Senior Men’s 7s Coach Theodore Henry supports Hale-led initiative

By Timothy Jaikarran

More than ever, sporting disciplines in Guyana are in need of dire action. As of September 21, 2020, Guyana has recorded 2402 COVID-19 cases, with 133 new cases as the virus continues to increase rapidly.
Senior Men’s 7s Coach Theodore Henry has thrown his support behind the initiative to see athletes being paid to compete in their respective disciplines.
The initiative was the brainchild of Guyana Prison Service Cadet Officer Khalifa Hale, who has developed a plan that would benefit the world of sport and potential investors. This plan would cover every sporting discipline in Guyana, and with investors coming on board, it would see no sport being neglected. This vision would see thousands of jobs being created for athletes while reducing crime and empowering youth and allowing for more youth involvement in sports.
When questioned about his views on the initiative Henry said, “I think it’s a very good initiative, because I am one of the persons who have been lobbying for us as athletes to be paid for quite a long time. Because I think the dynamics have changed in terms of living standards and we cannot be asking athletes to be doing these things for free. Persons have different commitments, as well as the economic landscape change in Guyana.”
Henry went on to state that he believes that this initiative was a great way to put money into the pockets of the athletes. He further noted that as an athlete, personally, he would have to spend a lot of money to train and enhance himself thoroughly. He concluded by saying that with all the hard work athletes put in, it was only fair that they be compensated for their hard work.