By Joe Chapman

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, has come out in support of a request made by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), which is seeking to have the under-utilised basketball goals at the National Gymnasium reassigned to the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) where competitive basketball is now at a standstill in the mining town of Linden.

The MSC facility is the only one that has been playing competitive basketball on a regular basis in Linden, because of the existing basketball goals in the area and being one that can stage night games and accommodate basketball fans.
The GABF boss was in Linden over the last weekend and visited the MSC hard court to have a first-hand view of the shattered backboard and also met with LABA and its president Lawrence Simon.

After that stop at the MSC hard court Hinds said “We are part of one group. It’s showing solidarity with the absence of the basketball goal and the urgent need to have it replaced.
He opined: “The fact that we have a good pair of basketball rings at the gymnasium for the last two years that have not been used, it is ideal for the National Sports Commission (NSC) to assign it to MSC, as they will retain ownership, and at least Linden will be able to play basketball at the premier facility for teams in that town.”

Hinds added: “And we think it is very important that we get the full support of the NSC which we expect, and that of Ministers Dr George Norton and Joe Harmon.
“Once that happens Linden could carry out their planned basketball programmes for 2019. They have the Wayne Andries Memorial, the Under-21 championships and hopefully the planned year-ending championship Malta Supreme in Linden.”

The GABF president also held discussions with president of the MSC, Avery Trim and pointed out that “LABA has already gotten the blessings of MSC to have the basketball goals located here.

“They are not the owners of this, but to accommodate it here. We see it as a win-win, because it will be utilising an asset, valued at about US$20 000, instead of having it lying unused at the National Gymnasium.”