Agent of Jaydon Hibbert and Wayne Pinnock, Bahamian Henry Rolle, has spoken out about the pair’s reported decision to transfer their allegiance from Jamaica to Turkey.
The pair, as well as Olympic medallists Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell, are said to be part of a broader initiative driven by Turkish sporting authorities and facilitated by a prominent American sports agent.
According to sources, each athlete is set to receive a minimum of US$500,000, along with generous monthly stipends and six-figure bonuses for medals earned at global championships. Reports further suggest that the athletes have agreed to eight-year contracts, effectively committing to Turkey through the 2032 Olympic cycle.
Rolle, a former coach of Olympic and World Championship medallist Kerron Stewart, said on a recent episode of the SportsMax Zone in response to the proposed move from his clients.
“I can’t stop them from doing what they want to do but they can’t get my support or approval,” he said.
“Jamaica has been the backbone of my success and my career over the last 20 years. Some of my closest friends, colleagues and mentors are Jamaicans,” he added.
Rolle, who has coached 31 Olympians, 13 World Championship Medalists, Seven Commonwealth Games Medalists, 18 NCAA Champions, and 40 SEC Champions, said he has not spoken to either Hibbert of Pinnock since news of them officially applying for the switch has been broken.
Acknowledging the immediate financial benefit, he believes the switch will affect the pair mentally down the line.
“My biggest thing is that obviously, a lot of people think of the national pride and so forth and, like I said, I love Jamaica like my home. In its national anthem it has stern response to duties called, Jamaica land we love,” Rolle said.
“I just feel like, from my perspective with the two gentlemen I work with, there will be some mental distress later on and a sense of loss and displacement. They will have a divided heart and that’s my main concern,” he added.
On the other hand, he understands the move from the perspectives of Stona and Campbell.
“The other two gentlemen in question I completely understand because they didn’t have contracts and weren’t getting the support. That’s not necessarily the case with my guys,” he said.