Wind Jammers International Hotel has come on board to support former national point guard Lugard Mohan and Aubrey Young on their venture to the Colorado Springs, USA where they will be taking part in a FIBA referees certification course from June 19-22.
It will cost Mohan and Young approximately US$3000 collectively to participate in the course which will see the two, if they are successful, joining Guyana’s lone certified referee Sherwin Henry on the list of internationally accredited officials.
At a simple handing over ceremony yesterday, Wind Jammers International Hotel proprietor Carey Griffith said that his support was motivated by his love for the sport and the fact that he believes that the duo will go out and give their all and be successful.
The pair thanked Griffith for his timely gesture and also expressed their optimism about returning with the certification in a sport that they love.
“We are going there to try and change the track record of Guyana’s showing at these certification courses considering that previously not many local referees were able to do well,” said Mohan.
Over the past two years only Henry has been able to come out on top twice.
Young was down to travel to St Kitts and Nevis in 2007 with a group of local officials when the course was being held in that island, but financial woes were said to have played a major role in him not making the trip.
However, this time around he noted: “Good things come to those who wait, and I’m grateful for the assistance that we have gotten so far.”
Not many referees from the Caribbean are certified by FIBA and, at the last Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) meeting that was held in St Lucia, it was noted that this was a major concern for them especially with the CBC Championship just a few weeks away.
The course in Colorado is testament to the CBC’s mandate to beef up the pool of referees within the Caribbean.
Both Young and Mohan are well known figures in the sport locally and have been receiving kudos for doing well with the whistle in terms of being fair with their calls.
They will depart Guyana on June 16.
