DIRECTOR of Sport Neil Kumar yesterday officially opened the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) level two (2) certification clinic which is being conducted by FINA Certified Coach Rick Powers at the National Sports Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue in Georgetown. The three (3) day clinic is a calendar event for the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) and Kumar urged the participants to make full use of the opportunity that will make them develop technically and will in turn better develop the swimmers while preparing them for competition.
He assured his audience of Government’s infrastructural support by having the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal always available to GASA, while being high in praise for student athletes who are excelling in academics and in the pool, pointing without hesitation to Brittney Van Lange and the George’s sisters, and charged the coaches to encourage other young athletes to follow suit.
Powers has more than forty years experience as a head coach in seven countries and various levels including universities, high schools and clubs and even saw six of his swimmers competing at previous Olympics, while he has conducted more than 100 certification clinics in at least 52 countries.
The soft spoken American who is making his third trip to Guyana told the participants that he is doing it for them as he sees great potential in swimming in Guyana, adding that he is pleased with the work of GASA and wish the body well with its plans which he says looks promising as the sport seems to be in good hands.
After the clinic, Powers will stay on for another week where he will work with the national swimming squad at the NAC where the athletes are preparing for this month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Youth Olympics in China and Goodwill Games in Suriname
President of GASA Ivan Persaud welcomed all the participants especially those from out of town and wished them well over the next three days, while urging them to make full use of the opportunity presented to them.
There are close to 50 participants from across Guyana including Morucca in the North West District, Berbice and Linden.
Persaud said he was very happy with the response and level of interest shown from the participants and said he has already agreed with Powers for the level three certification clinic to be done in 2015, so that the coaches won’t have to wait longer once they have the requirements. (Calvin Roberts)