Keeping accurate game reports and introducing individual statistics are just two ways Alfred Forbes plans to take government high school sports, in New Providence, to another level.
The president of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) is not sure if he will seek another term in office, but said he has started to put an agenda in place, just in case.
"I won't say outright that I am seeking to run again," said Forbes. "If I am asked to run again for the presidency, then I can't say no, but the way things have been in the past two years, I think that we have brought stability back in the GSSSA. That is in regard to starting, running and completion. We have our sports and the scores, but we don't have individual statistics. If I am elected again, then I will establish these programs. We know what teams are winning, but can't say how the individual athletes did.
"I think we need to move to another level now. I would like to see some additional sports discipline introduced to the GSSSA. We have been doing five sports for far too long. We have athletes who are quite capable of reaching national or world class prominence in sports like swimming. We don't do tennis or boxing either but have athletes, who are competing at the national level in these sports, so if we can implement some other sports into our programs, I think it will be good. I can say that we are going to do tennis this year on a trial basis."
A general meeting was held on Monday past. The annual election of officers will take place on Friday afternoon. Forbes' tenure started in 2009, where he won over Edna Forbes. He is no stranger to the post, having sat in the chair, on a previous occasion, for more than 10 years.
Over those years Forbes said he's seen an increase in games, noting that it has been an awarding program for all participants. However, he said he would like to see a national champion crowned, in all of the sporting disciplines.
"The programs we carried out were successfully completed, I think this year," said Forbes. "If things go as predicted this year, you could see the resurgence of high school sports, especially in the GSSSA. This may be premature, but I can tell you that we have been in meetings with the other associations in New Providence, even the ones in Grand Bahama.
"We are looking forward to have championship games between the New Providence association and the Grand Bahama associations. We have decided and agreed with the small school associations, that is the Tom Grant association and the GDSSAA, so it will be a plywood program, designed to evolve when the championships between all the schools are formed.
"I can tell you that come this year, the GSSSA and the small school associations, here in New Providence, are going to have like a nationals of some form. There will be one big championship in volleyball, which we all start off the year with. Basketball and softball will follow."
No exact date has been set for the start of the sporting season, but Forbes revealed that everything will be in place and ready to go, after the elections are held.

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