Rose (first right) along with other referees at the Eighth All-Africa Games

FORMER bodybuilder and weightlifter Robert Rose has become the third Seychellois to be issued with a category one international weightlifting referee's licence.

Rose, who has also followed a level one weightlifting coaching course in Egypt in 1987, successfully completed his practical and theoretical exams during the recent Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria.

Crowned Mr Seychelles in 1992, Rose is now eligible to referee in international weightlifting competitions at all levels, including the World Championship and Olympic Games. The licence also gives him the power to serve as a member on the international jury.

An engineer by profession, Rose, who since 1999 has been at the helm of the local weightlifting federation, said that his success was due to hard work and determination.

"I think that I have been successful through hard work and determination. Ever since I was introduced to the sport in 1986, I have witnessed a lot of progress and I think that Seychellois weightlifting is living one of its best moments in its history," said Rose who ended his weightlifting career in 1996.

Rose added that he was proud to receive his category one licence after having made a lot of sacrifices over a number of years for the sport he loves the most.

"It's not that easy to become a category one licence referee, so I am proud with myself for having realised such an achievement for I'm the third Seychellois after Marie-Cécile Madeleine and Michel Delorié to receive this grade," said Rose.

He noted that "Seychelles weightlifting is highly ranked in Africa and in the Indian Ocean and its aim now is to conquer Europe."

"We have all what it takes to be amongst the best weightlifters in Europe and I don't think that local weightlifters are far away from winning a Commonwealth medal. With more help from the Ministry of Local Government, Sports and Culture and the National Sports Council (NSC), Seychellois lifters are likely to achieve what, in the past, had looked impossible," expressed Rose, who also had words of praise for national team coach William Dixie.

Asked about the federation's future plans, Rose replied:

"We would like to decentralise the sport and bring it to schools around the country. We are looking into the possibility of building a gym on Praslin so that young people there and from La Digue can enjoy the sport too. The federation also expects to get a full-time sports development officer who will oversee the work being done and the development of young lifters."

Rose noted that local weightlifters who are tired after having participated in three high level competitions will get a break before resuming training early January in preparation for the biennial African Weightlifting Championship scheduled for Tunisia in April.

"We are aiming to better our performance in Tunisia. Last year, we won nine gold medals in Kenya, but I feel that the lifters can do even better as the competition will serve as qualification for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece," concluded Rose.

C. J.