A lack of funding probably cost Guyana a gold medal in the Barbados 2013 International Judo Tournament on Saturday, as the country’s lone competitor, Delroy Murphy, sorely missed his coach and had to settle for silver.“I feel I did well, but if I had my coach I would have done much better,” the 18-year-old Blue Belt Judoka told Kaieteur News after his losing match.Delroy Murphy outside the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Barbados after winning a silver medal .This youngster, coming out of the Kitty Jamaat Club,Cheap Air Force 1, cannot be dismissed as a typical loser offering up excuses, as he has two gold medals to back up his contention that the presence of his coach and mentor could have made the difference.With coach, Raul Archer, he competed in Barbados last year and earned Guyana a gold medal after pulling off the same feat in Panama.The difference this time around, is that Archer was unable to accompany his young charge because he couldn’t come up with the funds for the trip, and no help was forthcoming.In fact, young Murphy made it to Barbados by a whisker, through the last minute purchase of a ticket by his Barbados-based uncle, Derrick Lashley.“Actually it was an emergency ticket I bought, because I bought my ticket from Friday midday. The flight was leaving 2:15 and we bought the ticket 12-something,” Delroy explained outside the competition arena, the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium.Relatives had to also fund the Barbados trip last year when he made Guyana proud with a gold medal.“This is twice we had to buy his ticket,” explained a family member who was there to cheer him on, but prefers her name not be mentioned. “No sponsor. You know what it is buying a ticket for Bds$800 (BDS$1 = 50 cents US) to represent Guyana twice. It’s ridiculous because if it was any other sport they would have found the money somewhere somehow,” she said.The relative’s position is that a winner like Delroy should have been able to obtain funding from the Ministry of Sports to compete for Guyana along with his coach.“Mostly I was looking forward to my coach being present because that would have make me do much better,” Delroy said, and added, “In all the competitions I was training, all along he was with me. Last year we came here [Barbados] one week before the competition, we were training here so I was more focused and fit.”Treasurer of the Kitty Jamaat, Gilbert Archer, told Kaieteur News that Delroy is a judoka who holds out much for Guyana in martial arts.Delroy also wants to see an improvement in the competition standard at home to bring out the best in participants. “The tournament here is far better than the tournament in Guyana, and I think Guyana should hold international competitions,” he said.
