Sudesh "Johnny" Singh 3rd from left
Sudesh Singh is The Daily Herald’s 2015 Sports Person of the Year. Singh, commonly called Johnny, is a footballer. He is a participant and a leader in pushing his sport to the next level on the Friendly Island and in the region. He plays both the indoor (futsal) and outdoor versions of ‘the beautiful game.’ He has been active in the St. Maarten Futsal Association as a board member, past-president and now is the current president of the St. Maarten Soccer Association. In addition he coaches the sport he loves and serves as referee.
Singh believes youngsters have the need, and indeed the right, to compete. Towards that end he organizes competitions and trips to tournaments at many levels: locally, regionally and even internationally. In 2008 he was instrumental in organizing the first St. Maarten National Futsal Team to compete off-island. The squad travelled to Trinidad for a regional match-up.
Currently Singh is helping Futsal prepare to take a team to Cuba in January 2016 to compete in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Competition.
Singh was elected president of the St. Maarten Soccer Association in May 2015. He faced the incumbent president and vice president in a three way race. Nine votes were cast. Singh received seven votes. This speaks to his popularity, leadership skills and the respect he has earned in the sporting community.
Looking back on the year, Singh shared a few memories that stand out. “One of our first accomplishments was to host the first ever Dutch Caribbean Women’s Championship,” he said. Next Raoul Illidge was the venue for the Under 15 boys Caribbean Football Union Championship. Twelve countries sent teams to the Friendly Island. “In November we held our first ever CONCACAF D License Trainer Course.”
Singh was born in Guyana. At the age of one week he migrated to Suriname. He began playing football at age seven. He picked up a whistle and started refereeing at age 18. He admits he only started officiating due to an injury.
Singh moved to St. Maarten in 1999 and joined the Fun Makers Football Club and began playing both indoor and outdoor soccer. Within a year he was also refereeing games and soon landed on the Futsal Association’s board. “We had a very strong competition in those days,” recalled Singh. “We had ABN Strikers, Ghetto Boys, Telstar, Buraco, Police Force and Super Sports.
Singh would become the president of futsal a few years later. He played football with the Fun Makers and Paraboys before coaching C and D. “About 3 years to 4 years ago I stepped down as futsal president,” he remembered.
At last he was ready for a break, but the break did not stick. He was soon asked to assist with the coaching for the Oualichi Women’s Team. “There is a lot of potential in young players here who can make it big in football, but [the] lack of a good leader to guide them in the right direction and give them the chance to excel internationally is needed,” said Singh.
He had a vision. It was now time to run for president of the soccer association. Also elected to the board were Noris Richards of FC Veendam, Danaë Daal of Oualichi Women’s Soccer Association, Dwain Wright and Natasha Wright of Flames United Sports Club, Stanley York of FC Superstars and Orien Allen of C&D Connections.
While most people have been enjoying the Holiday break, Singh and his board have been busy training the National Futsal Team that will travel to Cuba at the end of January. Singh has also been busy trying to get sponsors.
After the Cuba trip Singh and his board are looking to get the Elite Under 13 Team training programme in full swing. This will be under the leadership of technical director Sandro Garcia.
Other goals for 2016 include applying to become a member of FIFA, organizing St. Maarten’s first Women’s Football Championship and starting an Under 17 Championship Tournament for the young men.
There are also plans to field a national team at the CFU Women’s Under 17 Championship and to put together a Men’s Senior Selection Team to participate in the Caribbean Cup Championships. Ambitiously, the Association is working towards the goal of having St. Maarten host at least one pool of the Caribbean Cup Championship.
For all he has done to help the game of football on St. Maarten and to create opportunities for travel off island, Sudesh “Johnny” Singh is The Daily Herald’s 2015 Sports Person of the Year.
