By Rawle Toney
In the midst of preparations for the upcoming All Star week-end basketball extravaganza Stabroek Sports understands that the Linden Amateur Basketball Associa-tion (LABA) is in turmoil. According to information reaching this newspaper, LABA president, Uburn Smith, will soon step down from the post citing a lack of support from clubs and members affiliated to the association.
Smith took office in 2007 after then president Colin “BL” Aaron was given marching orders by the clubs in the mining town. Smith seems set to suffer a similar fate as he is not receiving the promised support from the clubs and inside sources have revealed that the incumbent president and some members of the executive have no choice but to pack up and go. According to one club representative, since the Uburn Smith led administration took office they have failed to live up to their promise which was simply to have basketball played on a regular basis and at all levels.
So far, the LABA has only been able to run off the NCN-sponsored second division tournament.
The issue of the long-awaited final of the LABA Elite Summer basketball festival which is set to be contested between the Kashif and Shanghai Kings and the Wismar Pistons is also a cause major frustration amongst the clubs in Linden as the tournament final have been pushed back for over a month. LABA recently said that they would have to wait until after next week-end’s Beepat’s Scorpions All-Star game between Linden and Georgetown is completed before staging the final. An emergency meeting is scheduled to be held this evening in Linden where a decision will be made on the way forward for the troubled association.
