they have learnt because fortunately many children have cycles.
“As a coach, there is something you could do, for yourself and for Guyana - you could make good citizens of our children, once you implement what you have learnt, because they would have to train and keep away from certain things.
They would develop a discipline necessary for good citizenship,” Juman-Yassin said.