Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
The Cuban coaches who are here assisting in the development of basketball, hockey, swimming, boxing and volleyball pose at a press conference held at the Sports Development Foundation's Phoeniz Avenue headquarters yesterday. They are (from left) are Juan JosÈ N·poles, Leonardo Camejo Martinez, Orlando Estrada Machado, Ronaldo Zamora Castro and Felipe MartÌnez Duenas. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE INSTITUTE of Sports (Insport) and the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) yesterday undraped plans for the continued development of the local disciplines of basketball, hockey, volleyball, swimming and boxing when they introduced five Cuban coaches to boost the various programmes.
Cuba are renowned for their success in quite a few of these sports and have put on outstanding or at least creditable performances when facing the rest of the world. It is hoped by the organisations that they will be able to impart some of the know-how to their Jamaican counterparts.
For the organisations, the coaches, Juan José Nápoles (basketball), Leonardo Camejo Martinez (hockey), Orlando Estrada Machado (swimming), Ronaldo Zamora Castro (boxing) and Felipe Martínez Duenas (volleyball), some of whom have been here before, are welcomed additions to the development plans and many of them expressed delight.
MUTUAL FEELING
The feeling seems to be mutual and Zamora Castro, responding on behalf of the coaches, expressed delight at being a part of the programme.
"When we heard we were headed to Jamaica we did not have a lot of time to pack, but three things we did pack were love, knowledge and sacrifice. We cannot be afraid that one day we will beat a Cuban, we will give it our best," he said.
The programme is expected to run for two years with the option of contract renewal.
Sports Minister Portia Simpson Miller while graciously welcoming the coaches on board, also outlined plans for 10 young Jamaicans between the ages of 18 and 25 to study their sports-related courses at the Ibero-American and Caribbean University for Physical Education and Sports in San Carlos, Venezuela.
"These places awarded in Venezuela will be of great assistance to us and I know it can only take sports development in Jamaica to higher level," the Minister remarked.
"We look forward to their participation in this programme, their success and their eventual return to make their contribu-tion to sports development in Jamaica," she noted.
