Administrative calamities continue to affect Rugby

Jan 13, 2013 Sports

By Rawle Welch
When compared with the period 2006-11, the performances of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and the national teams last year could best be described as one of disappointment for the sport for some time.
No one in their right mind could refute the fact that much of the blame for the drop in performance by the national teams was due largely to the lassitude and bungling of the Union after a successful phase during which time the country dominated the sport at the regional level and performed creditably on the international stage.
The question on everyone’s lips is how could all the successes that included a large collection of regional titles for both the men’s and women’s sides in addition to being voted the most outstanding association at the national sports awards suddenly slip away in just twelve months.
It is not to say that an eventual end to the long run was not expected, but what was unpredictable was the manner and time in which it happened.
However, after dominating the region in the previous year, and with a new nucleus of players coming through the junior system to augment the established players and with a 2015 World Cup qualifier on the line many opined that had all the necessary steps been put in place to ensure that the team gets to the tournament in Canada well equipped and in the right frame of mind to give it their best shot despite the quality of the opposition, the results might have been better.
Instead, there was a plethora of administrative calamities that first affected the mood among the players and then the inadequacy of funding that saw the non-participation of the women despite the acquisition of visas to travel.
There have been similar instances in the past where the administration was found wanting in team preparations and travel issues, but last year it really manifested itself in the open with players visibly irritated by the whole episode.
Unless the current administration get their act together and understand that the sports landscape calls for a more proactive and aggressive approach, it would be difficult for the sport to regain the lofty status it enjoyed for close to seven years.
First, it must ensure that women’s participation is enhanced because last year saw no tournaments run off for them due to the inability to field teams, while in the men’s segment, it continues to be a three-team affair between Hornets, the GDF and Yamaha Caribs.
The sport despite the long and successful run at the regional level remains out of the mainstream and many attribute this to the lack of adequate advertising of the game, while the present administration seems not to understand how important social networking has become.
In many disciplines that have seen growth and elevation, social interaction has become imperative, it is where deals and sponsorship approval has been secured and until the move is made within the rugby fraternity for the hierarchy to make itself more visible, the sport will continue to decline.
Previously, many of the deficiencies were camouflaged due to the corporate connections of a few, but with their exodus, the faults are now coming to the fore.
The players’ commitment was always guaranteed and they rallied in spite of the frustrations that never seemed to cease, but many have quietly expressed disappointment at the continued lethargy of the Union.
They felt that unless a move is made to engage the Government and more directly the Ministry of Sport to assist in the further development of the sport at all levels and a similar budge made towards the corporate sector, the game will continue to languish which is the case at the moment.
This year is a defining one for the sport and one could only hope that last year was a minor impediment and not the start of a major tumble. Only time has the answer.

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