By Michael DaSilva

NATIONAL cycle coach Hassan Mohamed’s 40th annual `Teach Them Young’ cycling coaching clinic gets under way from 09:00hrs today and will be held at the National Park.The three-week programme is one of many `Teach Them Young’ programmes that were initiated in 1976 by then Minister of Sport, the late Shirley Field-Ridley, but cycling is the only such programme that has survived to this date.
Back then, there were other `Teach Them Young’ programmes for disciplines such as table tennis, basketball, football, volleyball and cricket among others. And it was through this initiative that former Guyana and West Indies cricket captain and former International Cricket Council (ICC) number one cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul was spotted by former national off spinner, the late William Jeffrey, when Chanderpaul was a mere 12-year-old youngster.
Another cricketer that was spotted by Jeffrey was former Guyana and West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Today there are quite a number of other top sportsmen and women who have benefited from these programmes, but over the years, these programmes with the exception of cycling fell by the wayside.
Through Mohamed’s consistency and knowledge, Guyana has been able to produce cyclists that can hold their own at the regional level and even on the international circuit.
Some names that readily come to mind are; Geron “The Lone Soldier” Williams, Scott Savory, Raynauth Jeffrey, Jamal John, and Hamza Eastman.
These cyclists over the past year or so have been holding their own on the United States circuit and these very cyclists are products of Mohamed’s `Teach Them Young’ programme.
Reeling back the “hands of time,” Mohamed’s programme also produced other national champions, the likes of Hector Edwards, Raymond Newton, the Fiedtkou brothers – Marcus and Noel -, Dwayne Gibbs, Godfrey Pollydore, Linden Dowridge, the James’ brothers – Bertram and Byron and the list goes on.
At the moment, Geron Williams is Guyana’s first and only professional cyclist. He is based in the United States where he is riding for Team Foundation.
However, Mohamed’s programme will commence from 09:00hrs to 11:00hrs during the week for another three weeks and persons desirous of being a part of the programme or even parents desirous of having their child or children being involved in the programme, can make contact with Mohamed at the National Park during the training sessions, but those interested must have protective gear.