By Treiston Joseph
In the face of the blast by Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President KA Juman Yassin over comments by Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, in the August 12th edition of the Guyana Chronicle, Kumar is holding firm to his denunciation of the Guyana Olympic team’s performance and his criticism of the GOA as well.
“I honestly feel that the performances were embarrassing and disappointing, none of the athletes left here with times that could have won, even Aliann Pompey,” Kumar told this newspaper ysterday.
“I am an optimist and a Guyanese and therefore I will support and encourage them but the performances were not good,” Kumar added. However, he agreed with Yassin that more needs to be done in sports and that money from the Lotto Fund should be invested in sports for Guyana to progress, but he took exception to Yassin’s remarks that the government was not putting money in sports. “I want to know what is he talking about… he (Yassin) knows that millions went into the rugby fund, he knows that we gave money to the boxing federation to the box off, we invested over 40 million in football while giving $500,000 to over 40 clubs, he knows all of this and I want to know what he is saying,” Kumar questioned.
Meanwhile Kumar also had a question for Yassin regarding the GOA’s spending of money. ”We gave the GOA one million for the Commonwealth Games and he hasn’t had the courtesy to tell us how he spent it. I want to know who were the persons that went to the Games,” Kumar demanded. Although Yassin had blasted Kumar over his remarks that the GOA was helpless, the Director of Sports held on to his view.
“I want Yassin to tell me what has he done since he came back. I want him to tell me his short-term and long-term goals for sports.
“We gave the GOA land so they can build an office of their own and up to now that has not happened so I believe they are helpless,” Kumar told Stabroek Sport. Yassin’s call for the resuscitation of the National Sports Commission (NSC), however, found favour with Kumar.
“All that needs to happen at the moment is for the board members to be chosen. It is something that I cannot do but only Cabinet can do – the president and the chairman has been confirmed but the board members needs to be chosen, so I will not disagree,” Kumar stated. Kumar also assured that plans are beginning to be streamlined for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil as he has already had extensive talks with the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) and the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) as well as Minister of Sports Dr. Frank Anthony.
In addition, Kumar said he also plans to sit with more associations to see how the government can assist with the future planning of the different sporting disciplines along with attendance at international meetings to help develop sports.
