Athletes and sports professionals have welcomed the new GOAL Sports Scholarship Programme, saying it could strengthen skills and create new career opportunities within the sports sector.
The initiative provides specialised certificate and master’s-level programmes for athletes, coaches, administrators and other professionals, combining sporting development with academic training.
National swimmer Aleka Persaud told the Department of Public Information (DPI), she was particularly interested in sports psychology.
“I think it’s a great initiative. I am happy that I was able to attend the meeting and get to know what the programme is about and I am very grateful that it is offered to all student-athletes. I was looking into sports psychology. I think it will be good to know, because I’m a swimmer, so it will be good to know the background of my sport and what it takes,” she said.
Football coach, Jamaal Shabazz described the programme as a “game changer”, saying it represents an important step in developing sport beyond competition and infrastructure.
Shabazz, who has worked in Guyana at different periods over the past 22 years, said the initiative could benefit the wider sporting community.
“Although I am from Trinidad and Tobago, I am a born-again Guyanese and over the last 22 years working here at different times, this is the biggest happening in sport in my opinion apart from the facilities we have built, the achievements people have had on the field.
I think off the field this is saying something very profound and it gives tremendous incentive not just to the athletes but for coaches and administrators and the game needs this kind of initiative,” he said.
Footballer Jeremy Garrett also welcomed the programme.
“I think it’s an excellent opportunity for sports men and sports enthusiast around the country and it is a very good initiative and I feel and believe it would do very well for the people of sports in Guyana,” he said.
The programme targets athletes, coaches, sports administrators, physical education teachers, fitness trainers, facility managers and event promoters, as well as people pursuing careers in sports management, marketing, nutrition, journalism and psychology.
Courses include certificates in Sports Facilities Management, Nutrition and Dietetics, Bodybuilding Instruction, Adapted Physical Education and Sports Agent studies.
Master’s programmes are available in Sports Marketing and Management, Athletics Coaching, Coaching and Sports Psychology, Physical and Sports Rehabilitation, and Sports Journalism.
Interested persons have until September 18 to apply.