President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Michael Singh says the body is awaiting the requisite approval from the National Covid-19 Task Force before commencing preparation for their participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifiers.
Singh made the disclosure during a brief comment with Stabroek Sport yesterday. According to Singh, the association was awaiting the approval from the relevant authorities before commencing any form of preparation for the tournament.
He said that assurances have been provided by the Minister of Sport
(Charles Ramson Jr.) that the team will be afforded access to the relevant facilities during the preparatory period.
Singh also revealed that communication between the two entities on a timeline for the start of preparations as well as the protocols for eventual departure, were immediately initiated following the receipt of tournament documents from the world governing body FIBA.
Singh said, “We are still waiting on the Covdi-19 Task Force for something official.
“We wrote them and are awaiting an update from them in relation to preparation and the protocol training and departure. All of that we are waiting on them for the green-light. The minister gave us assurances that we will be allowed to train at the Sports Hall, Gym and Pool, the whole nine yards. All this happened when we got the document from FIBA.
“Over the last nine days we have been corresponding back and forth,” Singh related.
The government’s new Covid-19 measures and guidelines allow for sport events to be staged once approval is sought and granted by the Ministry of Health.
The GABF has released its provisional list of players for national team training. The 13-member roster is headed by CBC winning captain Stanton Rose and features both local and overseas based players.
The players named are Travis Belgrave, Travis Burnett, Akeem Crandon, Delroy James, Anthony Moe, Nikkoloi Smith, Yannick Tappin, Timothy Thompson, Ray Victor, Shaine Webster, Terron Welch and Kevon Wiggins.
CBC winning coach Junior Hercules is the head-coach and Alex Graham the manager.
The assistant coach is yet to be identified for the qualifiers scheduled for February 17th-21st in El Salvador.
