By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Triathlon Association in partnership with the Olympic Solidarity has on 12th May 2023 climaxes week-long intensive training for leaving one Coach across the Country.
The week-long training takes place at Port Loko town as 17 Coaches benefit from the training and they are drawn from all across the country.
Winston DC Crowther the President of Sierra Leone National Triathlon said he feels excited about the training because the sport is new in Sierra Leone this training is an opportunity for the coaches to be stocked with knowledge of the sport and they can help to tap into new talent in the Country.
He affirmed that in the training he decided to take part because he wants to make sure he acquired maximum knowledge about the sport, noting within the five days of training has been intensive with ten hours a day starting from 9 am to 7 pm. with the two experts from Hungary and Tunisia.
“Now I can safely say the 17 coaches have acquired knowledge about the sport,” he said
He further that the 17 Coaches are drawn from across the Country in Port Loko, Kambia, Freetown, BO, Kenema, KONO, Kabala, Makeni, and Lunsar they went through intensive training for the triathlon. Noting that the executive has a different strategy for developing the sport as the focus is not on elite athletes but capturing the young athletes who will grow along the triathlon sport because when you catch them young you can able to shape them to what the sport demand from them especially in understanding the sports skills, and looking forward to moulding young talents as President the focus is on young athletes.
He added that in the course four PHE teachers are going to help set up a base in the different Schools across the country because they want to catch the young where they can grow on solid footing, noting the sport is three disciples within the sport, Swimming, sport such as Cycling, run all these forms and encourages all parents to let their Children join the sport in the Country.
The Expert from Hungary ISTVAN JANKOV COACH FACILITATOR while talking on this medium said it was a privilege for him and his Colleague from Tunisia MAHDI MNLF to deliver the training to and impart knowledge to the Sierra Leone Coaches in triathlon because they travel a long way just to help the coaches have the required knowledge about the sport, noting that the Coaches have been in a tensive five days hard training and they were given both the E-learning session and practical session notes I though there are challenges with the internet, noting that some of the lectures note we’re going to be sent by e-learning methods and they are going to be available in helping the coaches.
Prince Sualley the President of the National Olympics Committee in Sierra Leone while making his statement said
” The most important thing now is the coaches now have the responsibility to do something beneficial to the Country and the Association in particular, noting though it is a huge responsibly and hopes what has been learned will be taken seriously if they do it will yield some results because Triathlete athlete with have to go through and have chance to present the Country in International competitions.
Abdul Kamara one of the Participants Coached said they have learned a lot, before now there was not much knowledge about Triathlon but the five days of intensive training have been great adding that now they have a task to spread the sport to various Schools in their different Districts to get new talents to join the Sport.
The Sierra Leone Triathlon has now held three Championships in three districts across the Country and it is one of the fastest-growing sports in the World.
