Dear Editor,
One would have thought that having won the National Schools Athletics, Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships for a record 10 consecutive years, the sports authority of Linden/Region 10 would have at least tried to maintain the tempo, not only in athletics but also as much as possible in other sport disciplines. But lo and behold! It’s nothing of the kind.
Linden/Region10, quite apart from having a uniqueness of its own, has over the years produced outstanding athletes and sports personalities in track and field, boxing, cycling, volleyball, basketball, hockey, table tennis, football, cricket, bodybuilding, powerlifting, swimming and billiards. In these arenas and more, we stood tall and kept the flag of this dusty town fluttering aloft.
Of course those were the days when this bauxite region was the envy of so many; when those at the helm of the various disciplines weren’t ‘playing’; and when love, discipline, dedication, enthusiasm and a kind of a religious-like seriousness were treasured attributes. Theirs was an abiding interest in which they took much pride, so much so that young athletes looked up to them with respect as mentors and role models. Sadly today there’s no semblance of such quality; not even a scintilla of it within the scheme of sport. It seems as if Linden is adrift, and there is no form of well-organised system. Is there a sporting body with a secretariat in Linden/Region10 that is responsible for sport? This is what many don’t seem to know. Walk about Linden, and worse yet, around the remote areas and hear folks, athletes included, speak with frustration, confusion, hopelessness. It’s hard to get a crystal clear, definite understanding of the exact status of sport as it relates to this community.
Editor, I’m hoping that this observation will trigger some form of response. These criticisms I’m levelling weren’t dreamt about nor are they a figment of my imagination. Every day you meet people who are disgruntled, bemoaning the wishy-washy manner in which whosoever is officially in command of the Linden/Region10 sporting secretarial – if there is indeed someone ‒ runs things. Just what could the matter be when after more than ten years of domination at the National Schools Athletics Championship, Linden/Region10 can’t produce even ten promising athletes with potential for the big screen? Why can’t we sustain them? In cycling – a department where we have always have and still are doing well – Michael Anthony, Orville Hinds, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams; three the hard way – are among the nation’s top cyclists, but they are scattered here and there, and as usual always lack sponsorship. In speaking with one of the community’s prominent and longest serving sports personalities and journalists, Joe Chapman, he too expressed annoyance, disappointment and bewilderment at the level to which sports and discipline have descended, and is totally at a loss about whether there is a sporting body and its function.
Editor, this ought to be a priority sooner rather than later for the new Minister with responsibility for sport.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe