Since April 3rd, when this newspaper broke the news of the games and the possibility of Guyana fielding a team, President of the GABF, retired Col. Godwin McPherson has been deafeningly silent about the championship, only saying “we will have to meet and see if it’s possible”.
Those words were uttered approximately two weeks ago and since then, the local basketball fraternity has been holding its breath firmly in anticipation that something positive might come out of it.
Also since the announcement of the championship, several persons around the basketball community have been sounding their voices not only about Guyana going to the games, but also calling for the best local players to be added to the team so that it can truly have a Guyanese flavour.
In addition to the players, national coach Bobby Cadogan also said that he feels the locals should be given a chance to explore their talents abroad and be rewarded for their good showing in the sport locally over the years.
The last time the games were held in Puerto Rico, Guyana had to be represented by an all-overseas-based contingent because the shortlisted locals: Royston Siland, Marvin Hartman, Jason Alonzo, Andrew Iffil and Nkosi Gurrick, were all denied the required US visa by the embassy in Georgetown.
Since then the GABF top brass had said that if the games will be held in a territory where a visa is required to enter, Guyana will not be fielding a team since it doesn’t want a recurrence of the visa denials.
But McPherson’s stance was shot down by President of the CBC, Senator Usie Richards, who in a recent interview with Stabroek Sport said this should not be used as an excuse for not participating since it was stated that it’s the responsibility of the CBC and the host country to ensure that the participants in the tournament be given the fullest opportunity to take part.
Richards said that Guyana’s application had to be made on a timely basis and the necessary assistance would be provided. He made reference to the Cuban team which took part in the tournament last year and had to get visas to enter the US. He said it was the responsibility of the CBC and the Puerto Rican Federation to ensure that the team got the required documents to obtain their visas which they did.
Extra mile
A Guyanese team with locals has not been represented at the championship since 2000 when it was held in Barbados. Now Ravens coach Lugard Mohan was the captain of that team that finished third in the tournament.
The GABF had even gone the extra mile this year to send in a bid to host both versions of the championships but that hope was short-lived after they were asked by the CBC to send a letter of commitment signed by the Government of Guyana stating that they are fully prepared and willing to host the games.
Representing the Government of Guyana was Director of Sport Neil Kumar who had stated verbally that his office, the National Sports Commission (NSC) stood ready and prepared to bring the games back to where it all started in 1981.
But when faced with the steep hosting requirements of the championships, negotiations apparently fell short between the two parties hence the games going to the BVI. However, only the men’s championship will be held on the island and the CBC are still looking for a host of the women’s championship.
Under the presidency of John Yates, Guyana hosted the first CBC tournament which was then called the CARICOM basketball championship in August of 1981 where it finished third in the men’s section. Seven years later (1988) the games returned with the men finishing fifth. The year 1994 was the last time it was ever played here and then Guyana had its best showing, placing second.
Several local players rose to prominence as a result of the CBC tournament with the most successful being former national Captain Mohan, Auric Tappin, Leon Christian and Steve Nurse, since they were all selected to the CARICOM all-star team.
Mohan also holds the record for being the Guyanese player to register over one hundred points at CARICOM championships and also is among only three Guyanese (Tappin and Christian) to be selected more than once on the All-Star team.
Now the question that is being asked by the many pundits, is, will the GABF allow Guyana’s rich basketball history in the Caribbean to be stymied or will they give the local players a chance to fellow in the footsteps of the others who have excelled through the CBC Championship?
April 15 is the deadline to give a nod to the CBC on their participation and May 1 to pay the registration fee of US$1,000 which will go to the host country to help offset some of its expenses.
