President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Nigel Hinds says that there is a possibility that Suriname might not allow their basketball players to participate in the Inter Guiana Games which commences tomorrow as the standoff between the GABF and the National Sports Commission continues over the selection of the representative teams.
According to Hinds, the current Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) basketball teams are not national teams but simply squads handpicked by National Sports Commission (NSC) Director Neil Kumar and his associates.
“That is not a national team, that is a Kumar u-19 team and it has no input from the federation. Right now the Surinamese federation is in talks to pull out of this arrangement because of the conduct of Kumar and his decision to not to deal with recognize body being the GABF,” Hinds told Stabroek Sports in a telephone exclusive.
“When they (foreign teams) come here, they will meet a team handpicked by Kumar.”
According to Hinds, those who are working along with Kumar in the preparation of the teams are benefiting from funding by the NSC.
“It undermines the authority of the GABF,” Hinds declared.
Asked if any action will be taken against officials, players and individuals involved in the IGG basketball setup, Hinds said: “We will take action if you breach our statutes and our guidelines. It is the right thing to do, we are the representative of FIBA and we are seen as the sole authority of basketball in Guyana.
“If you participate in events not sanctioned by the federation and its affiliates, we will take punitive action such as suspension and fines. You will also not be recommended for any scholarships or be able to participate in any clinics,” he added.
Questioned who was to be blamed for the current situation surrounding the IGG basketball team, Hinds said: “Neil Kumar has taken to interfere with the management of basketball in Guyana in the most direct and brutal manner. He has no respect for the role basketball has to play and he has no respect for the GOA (Guyana Olympic Association) president who said that the GABF has to play a lead role in these basketball related activities.
“Kumar has not shown that he is open to discussion but I am willing to meet him and work together. Our role is simple anything with basketball has to come through us. Any other discipline has to go through their federation. You can’t call it a national team if it doesn’t come through GABF. It is a Kumar team.”
