In a telephone interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed said that the cycling season this year, which concluded with a cycle road race on November 28, was a good one.
Mohamed noted that because of the continuous cycling events that he has been staging with cooperation from his many sponsors and the National Sports Commission (NSC), he had a successful cycling year.
“I can safely say was a good year… all of our sponsors from the previous years were once again on board and I was able to get a new sponsor which was Banks DIH Limited and they said they would like to continue next year” Mohamed revealed.
“The sponsors were cooperative and some of them have been cooperative for 10, 12 and
over 15 years” Mohamed said proudly.
Mohamed gave an account of all the cycling programmes he has held for the year, which includes 12 youth programmes in the National Park, 10 road races and one cycle track meet at the Everest ground, but placed special emphasis on his ‘Teach Them Young’ cycling programme, which he describes as his “cycling nursery”.
“The Teach Them Young programme has been going on for 34 years in the National Park and it has brought a lot of new faces in the BMX [cycling] category… The Teach Them Young Programme is the oldest nursery around” said Mohamed.
“If you want the sport to develop, you have to start from the cradle” Mohamed added.
After noting what he has been able execute in the cycling arena for the year 2010, Mohamed also focused his attention on a few areas that greatly hinder the sport’s development in Guyana.
Mohamed stated that other than one of his scheduled races that he was unable to run-off as planned in January because some of the participant did not have their cycling licence for the year 2010, the only thing adversely affecting some of his cycling events this year is the current state of the inner circuit of the National Park.
However, on a positive note, the national cycling coach revealed that he was informed that the inner circuit of the National Park, where he stages his circuit races, will be refurbished.
“I have been asking for the park to be refurbished and I got some authentic news from the competent authority that this will be done” Mohamed disclosed.
Mohamed was unwilling to reveal who was the “competent authority” that guaranteed that the park will be resurfaced, but assured that it will be done, even though, according to him, a deadline for the completion or commencement of the project was not given.
“I know for sure that I’m going to get the park done and that is one of my happiest moments for the year” said Mohamed.
He added that he is holding on to the promise he received from the authority, but stated that “if the project is not done it would be a great setback” because the National Park facilitates the Teach Them Young programme and a large number of his race meets.
Another hindrance Mohamed pinpointed is the lack of an official cycling facility.
“It’s a sore problem which I keep emphasizing, we have to use what facilities we have but in order to develop, we have to get a cycling track… I’ve been clamouring for a cycling track since 1975, I keep talking about it, but we can’t get everything at once”
“For further development we need a cycling track, it might be in the making, I’m very optimistic that we’ll get one, but when, I don’t know” Mohamed stated.
Further, in pointing out what can further benefit the sport, Mohamed stated: “We need a couple cycle stores that will bring in cycling equipment and clothing… we need a proper bike shop”.
Mohamed stated that he suggested the idea of a bike shop to some of his sponsors, but didn’t get a positive response since the business doesn’t experience a quick turnover.
In reflecting on his cycling year, Mohamed stated that he must thank his cooperate sponsors, the National Sports Commission and everyone who partnered with him for the year. “I hope they continue to support the youths of this nation because they need help” said Mohamed.
