Reigning champs preparations much better than last year’s – Chase- urges stakeholders to do more for young athletes
Jun 22, 2017 , http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....-for-young-athletes/
By Rawle Welch
“The mere fact that we have so many players returning from last year makes me believe that our chances of retaining the title are very good,” were the words of Chase Academic Foundation Principal Henry Chase, during a conversation via telephone with this newspaper yesterday. Chase Academic Foundation is the reigning champion of the Digicel Schools Football Championship and according to Chase they have been working seriously with the intent on retaining the title. “We have around 14 players who will be returning from the last year’s squad with players such as Jeremy Garrett, Ryan Hackett, Nicholas McArthur, Isaiah Jack, Cecil Jackman, Reshawn Ritch, Stefan Reynolds, Shemol Smith and Sese Norville among those who’re back,” Chase disclosed.
In describing the team’s preparations, Chase revealed that while the inclement weather is affecting the on-field sessions, they’ve been utilising the gym at the school to get the players stronger and fitter. “Our preparations this year has exceeded last year’s and this is because what we found is that the players needed to be stronger and fitter and we are confident that we will be much better this time around.” The respected servant of the teaching profession who has a passion for the holistic development of youths said there is so much he could talk about in terms of the lack of support for young athletes, but was unenthusiastic to do so because of the continued absence of assistance even after making repeated calls.
Known for offering a second chance to many of the team’s members, Chase said that while the Digicel Championship is a major undertaking and a step in the right direction, the continued nonexistence of auxiliary support has placed an additional burden on him.
“I would like to see more emphasis being placed in sports, I’m not satisfied with the interest being shown to our young athletes. Many of them very often do not even have bus fares to come to school and this has placed an extra burden on the school,” he stated. He added that the time has come for all to start believing in our young athletes, they are the future ambassadors for our country, they can become the face to sell our country and more support must be given to them.
Chase pointed to the large sums of monies being wasted on things of lesser importance at the expense of our young budding athletes, who according to him could be lost to crime or other deviant behaviour.
He called on relevant stakeholders to rise to the challenge and give our young athletes a better deal to realise their dreams.