The Phrase 'nobody here' could be interpreted in two ways when one speaks of Stephen Francis. We Could easily be referring to the fact that in the eyes of the JAAA, he's a nobody here, atleast that's the way he's been made to feel. and i the other instance, we could easily be referring to the fact that , as it relates to his post as head of Utech and M.V.P track club here in Jamaica, a knock on his door would reveal there is " Nobody Here". Lets traverse these issues in retrospect.
With all the hype surrounding the success of the athletes in China and the numerous honors being meted out, many people are still asking what of the coaches? Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Stephen Francis was top sports news maker, as he was there calling out to the JAAA to not only do more for athletes, but to recognize his status as a top coach in the island, to the point where he was left off the Olympic coaching team. That for many was nothing but a big 'Diss', taking into account that atleast 60% of the team was coached by Francis and so his expertise was seen as compulsory in helping to prepare the Nations' athletes for the Games. Well if this were a quiz, we'd all be WRONG!!! As the title suggests, the answer is simple and easy, Francis is 'Nobody Here', and that is the message that many got from the decision to leave him out in the cold as the Nation stepped out to break numerous records in Beijing.
The other lens through which the term 'Nobody Here' can be analysed is that of absence. In respect to absence, we speak of the fact that Francis is no longer at the helm of the prestigious UTECH Athletics Programme, but has opted to migrate his expertise. What's disheartening is not that he is no longer planning to hone is wisdom at UTEC, but he has also opted to take it out of Jamaica. In light of the situation outlined above, it is no surprise that feeling unappreciated, Francis would be heading for the door, looking to cash in on his enunciated status as the best Track and Field coach in the World. The word coming from the Maximizing Velocity and Power(M.V.P) camp is that Francis is leaving because he's been getting increased demands to coach international athletes that may not sit well with Jamaica. True this man be, but we as Jamaicans know how it is when we feel unappreciated, we quickly lose attachment to whatever body we had been loyal to.
The association of the term ' Nobody Here' with the name Stephen Francis is the mark of a sad and gloomy future for Jamaica. Think of what is being lost; first we are losing one of the top coaches in the World , the most successful track club in Jamaica's history, the appeal to tourists of coming to Jamaica with the opportunity to watch the best athletes in the world train in our shores. Those at the helm of the JAAA need to hurriedly get their act together and stop playing politics. They need to first bestow Stephen Francis with all the Accolades and Honor that he deserves and the same to all the other coaches that contributed to the Olympic Success. We cannot at any time have local world class coaches feeling like they are 'Nobody Here' or very soon we will have in terms of expertise, Nobody Here!
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