Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 19, 2013 Sports
By Franklin Wilson
It’s always devastating when a national athlete trains hard for overseas competition and at the end of the day they are not able to represent due to a multiplicity of reasons, one of which is lack of communication.
The latter is apt in describing the unfortunate leaving behind of Female National champion Naomi Singh who was not part of the Guyana team that left yesterday for the Caribbean Cycling Championships in Curacao which starts today with the Individual Time Trails.
Also not making the trip was Geron Williams but his case is different as he was advised by his doctor to rest following a serious bout of flu.
Those in Curacao are National Road Race champion Raynauth Jeffrey, Alonzo Greaves, Godfrey Pollydore, Orville Hinds, Hazina Barrett and UK based Claire Fraser-Green along with Manager Brian Allen and Coach Dwayne Gibbs.
Singh voiced her disappointment at not being able to travel to Curacao and has blamed the federation for not doing enough to ensure that she was present.
However, Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) President Ms. Cheryl Thompson stated categorically that the federation did its best for Singh while noting that the National champion had told her before that she was not interested in going any more.
Raising funds has always been a challenge for cyclists whenever it comes to national representation overseas and this time was no different. While Hazina Barrett, Claire Fraser-Green, Alanzo Greaves and Raynauth Jeffrey were able to get full sponsorship, Godfrey Pollydore and Orville Hinds were part sponsored by the GCF which was able to approach some corporate entities to assist.
Singh, Thompson said was told that she should raise part of the funds required to travel and the GFC would have put the remainder but lack of communication between the federation and Ms. Singh resulted in her not being able to make the trip.
Singh did inform Kaieteur News that she had half the required money but was awaiting word from the federation which never happened.
After not hearing from the GCF, Singh said that she made contact with Manager Brian Allen and informed him to leave her passport with Ms. Thompson.
The GCF boss said she was very disappointed with the entire slew of events that resulted in the national champion not making the trip noting that the federation didn’t have the wherewithal to sponsor Singh fully.
Despite the loss of Singh, who Thompson said would have been a big boost to the female team, the other riders are very upbeat and looking forward to doing well for themselves and Guyana.
“I spoke with them before they left on Friday morning and I can say that they are very confident of excelling. More than one of the male riders has said that they will win the gold medal so that in itself speaks of the level of confidence of these riders.”
The Individual Time Trails today will see the male riders covering the assigned route twice (40km) while the women will cover half that distance.
Tomorrow will be the Road Race which is expected to be fierce. It will start and finish at Schottegatweg Oost, outside of the city. The men will cover a distance of 128km (80miles) while the women will battle over 71km or 45 miles.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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