BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –- MORE support is needed from the private sector to further develop student athletes as some institutions are struggling to compete in various sports disciplines due to lack of adequate equipment.
Several schools that this publication spoke with are in need of further assistance, especially the Sandy Point Primary and Charles E Mills Secondary.
SKNVibes Business understands that these two schools missed several competitions due to the lack of proper gears in the disciplines of Netball and Football.
Principal of Charles E Mills Secondary Carla Mills-Diamond explained that over the years, most specifically, 2013, they had some good performances in various sports disciplines other than athletics.
However, this year the school did not compete in several competitions because it lacked proper gears and did not have funds to procure them.
“We are not as far as we would like to be in all the sporting disciplines. Last year we had the distinction of winning the Digicel Football Tournament and the Under-14 Netball Championship. Those are areas that we have seen vast improvements in.
“This year we did not do as much because we had some challenges. However, we are raising funds and we are raising these funds to buy equipment for other disciplines and we are hoping that once that comes on stream we would be in a better position to really see the fruits of labour in those other disciplines as well,” Diamond explained.
Meanwhile, Principal of Bronte Welsh Primary Anthony Wilshire told SKNVibes Business that the students, most specifically the young girls who play Netball, are at a disadvantage because the school does not have a coach.
“We are a bit concerned that with netball we are not going where we are supposed to go in terms of coaching. We are not getting it, in that the last time we had the girls involved in competition was the 28th of February. And as a result, our netball competition is either going on or about to take place and Bronte Welsh, for the third consecutive year, would not be participating due to the fact that our girls are at a disadvantage of getting the coaching that they should get.
“We at Bronte Welsh are appealing to the Sports Department to ensure that something drastically be done in the future so that our school wouldn’t be disadvantaged. And like all the other 16 government primaries, we too would be exposed and have an opportunity to participate.”
Both Principals stated that the Sports Department is playing an integral role is the development of athletes but more support is needed.
Several private sector entities have continued over the years to support sports in schools and student athletes. RAM’S, Carib Brewery and TDC Group of Companies have been long-standing sponsors to athletic development within the schools.
