With Guyana scheduled to host the IBF Under-18 Antilles 3×3 Basketball Championships from October 19th-21st, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation [GABF] President Nigel Hinds, sat down with Stabroek Sports to discuss the impact of staging the prestigious championships.
Below are the answers to questions posed during a brief interview.
1. How important it is for basketball that Guyana will be hosting the IBF 3×3 Championships, especially given that it is an emerging format?
“Guyana stepped forward to host the event, when asked. We are a National Federation of FIBA and try to support the goals of FIBA, whenever possible. The 3X3 format has been quite popular as your research will show, and with this being a youth tournament, attracting 54 players from nine countries, it will promote basketball regardless of format, especially among our youth players. The promotion of basketball is always important to the GABF.”
2. How much money is required to stage the tournament and has funding been provided and/or subsidized by the IBF? If yes, could you reveal the amount? Also has the GABF approached the government for funding?
“The government has provided free use of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the event, via the National Sports Commission. Otherwise, we have not sought funds from the government. IBF has contributed US$28,000 towards accommodation, meals and local travel. IBF is funding numerous other costs, including airfare costs for the overseas teams. We have a cost budget to host the tournament of US$69,000, which we will amend, if necessary. The investment is in our youths, community, country and basketball; the returns from investment in our youths is immeasurable, one cannot measure how much our youths, country and basketball will benefit in dollars only.”
3. What are Guyana’s chances of securing medals at the tournament, especially the female section?
“The female team is comprised of Senior National Players and we expect a good showing from the Guyana team. Participating in this international event that youths from several regional countries are represented, is already a form of achievement.”
The international event will feature participation from eight nations, with more than 70 athletes and officials set to arrive on local shores on October 18th. They will depart on October 22nd.
The nations that have confirmed their participation for the boys division are Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and St. Lucia.
In the girls Division, the competing countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and St. Lucia.
Guyana boys’ unit will represented by the quartet of Akeem Crandon, Andrew Johnson, Nigel Bowen and Shamar France, with Mark Agard serving as the Coordinator.
The girls team will feature the foursome Annalisa Barclay, Saffiya Greene, Lydia Roberts and Roschelle Campbell, with Troy Greene acting as the Coordinator.
