DURING the recent budget debates, government, through the Minister of Sport Charles Ramson, announced that Region Two will be the recipient of a modern multi-purpose facility.

He further disclosed that following consultation with various stakeholders, the structure will be built at the existing Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, multi-faceted former athlete Andre Blackman expressed delight at the latest development for the Cinderella County.

Blackman, who represented Essequibo at cricket, athletics and football revealed that sports in Essequibo lost its way through lack of requisite facilities.

“I believe that it is a positive move by the government since we have been lagging behind for far too long despite our enormous talent in the Region,” he stated.

The diminutive sportsman who now concentrates on coaching football has expressed optimism that priceless opportunities will now be afforded to budding athletes and he urges them to take full advantage.

“We never had such openings, instead we had to struggle by weeding bushes on patches of land just to enjoy a game of cricket; our athletes suffered because there were no tracks while we were humiliated at basketball because there were no courts,” he recalled with some degree of resentment.

“We are indeed capable of producing world-class athletes in various disciplines, but we were neglected, hence our poor showing generally.”

Blackman was known as a prolific club cricket. He played among the best in the county including John Floyd, Alfred Maycock, Trenton Peters and Jaimini Singh as part of North Essequibo.

He also had a fledging career as a striker for Quibo Football Club of Cotton Field.

He couldn’t be left behind and was rated as one of the fastest 100-metre sprinter of his time.

He has now become a strong advocate for the advancement of sports locally and can be seen working closely with young athletes in various communities.

“I want the best for our sportsmen and women since I am confident of a complete turnaround in our fortunes when competing with other counterparts from the other districts.”

Blackman, who also served as a vice-president of the Essequibo Football Association is of the strong conviction that there is a paradigm shift of how sports is being viewed in the Region and as a result, the administrators of the various sports associations must get their act together.

He acknowledged that interest is waning and that most of the bodies are dysfunctional.

The veteran sportsman is therefore giving the thumbs up for the imminent facility and believes that the investment is most welcome though overdue.

The Region, which is mostly known for its agricultural production, is rapidly being transformed into an economic hub.

“Sports should not be left behind during this exciting chapter of our country,” reasoned Blackman, as he recalled champions the calibre of Professor Kimani Nehusi, Reona Cornette, Dr Colin Roach, Prince and Julian Holder in the field of athletics, Daramdeo Lall in weight-lifting, Joseph Livan in table-tennis, Freddy Coates in martial arts and Hector Massiah in shotput among others.

The government has undertaken to construct several multi-purpose sports facilities across the country which, according to Blackman, “This is testimony of their commitment towards rural sports development and a strong pillar for the upward mobility of our athletes as they strive to become international stars.

“Let us unite in this effort because our destiny resides in the preservation and effective management of this facility,” stated Blackman as he prepares along with every Essequibian to usher in a new chapter in the promotion and development of sports in Region 2.