Robin Singh sees a bright future for GOA under his leadership

-BaseballadministratortalksbecomingfirstGOApresidentinalmost30years

ByRawleToney

With an extensive background in sports, particularlyincricket,tennis andbaseball,RobinSinghis now taking a swing at the presidency of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

The GOAwill host their elections on March 14 at t h e i r L i l l i e n d a a l headquarters, where for the first time in almost three decades, the important sports institution will have someone at the helm that is not former Chief Magistrate KalamJuman-Yassin.

The GOA’s general council, on June 16, 2022, after much deliberation, voted 29 – 13 to include the 70-year age limit for Executive Committee members.

Thedecisionultimately ended the 75-year-old Yassin’s reign as GOA president,apositionhehas heldsince1996

Singh will faceoff with thepresidentoftheGuyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe and during a sit-down with Kaieteur News yesterday, the local baseball administrator believes his institutional knowledge and know-how for sports and its development will give him the competitive edge to convince the GOA’s affiliates to vote in his favour

“I don’t do things the way everyone does them, becauseIdidn’tcomefrom that formal background in sport.

So I always say look, what’s the best way to do this thing? Whatever is in front of me,” Singh said in acandidinterview

He added, “Sport has not only benefited me financially, but it has also taught me everything, almost

I know it’s like, before sport, life was just regular I was a computer analyst doing my own thing, but sportschangedmylife,and I can show people how to use sport to change your life.”

Before pitching the first ball to introduce baseball in Guyana, Singh worked with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), the West Indies Cricket Board and other notable organisations.

The GOA, which was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1948, according to Singh, should be treated and administered asabusiness.

“Because it’s a business,” Singh uttered “There’s money to be made to sustain But you’re finding a lot of associations now are returning to incorporation, of course, internationally and even locally.”

The GOA, Singh said, does not work in a vacuum, “Itisasmallgroupofpeople dedicated to administering sport.

That group of people knows the challenges that the general public does not knowhowharditisforbaselevel coaches to run a programme.Everybodyputs their hand in their pocket. I always have respect for anybody who’s a coach becauseIknowthatpersonis subsidizing someone’s living, they’re giving opportunity, and they’re taking away from their kids and their own family every time.”

Changingthe Outlookofthe Goa

Quizzed about the perceptionoftheGOAand how much people have been critical of its current president, Singh said if elected,hisfirstorderwillbe to restore confidence in the OlympicAssociation.

“But again, why take upthisrole?ItisbecauseI haveperspective.

I have a unique perspective to offer.

First of all, let’s look at the tenure of Juman Yassin Juman is a very seasonedadministrator

He came out of times in Guyana when times were tough, and he knows the value of every dollar

He knows the value as a lawyer of every word

He knows the value of patience in making decisions and consensus building, and that worked forusforaverylongtime The legacy that Juman has left in that building, the Olympic House is amazing, and it’s something tobuildon.”

Singh said part of the GOA’s mandate is “To produce elite athletes, to bring home medals, to bring home glory, to bring recognition to your country, and to further the livesofthoseathletes

T h a t w o u l d b e drastically changed by becoming superstars or whatever And that is the aim of every organization, togetaworldsuperstar

Whether it’s a pro sport orit’sanamateursport,it’s thesamething Thatmedal, that recognition that it brings to a country to have a quality athlete, and that’s whereitcosts ”

“So there are two different things that governmentwillwant

The government wants a healthy population, and the Olympic Association wants an elite athlete programme, is where, yes, your association wants to grow your sport, but you also want to be good at whatyoudo

You want to have a basketball team, but you want to have a basketball team that can win a CaribbeanChampionships, that a few players can get snatcheduptoendupinthe NBA

What’syourdreamasan administrator,toseethisguy and say, you know what, he played with us when he was 15ortwelve,”Singhsaid.

LOOKINGOUTFOR ATHLETES’

Wellbeing

Meanwhile, Singh said he’s not deaf or blind to the plight of our athletes, which he says formed part of his decision to run for the position of president at the GOA.

“That’s where I have the multisport experience, and I think my experiences in sports translate wellinto the well-being of multiple sports.I’vebeeninvolvedin an awful lot of sports in my l i f e , s o m e a s a n administrator, some as a coach, some was just somebody playing this sport,”Singhreasoned.

Singh said contesting for the GOA presidency might be the most i m p o r t a n t s p o r t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e undertaking, but one which he believes he’s equipped to handle.

To the various eligible associations, Singh is asking for their support to help change the landscape ofsportsinGuyana.