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Stoby wants level playing field for black athletes
By Edison Jefford
World Powerlifting Masters’ champion, Winston Stoby yesterday called for a level playing field for black athletes in Guyana, while bemoaning the unfair treatment meted out to him as opposed to Gumendra Shewdas from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
“My contention is that I did the World Championships since last year and nothing that was done for Shewdas was ever done for me. When this guy came in, one week after, his things started to roll. They (the ministry) never even called me and give me a glass of water,” Stoby said in what was an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport.
The 18-year-old Shewdas returned home with a gold medal in the 53kg Class at the World Junior and Sub-Junior Powerlifting Championships in Killeen, Texas in August where he reportedly became Guyana’s youngest World Champion in any sport discipline.
Following his return to Guyana, the ministry hosted a luncheon for Shewdas, which the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) attended at The New Thriving Restaurant. Stoby said that he was never accorded such treatment, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony even reneged on a commitment to purchase his ticket for the 2013 World Masters Championships in Orlando, Florida last month.
“We did the trip to Orlando in July and he promised me he was going to buy my ticket. It shows clearly that our minister does not like the black athletes. He just presents himself as though he likes us, but he just doesn’t like us,” Stoby believes.
“You get into their office, shake their hands and take out pictures; when you leave that is it for you-you are forgotten! That is how they treat the black athletes,” he continued, adding that he is a role model, but based on his treatment, many would not want to emulate him or take the sport seriously.
Stoby informed that last year he was in the running for the Sportsman of the Year Award, and as such, attended the Presentation Ceremony. He said that he spoke to the minister about some form of tangible recognition and Anthony paid him no mind.
“Last year when we had the presentation (national awards), Neil Kumar said that according to the stats, (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul won, even though according to stats, he was no where close to what I did last year,” the 53-year-old Stoby supposed.
Winston Stoby
“After the event was finished, we called the minister aside and asked him if he can assist us with duty free concession, he said he cannot do that and he moved away. He did not even give it some thought, yet when Shewdas came in lots was done,” he continued.
Following his return, The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) awarded Shewdas $500,000; Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) at Springlands also presented him with a cheque, while The Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) hosted him at a special dinner where more gifts followed.
“I don’t know how IAC came in and all that but if it is showing that I have to go to ACDA when I perform that is bad because when I leave here, I wear a tag on me that says Guyana. It does not have me representing some group,” Stoby noted.
He said that the ministry must take the lead with rewarding athletes, in the absence of which, the relevant groups have no basis to act. He said that athletes such as Hugh Ross, who helps him, get into condition and many others have been significantly ignored. According to Stoby, he has been representing Guyana since 1993 at the highest level without national recognition.
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