Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President Nigel Hinds said 2016 is expected to be eventful as the entity has already earmarked several projects both on the international and local fronts.
In an invited comment with Stabroek Sports, Hinds said the plans locally include the Road to Mecca III National Club Championships, activating a nation-wide schools basketball programme for boys and girls in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, converting the outdoor Burnham Court to an all-weather basketball facility and staging the Forbes Burnham Memorial basketball tournament.
Hinds noted that the GABF will attempt to host the national teams of Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica as well as possibly host the Caribbean U16 Male and Female Championships in July.
According to Hinds, the federation achieved several notable events in 2015 inclusive of the Road to Mecca National Club Championships, the Bermuda Men’s International Series, the Guyana Men’s International Tour of Suriname, Men and Women participation at the 2015 Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC), the Forbes Burnham Memorial Championship and the Antigua Men’s All-Star Series.
Asked about the challenges the entity faced in the previous year, he said “Generally the challenges faced surround financial issues. The federation needs to obtain working capital funds to build and expand on basketball programs for schools, clubs and at the National Level.”
According to Hinds, “Funding from the National Sports Commission is critical, not just for basketball, but also for all the other National Sports Organizations.
“In terms of corporate sponsorship we are grateful for the substantial support from ANSA McAl, Guyana Telephone & Telegraph, Guyana Olympic Association and John Fernandes Limited,” he added.
“Special thanks to Dr. Roger Luncheon and Minister Rupert Roopnaraine, their input allowed for the Guyana Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams to be fully funded by the Government to allow for Guyana’s participation in the Caribbean Basketball Championship held in July 2015 in the British Virgin Islands.”
Speaking on the support provided by the GABF to its membership, Hinds said, “GABF provides financial and administrative support to its key and functioning affiliates, namely the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association, Linden Amateur Basketball Association and Berbice Amateur Basketball Association.
“These affiliates also have their basketball programmes, inclusive of Division One, Division 2, U23 and schools tournaments. In addition, GABF has supported Youth Basketball Guyana (YGB) by endorsing their annual activities in 2015 and providing YBG in September 2015 with an Indoor/Outdoor Clock to assist with their school programmes,” he declared.
