Sports and academics must be in tandem

Dear Editor,
Is it really possible that people can be empowered via football? As a matter of fact, I make my question even broader – is it possible to empower people via sports? I agree that sport is vital and ever so often, a few good individuals can rise to prominence and make a good living out of a given sporting activity. I want to know now what will become of the many who had possible ‘sport careers’ in mind. They have to now fend for themselves and sometimes by the time the reality is accepted, energy and health are gone. So reading about “empowering youths through football” needs to be re- examined.
I like the position of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club. Leaders and members do acknowledge the importance of a good education. They made mention of this, declaring that while the focus of the club is on teaching the basics of football, the executives also expanded the academic component to this year’s event. I am referring here to the three week activity, which is ongoing among 35 youngsters from the Tucville area. Face facts – maybe just (at most) five will be able to earn a living from football.
Currently, the batch of prodigies is being taught the intricacies of football by coach. They are also being exposed to classroom lectures. The aim here is obviously to produce well-rounded individuals who can serve society in meaningful ways. That is why there is the target of “arresting the various aspects of delinquency, truancy and all (other) things that might be affecting (many) children in Guyana, specifically young footballers”. This is how the good coach put it over.
According to the national literacy coordinator at the Ministry of Education, the focus will be on improving the participants’ literacy and numeracy skills. The coordinator is being assisted by two other facilitators from the MoE. He went further: “This programme more specifically targets the reading and writing skills of the persons involved. You know it is so good when as a footballer or an athlete, you can be a rounded person. That’s why we believe that it is not only the skills and competency displayed on the field, but it is also the ability to think, the ability to reason, the ability to articulate, and the ability to be able to put whatever you have in thought on paper, into writing.” This is the way to go.
Editor, when Guyanese sportsmen face that microphone, I really cringe. Guyana has that unique language situation where unless one goes through at least high school, speaking standard English is so very difficult. The slack must be taken up, and I am happy that this camp is seeing to it in some ways.
Deep regards,
Riaad Philips