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F
ORMER Jamaica College
coach Alfred Henry needs
professional counselling
and, or, psychological evaluation.
This advise could go a far way
in helping the talented and skil-
ful coach who brought football
glory to the Old Hope Road
school on numerous occasions.
Sadly, while Henry’s resume
was being written, his crass and
vulgar behaviour got the better
of him twice this season.
His tirade has led to the legacy
of Jamaica College being tar-
nished, to some extent, and sent
bad signals to young minds who
look to leaders, such as himself,
to help shape their destiny.
When a coach, teacher or team
official verbally or physically
abuses referees or other game
officials, the passion for the game
has gone too far.
No amount of rationale or rea-
son can justify Henry’s outburst
of “robbery”, directed at referee
Omar Mills in a game against
Denham Town on November 10.
PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED
As it turned out, Henry had to
be physically restrained by mem-
bers of JC’s management team.
The recent one-year ban
imposed on him by the Inter-
Secondary Schools Sports
Association (ISSA) disciplinary
committee is the second such
suspension meted out to Henry
by the same body.
In 2009, he was found guilty of
abusing match officials, describ-
ing the organisers and referees
as incompetent, singling out the
referees as idiots and “nincom-
poops”.
This unfortunate madness,
without question, does not sit
well with Ruel Reid, principal of
Jamaica College, whose letter of
apology to ISSA, showed the dis-
tinct line that he is prepared to
draw, irrespective of Henry’s
invaluable contribution to the
school.
Indiscipline anywhere is indis-
cipline everywhere. Reid, along
with ISSA, stands committed to
stamp it out.
OPPOSITE DIRECTION
Henry must not believe he is
always victim in circumstances
when referees’ calls go in the
opposite direction.
Neither should he feel, in his
capacity on the sidelines, he can
supersede officials in the inter-
pretation of rules.
If coaches are allowed to get
away with disrespecting and
harassing referees, athletes
under their charge will feel
empowered to do the same. That,
as a country, we cannot afford.
In a society where indiscipline
among our youths is rife, positive
role models are important in
showing them the right direction
when their personal compasses
begin to malfunction as a result
of the continued breakdown of
discipline in Jamaica.
Henry, you have not found
favour with many well-thinking
Jamaicans and may never will.
You must be able to see the
folly of your actions, accept your
behavioural faults and sincerely
decide to effect a positive change.
I
t is the morning after and more than 12
hours since the start of
the Jamaica Athletic
Administrative Association
elections, and the final
results are still not in.
Suffice to say, Dr Warren Blake
has received his own mandate
and will lead the team steering the country’s
track and field for at least four years.
The overwhelmingly huge gap in votes between
Blake and his rivals, Lincoln Eatmon and Grace
Jackson, did not reflect the competitive race to
the wire predicted in many circles, 177-121-28,
polled by the contenders in order of mention.
This speaks to a compelling level of support for
the stated aims and objectives of the team put for-
ward by Blake. Like it or not, his regime is the
one with which all will have to work for the main-
tenance of the sport. There is work to be done.
UNCERTIFIED COACHES
The cupboard from which the next crop of
female stars was expected to emerge is bare. Too
many of our uncertified coaches are claiming to be
ignorant as to what is in place to upgrade their
skills.
The talk of wanting to extend our medal reach
into traditionally untenanted areas is being
shown up as mere lip service, reference being
made to the lack of due regard shown to one high-
ly accomplished throwing coach.
Although there are more areas
of concern, the cited are suffi-
cient to make the point. They
can and must be addressed but
not before some negative sounds
are silenced.
POLITICAL UNDERTONES
Against this background, it is noted that, as a
part of his post-triumph offering to the media,
Blake has extended the olive branch to his oppo-
nents. This is a healthy start but one hopes he
knows this is not nearly enough.
There were visible and audible political under-
tones reported to have been associated with the
process. These need to be cauterised as this can-
not be the routing to the ends that are sought.
With all the best intention in the world, this is
not a job for the leader alone. Blake must draw on
the support of those whom he chose, and who
agreed to be a part of his recipe for success, from
which the sport, and they, too, are set to benefit.
His ability or inability to do this will define his
leadership skills and could be central to his stew-
ardship and, by extension, his legacy.
Let Blake understand that he cannot afford the
luxury of failure.
2
SportGlobe
December 5-11, 2012
Email: sportglobe2005@yahoo.com
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