What is your current professional activity? And your involvement in sport?:
• Attorney-at-law called to the Bar in 2017
• Presently employed as a Legal Officer II in the Ministry of Sport and Community Development
• Commentator/Broadcaster
• CWI Level 1 Coach
• PRO and Vice Captain of the Trinidad and Tobago Lawyers' Cricket Association
• Member of the Trinidad and Tobago Lawyers' Football Club
• Member of the Queen's Park Cricket Club
• Assistant Manager in the Dream 11 T10 Cricket Tournament
Why did you choose to study the FIFA/CIES Programme in Sport Management at the UWI, STA Campus?:
Sport is my passion and having played various sports such as cricket, football, volleyball, tennis, table tennis etc throughout my life, I wanted to develop a holistic understanding of sport from an academic perspective and merge the theoretical knowledge of sport management with the practical experience of being an athlete. I have always wanted to pursue employment in sport in order to "do what you love for a living" and given that I already have a background in law as being an attorney-at-law for the past 6 years, I chose this programme to attain further sporting education in progressing towards my goal of all-round self-fulfillment.
What were your expectations before the start of the course? And were they met?:
I expected to gain knowledge on all the various aspects involved in the world of sport, from the lowest to the highest level, on and off the field of play, and these expectations were met. I expected a higher level of professionalism from some of the lecturers who fell short in a couple courses and were not up to the standard maintained by others, thus making the experience a bit more difficult and not as enjoyable in those aspects. Overall, it was a pleasure to complete the course and experience all factors involved.
What would you say are the key strengths of the UWI/FIFA/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management?
• The variety of courses
• Exposure to FIFA and International connections
• Networking with persons from various territories
• the knowledge of lecturers (not all)
What benefits (on a personal and/or professional level) did you gain from attending the course?
• knowledge
• experience (theory and practical)
• understanding
• patience
• resilience
• multi-tasking
• open-minded
• determination
• access to further employment opportunities (subjective)
How have the courses offered by the programme aided in developing your knowledge, competencies and skills?
The courses have provided me with all round knowledge on the various aspects involved in sport management, improving my competencies and skills in areas that I previously had experience in, as well as providing new platforms for areas that I never explored. I am more able to easily identify certain theories and components in daily living that apply to the sporting world.
How has the programme contributed to your professional growth and employability?
The programme has increased employability by virtue of the FIFA status ascribed to the degree awarded and has aided in my professional growth as a legal professional in the sporting world. That said, the sporting world is rampant with nepotism and corruption which prevents several persons from being hired on merit, despite having the knowledge and ability to perform the roles required. As we learnt in Human Resource Management, there is a constant failure by sporting entities to employ the "right people for the right position"; this in turn has led to the downfall of sport and neglect of athletes/professionals in the sporting industry in the Caribbean and by extension the globe.
What is your best memory/highlight of the course?
The field trip experience was enjoyable as we had the opportunity to visit world class facilities in Trinidad and Tobago that are not accessible by the general public. The trip highlighted that there is immense potential for sport to grow and continue developing with the right mindset but again, the lack of public use of facilities and neglect in upkeep was also notable as areas to improve.
Would you recommend the UWI/FIFA/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management? Why?
Yes, I would recommend this Pg/Dip because the holistic knowledge gained is truly invaluable for any person with an interest in sport and passion for becoming involved in this industry. Despite the challenging timeline of courses and the quick turnover of information, it allows you to gain appreciation for the in-depth analysis and research required for the theoretical aspects of sport, in addition to the demands of the physical components of playing sport.