– GABA to bounce off 2010 season this weekend
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Trevor Rose disclosed that the Burnham Basketball Court enhancement is very close to realisation.
Upon taking office last year, Rose and his executives turned to the outdoor facility as their home for the sport but the deterioration of the venue, coupled with a cracked backboard, had forced them indoors to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
They had complained about the high rent of that facility and began a proactive approach to corporate Guyana for assistance to enhance the Burnham Court.
The cost for the enhancement is projected at approximately $7M and the response from the business community has been more than encouraging, Rose said.
“Well we have already made out the plan on what the place would look like and we are working along with a few businesses. Right now I’m working on a few contracts for a few people and by the end of this week or so, I would have a solid confirmation,” Rose said.
The GABA boss noted that “at the moment we already have the cost for the lights which is very expensive – $1.2M; it is that expensive because we want something strong to last a very long time.
“As it relates to the actual construction we have skilled persons within GABA and the teams and so on to take care of that,” he added.
The present bleacher would be extended while a new stand and players’ area would be constructed. Rose mentioned also that they will be encouraging companies to place billboards at the facility in an effort to help the association sustain the place.
Meanwhile, the GABA will bounce off their 2010 season on January 24 with a third division and Open league.
The 10-team Open league, according to the GABA president, is actually a relegation tournament where the association would be able to recognize their first and second division teams at the end based on their placing.
“This is very important to us and what we have planned this year because we have teams like Eagles, they are slated as a first division team but they are not really active, so we need to have them play in the open tournament along with the new team East/West Fire, so we could know who will be first or second division teams. It is the only way we can properly get things done,” Rose said.
The association will be funding the tournament itself and they are now negotiating with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to get a reduction in the rent for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
On January 23 after the opening ceremony for the league, there will be a winner-take-all grudge match between Courts Pacesetters and Ravens for $100,000 and a clash between Linden and Georgetown under-23 teams.