The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) has slapped an indefinite suspension on the Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Kings basketball club.
So said secretary of the LABA, Joe Chapman, who told Stabroek Sport yesterday that the club received their letter of suspension on February 6, after they had had opted not to compete in the present Pioneer Construction Senior Club Championship.
Chapman added that the association will make a decision on the future of the club’s affiliation to LABA tomorrow.
Last November, the Kashif and Shanghai Kings had informed LABA that they would not be participating in the league because they were not assured of receiving any monetary incentive as the association was having problems soliciting sponsorship.
The association subsequently informed the club of the consequences of its action but nonetheless the club stood firm on its decision.
According to Chapman, it was unconstitutional for the club to choose not to compete in a tournament which is organized by the governing body.
Stabroek Sport was unable to contact club president Colin ‘BL’ Aaron, who is out of the country but senior club members, who all choose to remain anonymous said that they found the decision by LABA to suspend them now as “rather absurd.”
“I can’t understand why after three months, now the association is taking action. This is strange since I don’t feel we did anything wrong. All we did is simply choose not to play before the start of the tournament. It’s not like we started playing and just did not continue, we didn’t even play one game.”
The association is arguing that the failure of the club to play had caused them to stall the commencement of the tournament.
Chapman also informed that three prominent members of the club had requested transfers to other clubs.
“Three members of the Kings club, whose names I will not disclose at the moment, have sent in their transfer requests before the decision was taken last Friday by the association to suspend the club, but so far they have not gotten a clearance as yet, since we are awaiting the outcome of the meeting tomorrow, ” said Chapman.
The meeting will take place at the Mackenzie Sports Club pavilion from 7pm.
Meanwhile, after the first round which concluded last week, the Amelia’s Ward Jets and National Club champions Wismar Pistons are joint leaders; each team boasting 11 points and only losing one game so far.
The victory Valley Royals sits in the third position with 10 points, Patriots are fourth with nine points, while Glands Trucking Service Bulls are fifth with eight points.
Alleyene’s Retrieve Raiders and Amelia’s Ward Ballers occupy the cellar potion with each having seven points.
The date for the recommencement of the league is not yet known since the association says that they will have to rearrange the fixtures.
The sum of $100,000 will be awarded to the top finisher of the league while second and third place will receive $60,000 and 40,000 respectively.
