New sports body aims to give Linden youths the `right start’
Collis Gifth, former president of the UDFA
Collis Gifth, former president of the UDFA

By Joe Chapman

TWO former leading football officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) have initiated a sports programme, aimed at fostering the development of youths in the area of sports in the mining town of Linden.
Former president of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Collis Gifth and past secretary of the UDFA, Jermaine Figueira (MP) are the main movers, as executive directors, behind the Right Start Foundation, a non-profit organisation which intends to push for the empowering of young men and women in sports, armed with the fundamentals which will enable them to have better values and understanding of the importance of education in pursuing sports.
MP Figueira, who is responsible for Marketing and Accounting, stated: “The programme is strategically designed to eloquently amalgamate sports and academic values in an effort to give our young aspirants a sense of understanding that enables them to encapsulate the importance of having a sound academic background in order to become a successful sportsman or woman.”
The Member of Parliament and secondary school teacher noted that “it is no secret that most, if not all our young athletes dream of one day becoming like one of the great sports superstars they admire.
“However, although they may have the physical aptitude and passion to become as great as their icons, many of them fail to even consider that apart from being physically fortified, there is a much greater part to becoming a successful athlete, which is to be academically sound.”
According to Figueira ”many of them see the success but don’t see the sacrifice”.
Gifth, who has responsibility for Administration and Finance explained that “in the much developed nations, once a certain level of talent is discovered within a child, he or she is admitted into an academy where their talents are nurtured in an embryonic environment, and into college where he or she is given an opportunity to pursue an academic career apart from playing sports, which can certainly guarantee them the solid foundation they truly need to achieve the level of success they envisage, and more importantly have a sound career out of sports.”
Relating the importance of academics for youths involved in sport: “By the time that player reaches a professional level, he or she will at least possess a Bachelor’s Degree in an academic field which makes him/her well-rounded athletes with a sound academic background to corroborate their physical capabilities. This therefore will nullify any chances of career setbacks or failures even if he/she does not make it to stardom status,” Figueira argued.
Looking at the advantage of academics Figueira opined “In simpler terms, educated players are easier to be coached and respond better to what they are taught.”
The first venture by this new group will be an innovation, Formula/Twenty (F/20) Community Cup Skills Football tournament during the Linden Town Week in April where many youths will be involved in football competitions with a difference that should engage their interests somewhat.
With this in mind, Gifth remarked that through this initiative by his foundation they are bringing to Linden the quest for young athletes having an academic career that will be enhanced once they are given the ‘Right Start’.

 

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