"I think that this is the beginning for big things in Trinidad and Tobago. Now the Federation and the Government and all the Trinidadian people can see that the riders in Trinidad can get good things, not only at Pan Am."

Trinidad and Tobago's Colombian cycling coach Absie Rincon was clear in his declaration to the gathering in the VIP Lounge of Piarco International Airport yesterday.

The coach was speaking upon the return of the triumphant Pan American Championships team that produced the country's largest-ever haul at that meet--five medals, inclusive of one gold, two silver and two bronze.

Christopher Sellier, brothers Ako and Azikiwe Kellar and Elisha Greene, bedecked in their medals, along with manager Gregory Dandrade and mechanic Roger Smart, were all on hand as Rincon both expressed his appreciation for his riders and made further pleas to the authorities.

The coach said he was not surprised by the three medals won by Sellier, the kilometre time trial and three-man sprint silver picked up by Azikiwe Kellar in partnership with Sellier and brother Ako, or the kierin bronze earned by Greene.

"I want to congratulate all my boys. They did very, very well," Rincon said.

"I know the talent that these boys have," he added. "The thing is they do not have enough confidence in themselves."

Sellier himself testified to that lack of self-belief and how the coach helped him.

"I honestly didn't think that I could have won it, because in the morning, when I woke up, I was really tired because I had a whole day of sprints the day before," he said. "Absie helped me to really get through it all. And in the final I was really motivated at that time... And I just won...it was incredible."

In his time at the podium, the 21-year-old rider, whose father Anthony was a Pan Am Champs silver medallist back in 1976, also expressed his gratitude to those in his camp.

"Special thanks goes to my family...my dad. Without them, I wouldn't even dream of making it so far in cycling."

Coach Rincon also took the opportunity at the function--organised by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT), and the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation-that follow-up action was necessary.

"My view is not only Pan Am. My view is World Cups. We have (this year) five World Cups which is very important and I want to be at all of them. We have to go to all the World Cups. We have to go to all the international events that we have..."

He explained why: "Today, we are celebrating here. But there is something I want you (to) understand, that maybe one day we come here and we don't bring medals. But it doesn't matter that we don't bring medals because when we make a plan, some races we gonna do just to see what level we have."

Among those present for Rincon's plea were Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Commitee president Larry Romany, new SPORTT chairman Kenneth Charles and Minister of Sport, Gary Hunt.

Minister Hunt said of the successful team: "They stand out as proof of the fact that we possess an abundance of sportIng talent in our midst."

He also assured the cyclists of his Government's continued support.

And in his maiden public address as SPORTT chairman, Charles acknowledged the emergence of "a team of four new heroes", and restated the Sports Company's commitment to the development of cycling.

"The Sports Company will continue to fulfill our mandate to realise the goals and objectives of the national sport policy," working along with "hard-working national sports organisations like the Cycling Federation".