GCF bemoans lack of sponsorship for International events
– Junior cyclists’ Barbados trip in limbo
By Michelangelo Jacobus
Cyclists who have been churning out impressive performances on the local scene over the past year deserve a chance to represent Guyana at international meets but those opportunities have been denied our athletes due to a few appalling factors.
Guyana’s junior riders trip to Barbados for the Junior Championships hang in limbo
The Guyana Cycling Federation has been puttering along without any financial assistance from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for a number of years thus their coffers are dry; when it comes to sending a team of cyclists overseas to compete the expenses are more often than not staggeringly high.
Guyana went unrepresented at this past weekend’s Senior Caribbean Cycling Championships because the GCF was unable to provide any sort of monetary assistance to the selected team. Speaking to Guyana Times Sport via telephone on Monday, GCF Assistant Racing Secretary Joseph Britton revealed that the federation ahead of the championships went around seeking sponsorships from various corporations in Guyana to no avail. He pointed out that despite GCF President Horace Burrowes reaching into his own pocket to assist with visa processing for Paul DeNobrega and Shaquel Agard it was not enough thus the cyclists had to miss the championships in Martinique. DeNobrega, Agard, Jamaul John, Raynauth Jeffrey and Alanzo Ambrose were the cyclists slated to represent the land of many waters.
Now the Junior championships in Barbados is just two weeks away and Briton John, Nigel Duguid, Curtis “Chappy” Dey and juvenile rider Jonathan Ramsuchit have been picked to fly the Golden Arrowhead. However, their participation at the event is in limbo as they are faced with the same problem. Unless adequate sponsorship and assistance is given to these promising junior athletes their development and the progression of the sport in Guyana will be stymied.
Nevertheless, the GCF is certain to receive assistance from the UCI as early as next year; this is due to the GCF being represented at world conferences by president Burrowes. These representations and appearances from Burrowes has signaled Guyana’s intentions in cycling and if the federation receives assistance in the future, the sport of cycling should be headed in the right direction.
