BREAKING NEW GROUND!

Ambrose hoping to make UG athletics club the best in two years

By Treiston Joseph

The University of Guyana (UG) is looking to make a forceful impact in track and field in Guyana under the guidance of former Royal Youth Movement Athletics Club (RYM) coach Anson Ambrose.
Ambrose, after a two-year hiatus from coaching, will pick up where he left off only this time with the newly-formed University of Guyana Track and Field Club.
The coach, who worked with world junior female 400 metres silver medalist Kadecia Baird before she departed for greener pastures, sat with Guyana Times International Sport to discuss his return to the sport, along with the goals for the budding track club.
“One of the things that motivated me to come back is some of my athletes that would have approached me from time to time and even fellow coaches who said to me that my expertise should not be wasted and after being approached by Fraser [UG’s Sports Coordinator] to work with the university team I finally came to the decision and now I’m back,” Ambrose said.
Ambrose said that Baird’s performance at the World Junior Championship brought him to tears and was an inspiration when she asked him to resume coaching after her performance in France last year.
“When she (Baird) won silver I was proud and it brought tears to my eyes and in our conversation after she competed, I was congratulating her and she urged me to start back coaching so that was a proud moment for me and one of the things I use as inspiration knowing that she was a part of the club I coached before she left,” Ambrose reminisced.
Ambrose also gave reason for the two-year hiatus: “Well in anyone’s life after doing something for too long I guess anyone would need a break and I think I was at the point but the sport never left my blood.
“The two I spent away I learnt a lot from stints outside of the country with regards to fitness training because I was involved in coaching some football teams and referees but my knowledge is greater now and I am back in the game.”
Further, the former RYM coach gave some insight into what two years without athletics has been like.
“Well I started working with footballers and referees and got to do some fitness course in Jamaica and it was really beneficial for me especially in the aspects of warming up and cooling down and I’m already seeing positives results not just from UG but from the referees and footballers as well,” Ambrose revealed.
However, the coach, whose strengths are in the sprint events has put the past behind him and looks to make UG a top club in Guyana. He has given the institution two years to become the top club in the country.

Dream
“It has always been my dream to coach athletes from scratch whereas from benefiting from coaching athletes already in an established club…I think it would help me as a coach to know exactly where I am and how good I can be.
“Now I’m here helping to create something new and I know it will be challenging, but it is one I embrace and I know that within two years this club can be the best club in the nation because being a club is about being a family, it is not about having the best athletes but athletes that will push themselves and give their all,” Ambrose indicated.