By Marlon Munroe
Tempers flared at an Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) meeting with coaches yesterday which resulted in one coach allegedly being physically assaulted.
Coach of the Guyana Road Runners Club, Diallo Shabazz, yesterday told this newspaper that he was punched in his left jaw by another coach simply because he voiced an opinion.
According to Shabazz he was punched in the presence of AAG vice-president, Cornel Rose, council member, Fay Naughton, moderator of the meeting, Mark Scott, and other coaches.
Shabazz told Stabroek Sport that at the time he was questioning the AAG’s decision to sanction the President’s/Jefford Track and Field Classic, which is being coordinated by Edison Jefford when last month the governing body refused to sanction Derrril Gittens’ ‘De Gold Striders’ meet.
Shabazz said in answer to his question he was told by the coach who allegedly assaulted him that the issue was in the past.
Shabazz said he felt bullied and this is when his alleged attacker reportedly said: “You feel I is them people who you does bully and they afraid to talk back; them talks is not fo’ me.”
Shabazz said he told his attacker ….”You does bleed just like everybody else.”
With this retort Shabazz said the coach approached him and “give me a right hand to me left jaw and break my dentures.”
Shabazz said he did not retaliate and many persons at the meeting upbraided the alleged attacker. Shabazz said that he will be making a police report and should the police fail to act he will be seeking redress in the court.
Shabazz said that those present were told by a Guyana Olympic Association official that if that behaviour should continue meetings will not be held there in the future.
When Stabroek Sport contacted the alleged attacker yesterday he said that the coaches were discussing the upcoming athletics meets when Shabazz brought up the past issue of the ‘De Gold Striders’ meet.
He said he told Shabazz he was not sure about money being offered at the President’s/Jefford Track & Field Classic and therefore the coaches should focus on the upcoming meets.
At that time the coaches were discussing the Christopher Hall Classics Track & Field meet scheduled for August 15 and the Police Track and Field meet set for August 23-27 at the Eve Leary ground. With this, he said Shabazz started to raise his voice and use threatening language.
He said this prompted him “to retaliate” but did not qualify how he retaliated.
He, however, said that he was told by Shabazz… “You does play a bad man; I would mek you bleed like everybody else.”
Coordinator of the meet that brought the confusion, Jefford said that when he submitted his invitation to the clubs it stated that the meet will follow strictly the rules of the 2009-2010 IAAF rule book.
He said that while the monies will be going to the clubs no under-16 athlete will be competing at the meet and should any club field an under age athlete that club will be barred from competing.
The President’s/Jefford Track & Field Classic is being held in memory of former national athlete Elton Jefford, who died on October 29, 2008 at age 48.
The winning club will receive $300,000 while second, third and fourth places will collect $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.
The meet will be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground in Linden on August 29.
