COVID meets local Athletes.

The most pessimistic of persons could not have foreseen the way in which the year 2020 would have panned out. The COVID-19 pandemic has not left a stone unturned in its movement across the world and has left many communities, nations and countries in a fragile state. The most obvious dilemma of 2020 is the pandemic has been the health implications but the ripple effects have not all been well documented, and the consequences spread further than it seems at first glance.

The sporting community which has been in a fluctuating cycle where events were cancelled , put back on and some having to be cancelled again . In Trinidad many budding and aspiring athletes may have had their dreams slashed or discouraged due to the 2020 SSFL season being put off in addition to the Youth Pro League. Many of these individuals bank on competitions as such to attain a chance to make a name for themselves on an international level, by playing either College football in the most commonly in the United States or even acquiring a pro contract abroad if they opt not to continue their academics . With this pandemic arising the question is what is the next move for those who were banking on this 2020 season to be their breakout year more so those who would have been playing in their final high school year and were relying heavily on this season. 

Kareem Riley being a prime example of using excellence during high school, both on and off the pitch, to propel himself to even further success in his career plans.

  Speaking to one player who requested to remain anonymous, he relayed that it is hard but he cannot give up because this is a dream he is persistent to achieve. He is in his final year at a prominent southern secondary school and he does not have the option of repeating into next year as he already repeated . When asked about his next move , the young player said he is just holding onto faith and putting in his individual work at home and doing individual video shoots with a hope that a college abroad would still accept the solo shots over his actual game time due to the pandemic. He also highlighted the point of players performing at an optimum level in their early playing years so that they would still have footage to present rather than relying on their last year to acquire material to offer to the prospective colleges .

Planning before hand is important and young players need to realise this instead of waiting last minute because you never know what can occur as seen in the year 2020. Hence, what we have seen happen to this budding prospect is now affecting several young athletes in various disciples not just in Trinidad & Tobago but worldwide. They now hold onto the hopes that there would be some exemption to be made by colleges . As seen this global pandemic not only impacted the health fraternity but due its side effects other facets life also felt the brunt of it . Going forward everyone just has to wait and see what will take place as this is an ongoing and unpredictable crisis that is beyond the control of man kind and continues to affect lives in unforeseen ways.


-Swayne Davis