By Treiston Joseph
Being silent for approximately one week certainly allowed President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) KA Juman Yassin to take in all the criticism that came his way after Guyana’s 2012 run at the Olympics.
Yassin definitely did not take too kindly to Director of Sports, Neil Kumar’s remarks in the August 12th edition of the GUyana Chronicle newspaper and blasted Kumar for his comments calling those comments “insensitive to say the least” at a press conference held on Monday at the GOA’s head office, High Street, Kingston.
Kumar had described the athletes performances as “miserable” which Yassin said Monday was an insult to the athletes.
“I find that his comments on August 12th in the Guyana Chronicle are insensitive to say the least and a direct insult to those athletes that train hard every day,” Yassin stated. Kumar, who also referred to the GOA as “helpless” in the same article, also criticized the GOA for not having a government official on Olympics teams.
But Yassin said the GOA was anything but helpless.
“We are not helpless. We do what is necessary with the resources we have for the betterment of our athletes. I invited president (Donald) Ramotar to attend the Olympics but he indicated that he could not have made it; I invited Sports Minister Dr. (Frank) Anthony to an Olympic meeting in Moscow where association heads and all of the sports ministers were present but he could not go, so I don’t know what Kumar is talking about when he makes such claims,” Yassin told media representatives at the press conference.
Kumar, who also stated in the August 12th edition of the Guyana Chronicle that the government supports associations by giving them millions of dollars to participate in internatioinal tournaments drew heavy criticism from Yassin.
“I would like to see them indicate the athletes who they have supported. In fact, when Alliann (Pompey) won her first Commonwealth medal, she was not given anything.
“I would also like to see the list of associations they support with the millions of dollars that Kumar claims,” Yassin stressed.
Yassin, however, said he also believes that the government has been trying to do better for sports with the facilities they have been building but added that those facilities will not be enough to improve sports.
“The government has been trying with all they facilities they have been building but that will not be enough. We would need coaches as well to help us develop these athletes to higher levels,” Yassin mentioned.
Yassin, who admitted that he has no problem with the government of the Ministry of Sports, called for the resuscitation of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“When I made this call at our annual awards ceremony, the minister was not pleased with me but the NSC needs resuscitating and if you read the NSC’s act you will see why and how important they are because they are the bridge between the government and the associations,” Yassin said.
