By Neto Baptiste
Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association (ABAA) presidential hopeful and former athlete, Cleofoster Harris, believes he is capable of delivering the level of leadership required to move the body into a new era.
Speaking recently on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, Harris announced his intention to challenge for the association’s top executive post for a second straight term after losing the 2022 vote.
“Over the years, I’ve gained the capacity to be a lead administrator and just not being on the side helping or assisting in any what way. I think that I have [the capacity] to help shape and continue to uplift the association that has actually made me into who I am today,” he said.
Former national athlete Everton Cornelius was re-elected for another four-year term as the body’s president in February of 2022. Cornelius was elected 26-18 ahead of Harris, who was his lone challenger on the night.
Harris sought to debunk claims that since losing the election in 2022, he has exiled himself from the sport and had not been attending meetings as a regular member of the association while he had not attended meets and other functions put on by the body.
“I am on the email thread and once I am available I have been attending meeting. Also, I am not an athlete, I am not a coach and good administrators don’t have to be at every event. Once you are a good administrator and you have the capacity and knowhow, then you can lead. I think that some of the persons there are either tired or they just don’t continue to build their capacity,” he said.
An administrative blunder in August this year, highlighted the administrative shortcomings of the association after the body missed an extended deadline to register four youth athletes for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships held August 27-31 in Lima, Peru.
Since then, three executive members, Richard Lindsay (First Vice President), Dr Philmore Benjamin (Third Vice President) and Teddy Daley (Ordinary Member) have all tendered their resignations. The executive has also taken a decision to host election before the end of the year.
