FAST-RISING youth cyclist Geron Williams received a spanking new racing cycle for the West Indies versus the Rest of the World meet, billed for Trinidad & Tobago over the next week.

DeSinco Trading presented the cycle to Williams, yesterday, in a special presentation reception at the company’s Sheriff Street complex.Businessman Frank De Abreu said the gesture materialised from a belief that cycling, boxing or track & field would give Guyana the country’s first Olympic gold medal.

“It is our best hope for a gold medal at the Olympics,” De Abreu declared.
De Abreu, however, pointed out that he must not be thanked for the gesture, but the consumers who support the brand of the company.

“They made this happen.”
Director of Sport Neil Kumar said he appreciated the gesture from De Abreu, pointing out the businessman did not only put money but he follows sport.

Kumar pointed out that the young rider was outstanding because of the support he got from his parents.

He said the sport was now important because it was now being taught in school and being offered at the CXC.

President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K. Juman-Yassin described the gesture as “kind”.

“Frank has been making an invaluable contribution to sport.”

Juman-Yassin said he hoped to see cycling being represented at all the prestigious international Games, such as the Pan American, onwards.

“You must have a mindset that this is where I want to go.”

He said that the GOA, through Olympic Solidarity, carried out several courses, but a lot of coaches had gone astray and called on them to return and adopt a school to work with.

Juman-Yassin also called on the government to provide a plot of land to build the GOA headquarters.

The GOA boss complimented National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed under whom Williams started his riding career in the National Park Programme.

Mohamed said he was fortunate to have the first encounter with young Williams and when he started he could not complete a lap around the National Park circuit. He now competes in the 12-14 years age group and is promoted to the juveniles so that he could develop.

“But soon he will have to move up because he is dominating both,” Mohamed declared.

He added: “With his discipline and dedication and with support like the one from DeSinco he has a far way to go.”

President of Continental Cycle Club (Williams’ club) Maxie Perreira called on the government to look at the direction of having a cycling track.

“Where are they going to ride? I want to implore the government to do something about getting a track.”

Mother, Gemma Williams, thanked everyone who gave her son support, disclosing he was seven years old when the first rode in the National Park and disclosed that Williams was not only doing well in the saddle, but he was also doing well in school.