De Silva heads new athletic club

FORMED on November 1,  Silver Bullet Athletics Club brings a fresh approach to the discipline in the Trinidad and Tobago athletics landscape with a genuine focus on the overall development of its charges.

Club coach Neil de Silva, a three-time Olympian, promises a scientific approach and all indications are that this paradigm coupled with an experienced technical and management staff will form the foundation for a new breed of track and field athletes in Trinidad and Tobago. De Silva revealed that apart from  himself and Patrick Delice, who is also an ex-Olympian, a full team of professionals will work with their crop of 50 athletes. Others on the Silver Bullet AC staff  include technical advisers Wayne Lewis of  Florida and ex-Trinidad and Tobago 100 metres champ Ephraim Serrette,  psychologist Valentine Smith, physiotherapist Dr Mohess, water therapist Leslie Nunes and strength training adviser Brandon Bailey.

The need for a psychologist is part of the club’s approach, to prepare and counsel athletes to assist in motivating them while Nunes will take charge of injured athletes unable to participate in training. Bailey has been training World Championship silver medallist Darrel Brown since the age of 10,  and has seen his work come to fruition. With his credentials and a proven track record, his services have been employed by Silver Bullet. Winston Brown father of Darrel and his brother Darron in turn revealed that the boys will train with the club when they are in Trinidad, and their respective routines will be supervised by de Silva and Delice.

Silver Bullet AC received the blessings of National Amateur Athletic Association president Ken Doldron, having met the requirements and they are now awaiting the full NAAA approval. A community-based organisation, Silver Bullet has been garnering interest throughout their Malabar locale and is currently engaged in off-season training of its athletes at venues in Carenage and Valencia. Athletics however, will not take precedence over education, and plans are already in place for a student exchange and scholarship programme with the United States through Lewis’ influence in Florida. Academic performance will determine if students get to participate in training and competition, providing opportunities for improved mental capacity and realisation of their full potential. This augers well for club members as it will give them something to fall back on after their career on the track.

The Silver Bullet AC executive is: President Bason Smith; vice president Winston Brown; secretary Betty-Ann Daniel; assistant secretary Denise Herrera; public relations officers Ernest Benskin and Wayne Brathwaite;  treasurer Debra Sandy;  trustees Maria Huggins, Dave Sandy, Plaza Wilcox; records manager David Prime; honorary member Ronald Boynes; ordinary members Garfield Duncan, Aldana Cooke; fund raiser chairperson Portia St Louis.