Disappointed with year’s performance - GHB President

Disappointed with year’s performance – GHB President

Dec 29, 2008 Sports

– Early elections imminentBy Rawle Welch
“I don’t think we had a good year from an executive standpoint, we did not get off a number of things we had planned to do and I’m a bit disappointed,” President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Timothy McIntosh told Kaieteur Sport via telephone yesterday.

McIntosh related that when he took office, he came in with the impression that it would have been a collective effort, adding that he wanted to see a Board which was not reliant on the President being involved in every aspect.

“We had a few personnel looking into various aspects of our operations, but there were a few who did not function to their full potential and that severely affected some of the programmes we had planned,” McIntosh stated.

“We had among our plans to compete at an international tournament in Argentina, but that fell through due to the lack of support from players, while another disappointing feature was our failure to expand the coaching staff which was the primary reason why the schools programme did not materialise.”

McIntosh, who assumed the Presidency in March this year for a term that will last for one year, revealed that he might be tempted to call early elections and not wait until the March 2009 deadline when his tenure is supposed to end constitutionally.

The GHB Head said the Board in his opinion was operating way below its potential and this has been compounded by the fact that the lack of outdoor facilities and the difficulty to get full use of indoor facilities has ultimately affected the growth of the sport.

The President indicated that the sport in terms of its outdoor capability is at a permanent disadvantage and until they can procure a good turf, they would continue to struggle against regional opposition who all possess such facilities.

“Another problem is that very few clubs seem to be focusing on junior development and this might be because not many players are willing to sacrifice their time in helping to teach new players the rudiments of the game and that might clarify the reason why there is a consistent set of faces that feature prominently in the sport,” McIntosh explained.

“The ‘summer’ camps were a success, but without the workforce to get into the schools and continue where we had left off at the end of the coaching programme, meant that most of the work that was done would have gone to waste,” he reckoned.

He said there needs to be some continuity so that the kids who attended the holiday camp would have remained interested in the sport which according to him has to compete with so many others.

POSITIVES –
“However, on a positive note, we did well at the indoor level and our performances at regional tournaments and the year ending Diamond Mineral Water Invitational Tournament, which we hosted and was won by Guyanese teams, did emphasise our strength in this segment of the game,” the GHB President said.

He also mentioned the performance of a young GCC female side that competed in Trinidad and Tobago against top quality opponents and won the competition.

McIntosh paid recognition to the efforts of Old Fort and Western Dragons, two clubs that has shown remarkable improvement and commitment over the past year which he referred to as encouraging.
“It is the beginning of development and praises must be showered on players like Jonathan Roberts, Ivor Thompson and Gavin Hope, while the management and staff of Dragons must also come in for special mention.”

On the Executive, McIntosh spoke high of Board Secretary Gregory Sills, who he described as an outstanding performer. “Gregory really performed outstandingly, assuming roles outside of his mandate which was highly commendable and must be applauded.”

SCHOLARSHIPS –
McIntosh said that while on a visit to England earlier in the year, he took the opportunity to visit the three Guyanese players who’re on scholarships at the London Metro University; Chantelle Fernandes, Janella Munroe and Marvin Dannett and according to him, they were all doing well.

“Janella has settled in nicely and her standard his improved a lot, while Marvin recently received a sponsorship deal from Gray’s UK International where he will promote their products so everything is coming together for these players,” he disclosed.

“I can say that generally they are doing well and gaining lots of experience all the time.”