Jamaica Star article.
Kingston, Jamaica - Spanish Town High School's cricket coach, Karl Robinson, says a lack of support is the main reason he has failed to win the Grace Shield cricket title in the last few years.
Robinson does not have a contractual arrangement with the school but has been with the institution for 16 years.
He told STAR Sports that he has to provide for the team from his own pocket.
Although the team qualified for the semi-final of the Grace Shield this year, he says they continue to 'kill' his chances as the players lack nutrition and just general support.
He also laments the lack of sport programmes at the school, and sees this as a main cause behind the school's increased social ills, and calls it an injustice against the students.
"Every year, they kill my chances. The team reach second round, so make sure they are getting a little food (daily)," he complained recently.
"I told them I want an allowance of $3,000 per match, and that there is suppose to be a system set up to help them, but they only provide food on match days. So they are not concentrating because of lack of proper nutrition, and they need help," he stated.
Providing opportunities
Robinson believes sport can play a vital role in providing opportunities and motivating students to do better at academics.
"You need sports to challenge the students, to make them do better in school, because I use cricket to make my players do better in school," he revealed.
"If I have a youngster who wants to play, and he's not doing well in school, I tell him to put in some work if he wants to play, and he will because he wants to play, and that is how I get them to achieve, and I get players to pass as much as nine subjects," he stated.
The veteran coach is calling on the powers that be to take a good look into Spanish Town High, while noting the dramatic changes Jonathan Grant High has achieved under principal Oneil Ankle recently.
"Jonathan Grant got a new principal, and now it is one of the best high schools in Spanish Town. They have never beaten us in cricket, but it is much more disciplined and the children are getting brighter, and that is what I want to see in Spanish Town high," he insisted.
