NATIONAL cycle coach Hassan Mohamed stated that the 37th edition of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Teach Them Young cycle programme was a success, despite no input from the Guyana Cycle Federation (GCF).

Speaking with Chronicle Sport at the conclusion of the eight-week programme, Mohamed who was bestowed with a Medal of Service (MS) for his dedication and commitment to the development of cycling locally, reminded that 95 percent of the cyclists who have brought Guyana honours regionally and internationally have passed through his Teach Them Young programme and he is elated about this fact.
He, however, said that while he is currently serving the GCF as the assistant racing secretary, he is displeased with the executives of the said federation.
Mohamed declared that the other executives are not interested in the development of the sport.
“Imagine, every year, for the past 37 years I’ve been conducting and the Federation is normally informed and this year was no different; but this year, like others, not one GCF executive paid a visit at the (National) Park to see how the youths are doing and maybe offer them some advice., not one of them,” Mohamed declared.
“They don’t have cycling at their heart, they don’t care about these youths, all they want is position (on the executive) and they do nothing for the development of the sport.”
According to Mohamed, this year’s turnout was very encouraging as it attracted 67 participants from age five (Alexander Leung) “It is a record turnout,” Mohamed declared.
Mohamed, who was trained in Russia during the mid-70s, vowed to continue the programme once he has the strength to do so and stated empathically that he would not be deterred by the non-showing of GCF’s executives at his programmes.
“Whether they come or not is not a problem for me. I am committed to what I am doing, and I will continue to do what I am doing, regardless of these executives non-support,” Mohamed declared.
Among the national and regional champions who gained from Mohamed’s experience are: Noel Fiedtkou, Godfrey Pollydore, Dwayne Gibbs, Warren McKay, Leer Nunes, Jude Bentley, Geron Williams, Hector Edwards, Raymond Newton, Paul Cho-wee-nam, Raynauth Jeffrey and Daniel Ramchurchee.
The culmination of this year’s Teach Them Young programme is also the 37th event that Mohamed has completed this year, but he said he has another three races to conduct before the end of the season. The first of such races will be staged on September 14.