Anything short could be transmitted as an awkward perception

Jun 14, 2011 Sports

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By Rawle Welch

When the national rugby squad defeated Barbados on Saturday at the National Stadium for the Southern Zone of the NACRA Championship, and in the process set up a final date with Bermuda for the overall title, they once again demonstrated what a resilient bunch of players they are that deserve more respect than they are being given right now.
Here is a group of athletes who’ve swept aside all that came before them in the Caribbean over the past six years to become the most dominant team, but still struggles to gain admiration at home, especially among the Government and corporate community, a situation which is nothing short of indifference.
This team by virtue of its dedication, commitment and outstanding results, despite all the unhelpful obstacles, has repeatedly made this country proud on numerous occasions and is unquestionably the most successful national set up in the country right now.
Just to underline the team’s unrivalled achievements over the past 5-6 years, it has dominated the 7’s format in regional rugby and all this has been achieved with scarce resources unlike its other counterparts from the Caribbean, while all indicators seems to suggest a similar feat could be achieved in the 15’s version of the game as well.
Should that be attained it would be another significant accomplishment, but the fear is that it will treated with the same scant regard as all the others.
At the senior level, there is no other team that can boast of such a feat, but there are many that are significantly rewarded that do not come remotely close to what the national ruggers have achieved.
Saturday last when our national team successfully defended home turf for a significant win against the Bajans, who we all know usually have a few players in their line-up that play semi-professionally abroad, I made a promise to the locals to act in their defence for rightful recognition as the premier sporting team here and to do whatever it takes for them to be justly rewarded for once again making this country proud.
Despite all the efforts from the hierarchy of the sport here, the continued disregard shown to the bunch of exceptional sportsmen and women must be seen as uncaring and a poor demonstration of even-handedness by those that have the power to make a difference.
This team just like the female side has had to pull through a number of adversities in their quest to be the best and they’ve managed time and again to overcome every impediment in their path to make us proud.
As if the sub-standard pitch that is afforded them at the National Park is not disgraceful enough for a champion team to prepare on for international competitions, they’ve also had to deal with some ill-advised decisions made by the management of the sport and still come up trumps against all regional opposition, a real testimony to their will and undeniable fortitude.
There is no doubt that if this team of excellent athletes are afforded the kind of preparations that most of the other top teams in the region benefit from, we could very well be playing in the top tier at the international level with similar success.
I was reliably informed that Trinidad and Tobago’s Technical Director is a New Zealander and it does not take long for one to know that the country he hails from is amongst the best exponents in the sport.
Guyana, however, still managed to beat the Trinis in their own backyard despite having such high level personnel in their repertoire. Could you imagine where we would be if we had such luxury?
That victory was the second time we had beaten T&T in 31 years and it occurred with them being the defending NACRA 15’s champions. What a performance from the Guyanese and still no show of gratitude back home. What a shame and who is to blame?
We saw the massive celebration when our cricketers earned the right to go to South Africa to compete in the ICC T20 finals and I must say that it was justified, but what about our ruggers who have made it many times to the IRB World Sevens Series where the best teams in the world participate after heading their respective zones. Doesn’t this achievement merit similar celebration?
An excuse could have been made on the first and second occasions due to the sport not being classified as in the mainstream, but not after going back by virtue of the mushrooming success.
We have an opportunity to hold both titles if we defeat Bermuda sometime in July, but to ensure that we do it will obviously mean presenting the team with the resources and commendation that it deserves.
As I’ve stated in the middle of this missive I do not intend to rest this matter until the team is adequately recognised and compensated for its outstanding display against the odds.
Come on members of the corporate community and Government show that you both care, it is time for this team to be treated with respect; anything short could be transmitted as an awkward perception.

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