Sport enthusiasts are well aware that playing and defeating a team at their home ground is no easy feat. Last month, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) women’s team did just that: they defeated Pakistan 3-0 in the 50 Overs, and 4-1 in the T20 Overs in Karachi, Pakistan.
The team’s preparation for the games was key, stopping for a training camp in Dubai before Pakistan, and notably, appointing Antonia Burton as strength and conditioning coach of the senior women’s team.
Burton, a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, joined the team in January. The appointment came at the beginning of her second semester at UWI St Augustine, where she is pursuing the UWI/FIFA/CIES (Centre International D’Etude Du Sport) postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
Currently holding additional posts such as Athletics Coach at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Director of the Sports Performance programme at MP High- Performance Training, and National Sprints and Hurdles Coach for regional and international games, Burton is no stranger to the sporting landscape. However, the Sports Management diploma, she said, would provide, “a diversification of [her] resume and a deeper understanding of sport from an administrative and management perspective.”
Burton knew she could benefit from an in-depth understanding of management, marketing and policy development challenges through a Caribbean lens. An opportunity for hands-on learning, and the development of necessary skills for success in senior management roles in both for profit and non-profit organisations seemed like exactly what she wanted.
Yet, the balancing act has been tough, particularly with all the travel her work requires and the different time zones for classes. She says her classmates have helped her get through it so far.
“They have made the experience a lot more bearable considering my workload,” she stated. “They provided me with fresh perspectives on the industry all while allowing me to work at my pace during group projects.”
Soon, Burton will add to her workload when she heads to Sri Lanka to support the CWI women’s team next month. CWI is vying for a spot at the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India. Winning these matches will give them crucial points, moving the women up the table for qualification.
As with her academic pursuits – she studied Psychology at the undergraduate level, and completed certifications in strength and conditioning – she believes that discipline and “being present” are key to success in all aspects of life.
“I think it’s a case of allowing myself to fully embrace where I am and what I am doing,” she says. “I let my work speak for itself, and wherever that takes me, I welcome it with open arms.”
For more information on the UWI/FIFA/ CIES diploma and further education in Sports Management visit https://sta.uwi.edu/fss/dms/sports- management-msc-and-pg-dip
