Dear Editor,
Please allow me to echo the sentiments of my cousin Nicholas Fraser in his letter titled ‘Swimming coaches should be selected on the basis of established criteria’ which was printed in the Stabroek News dated July 10. He reiterated the argument that national head coaches should come from the club that has produced the most athletes in a national team, and it is my contention that such a choice should be automatic and one of common sense. It would mean that the particular individual is indeed practising a successful training regimen that keeps him/her above the peer coaches and deserves the right to share his/her expertise to make any squad stronger.
But sadly, just as my cousin said in his letter, these simple things do not occur owing to heavy politics. This, Editor, is a serious issue that is affecting many sporting bodies and not just swimming. I can say for sure it exists in my sport (Judo) which is one among many reasons that I am not involved with Judo administration any longer as well. Finally, since it is a fact that many sporting associations are affiliated to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), it can be said that the GOA is the governing body of many sporting bodies. Having mentioned that, I think it is high time that the GOA set down some kind of criteria or even overlooked the selection of national sporting coaches.
Yours faithfully,
Bruce Fraser
