“Simply, I really enjoy what I do. As an extension, officiating has given me the opportunity to interact with people, all kinds, from different parts of the world. It has given me the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and to observe, learn and bring back those experiences to my roles as an administrator, player and even employee”.
Reyah Richardson holds several hats in the hockey administrative realm and she has the role of technical official at the XXI Commonwealth Games in Queensland, Australia.
Although it will be her first time in Australia, it is not her first Commonwealth Games having attended 20 years ago as a national player in 1998 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Reyah is currently the highest ranked female technical official in the Caribbean and although she cannot single out her favourite tournament, she fondly recalls her first tournament that got her started in the officiating career - Caribbean Cup 2007, in Trinidad & Tobago and her first major international event - 2009 Pan Am Cup Women, Bermuda, where she was introduced to the wider PAHF family. Her first Assistant Technical Delegate and Technical Delegate appointments, CAC 2014 and WLR1 Peru 2016 respectively, were also memorable and enjoyable.
Asked on what drives her to give up her time for such events?
“Simply, I really enjoy what I do. As an extension, officiating has given me the opportunity to interact with people, all kinds, from different parts of the world. It has given me the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and to observe, learn and bring back those experiences to my roles as an administrator, player and even employee”.
Reyah is also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s executive, so her hopes for Team TTO in Australia would be bringing home medals, as part of 10gold24 Olympic Committee initiative.
“The TTO travel contingent is a mixed group with experienced athletes and first timers, to such a prestigious sporting platform. Great performances are hoped for and expected, but this is just one major sporting event, in a line of activities as we move forward to Tokyo 2020. Gold Coast 2018 will be a gauge for performance as we look towards 2020”.
After the Commonwealth Games it’s off to the Men's World Cup later on this year and in her humble manner she indicates that is an honour to be appointed to the World Cup but it is even more special to be considered for the FIH Men's World Cup.... the recognition it brings to be one of three women at a top level men's event.... mind boggling. She jokingly believes that the men appointed to the FIH Women's World Cup will feel the same way.