There are many sporting organisations that need assistance because of their management.
In this country that is T&T, the management of sporting associations leaves a lot to be desired.
Everyone is to blame for allowing, the wrong persons to assume leadership positions in national sporting bodies.
So, after reading the above, three different ways, I believe that we all can agree, that our problems in sports in this country, also lie off the field of play and not only with the participants as too many easily identify.
As I listened on Saturday to Michael Alexander, one of T&T’s elite boxers who was injured in a motorcycle accident just over two years ago, speak of the pain and headache of trying to get support to return to what he loves, boxing, I can only shake my head in disbelief.
Alexander is waiting on an operation on his left hand for almost six months now and he has not received any assistance or assurance of help from - the Boxing Board of Control or the Amateur Boxing Board. In fact, as Alexander tells it, even his former coach appears to have forgotten him and he feels all alone.
Just for those who may not know, here is some harsh reality, just before his untimely accident in January 2021, Alexander was all set to represent this country in boxing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Previously this talented boxer had won silver at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) 2018 Games and bronze at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019, and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, just three of his many achievements.
It should also be noted that given the following injuries, we should all thank “God” that he is able to even consider boxing again. Alexander reportedly had a broken left hand, two broken ribs, and damage to his lungs.
My question remains why do we continue to show such a lack of care for our athletes and almost absolute disdain in our behaviour? And it is not only those organisations but also SporTT (Sports Company of T&T) under which the umbrella that shelters boxing exist. Perhaps they have too much work or are too busy to notice what is going on around them like many others.
So far it appears that the only assistance that Alexander has received has come through the Sports and Culture Fund at the office of the Prime Minister but where are the boxing authorities now that he needs further help to at least coordinate such?
Imagine, we would have heard on Saturday that the T&T Cricket Board ensured as best they can with any arrangements that Nicholas Pooran who was in a serious vehicle accident got the best assistance. And we only have to look at where he is now and his achievements and success both personally and for the country to realise the difference in administration.
Alexander is not so fortunate; he is an amateur boxer and now at 29 close to his peak and can only survive on support and subventions. He is not working anywhere and has committed himself to sport, even when some give up and turn away. Which leads to the point that he says he is currently still ranked in his category (Light welterweight) and if that is true, then he has a possible claim to still be receiving elite funding. But again, that would be what is required of an organisation within.
Boxing that cares for his competitors. At the moment though, that is not the case. At one time before his injury for years, Alexander was ranked in position seven or eight, but he says he does not know why he only received elite funding once in his entire career so far. It is uncertain whose fault it is, but a caring association would have examined this.
An obviously frustrated Alexander mentioned as well that former T&T Olympic Committee president- Brian Lewis- is one of the few administrators that call him regularly hoping to assist, but Mr Lewis can only do so much as the immediate past president.
There was a lot of emotion in the voice of many that called in on the day with one person relating how a lady cried in the car when she heard Alexander’s plea.
Perhaps we should not be surprised or shocked by any of this, given a video that circulated over the past weeks depicting a one-legged Claude Noel (T&T’s first World Boxing title holder from 1981, when he defeated Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez by unanimous decision over 15 rounds to bring joy to this country) crying out for assistance in apparent despair.
This Facebook video went viral and cause many to raise their collective hands, each with fingers pointed in various directions, except to themselves, from family to friends to various service providers, all claimed or feigned ignorance of the events or happenings, thankfully we spoke with well-known and popular Tobago sporting personality Peter Granville, who travelled during the last week to Trinidad and specifically to Claude Noel’s home in Malabar to check on him and report that he is going okay but needs assurances that his overall health situation will be properly monitored.
As usual, it is a citizen with sporting pedigree and class like Granville that shows, all of us, the power of selfless behaviour, when others who should know better sit idly by.
All of these actions, cause me to say, “Shame on all of us who pretend to care about how sporting heroes and heroines when they are on top of the world but once they fall out of favour or retire, many of us could care less". Michael Alexander is a stark reminder of such.
Boxing is not the only sport like this, we are experiencing a situation in swimming when constantly the clubs in the central and south are being denied usage of the Aquatic Centre because there is constant remedial work being done there and the notices from Sport TT generally say always the following “Temporary cancelling of training at NCV (National Cycling Velodrome) and NAC (National Aquatic Centre) “
It, therefore, begs the question, of whether or not, there is a need for a review of the method used to fund several of these sporting organisations, incorporating a schedule about their handling of Human Relations (HR) in their respective files, especially in terms of health and age.
But of course, all of the above presumes, persons elected to serve in these roles care more about the respective sporting persons in their discipline, as against looking after their personal or family (son or daughter) interests.