It was the first time that the Government of Guyana through the National Sports Commission (NSC) has ever met with local basketball stakeholders, led by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), to discus the way forward for the sport and how much they can enhance the game of basketball here.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar has hailed the meeting a success and one which was way beyond what he predicted.
“Honestly I did not expect this meeting to come out this good, you know, it was the first time something like this is happening and I am happy with the support the basketball federation and the associations have responded. They all saw the need for us to work together to develop the sport and I’m happy,” he said.
The meeting, Kumar said, was just the start of a series of collaborative ventures between the GABF and the NSC.
He stated that though they were impressed with the way forward, the NSC has thrown out several challenges to the basketball fraternity.
Having more female participation in the sport is one of those challenges and Kumar said this was due to the fact that Guyana has not been able to do well in this area internationally, moreso at the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) level.
Meanwhile, president of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Abdullah Hamid and president of Georgetown Association (GABA) Trevor Rose, have both given the meeting thumbs up, stating that it finally gave them an opportunity to relate to the NSC areas in which they think basketball could be developed.
The two associations are the most powerful and active in local basketball and therefore their inputs are essential.
Rose said that GABA’s biggest problem was accessing the lone indoor basketball facility at a minimal cost, noting that the $50,000 per night rental fee was too stiff for his association to handle.
He added that the rehabilitation of the outdoor courts was also on their agenda and said that he was pleased with the response given by the NSC to this matter.
Hamid lauded the outcome of the meeting, saying that it was productive.
The LABA boss told Stabroek Sport that he had informed the NSC of the much-needed enhancement work that needs to be done at the Retrieve and Amelia’s Ward hardcourts.
But both presidents said that although they had directly engaged the NSC, they must now put those proposals in writing and send it to the GABF which would in turn forward them to the NSC Sports Development Council.