From Newsday Trinidad & Tobago

The Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT ) is doing a fantastic job according to the Cuban-born referee, Humberto Navarro, who visited these shores to officiate at the Republic Bank 3rd Annual Water Polo Championships held recently at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva.

Speaking to Newsday in terms of the development of water polo within the country, Navarro stated that Trinidad and Tobago has become one of the Caribbean Islands to have a strong water polo team especially in the younger age groups. “As for the technical part of Water Polo, I see very good things happening.

There are a lot of players and kids involved in the game and surrounding the sport. The focus should be on these young ages and help them practice to become future professionals within the sport.” He elaborated that while it is important to have these athletes training for the sport, they need to play more water polo at a professional level.

Navarro continued: “Organised competitions are needed for the development of these kids and for sustainable growth in the sport. Play more organised matches and practice games, get schools involved and introduce kids to market the sport but also use these resources to schedule international games and proper training camps.” From what he has seen, the Cuban referee believes this country has immense potential.

“I believe this country can be not only good, but very good at promoting Water Polo and Aquatic Sports throughout the Caribbean as water polo can slowly become one of the top sports in this country as the kids really seem to like it.” Giving his insight about the newly established Aquatic Centre facility being opened to a National Championship for the first time, he stated, “We know for sure that Trinidad (and Tobago) would be a great host for tournaments in the future as this facility is unbelievable. It is one of, if not the best facilities in the Americas and this is a safe haven for facilitating the development of the sport in the region. He further expressed, “We believe that the federation is working really hard and doing its part as Trinidad have already qualified for the Junior World Championship so you can see the coach and the federation doing a great job on the field along with keeping the young girls and boys off of the streets and doing something good for their life.” Navarro detailed that he would be promoting the facility when he gets back to his home country as, he stated, “I’ve already talked to the federation in terms of implementing a plan and a package to offer this facility to the wider countries so they would come in and make use of this establishment.

This facility have all the equipment, all the technology and technical aspects to become one of the training centres for national teams in water polo and many clubs may even have the opportunity to have training camps.”

For more on this story go to: http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,237730.html

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