By Neto Baptiste
Multiple-times international warri champion, Trevor Simon, has renewed calls for the introduction of the game into the country’s schools.
In a recent interview Simon, who is one of the founders of the Antigua and Barbuda Warri Academy, said the body has been trying for quite some time to convince those in authority that students will benefit from having the game in schools.
“Outside of the academy, we have done a number of workshops in schools across the island and we’ve tried our best to get the game in schools under an official banner but that has not happened as yet. I am still hoping that some day, that will be the case because we have proven over the years that once students get involved in learning the game of warri, their mathematical skills improve, their confidence improves, their ability to plan and execute improves; and all of that is part of the game that teaches you life lessons you can’t really pay for,” he said.
Simon, who said the game has been negatively impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, revealed that the academy and others are ready and willing to play their part once permissions is given to take the game into the education system.
“All we are waiting on is for the Ministry of Sports or the Ministry of Education to work with us to get the programme in schools. We have many templates we have been using over the years to teach the game. We have a power point presentation, we have a rule setting that we try to teach the students how to play under international rules, and it’s not any lack of planning from our standpoint why the game is not in schools, that is just on the administrative level because once they get it in schools we are earmarked to do our part to impart the knowledge to our students wherever we can,” he said.
The mind-sport is yet to obtain permission from the country’s health authorities for a return to competition.
The national association has not had an AGM in over three years with president Joel Carr blaming a lack of interest by members for the ongoing issues.