… donates 22 basketballs to LABA and clubs

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, Nigel Hinds, has renewed his call for the un-used pair of basketball hoops currently at the National Gymnasium to be assigned to the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

This call has been echoed by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) and came as the GABF president donated 22 basketballs to affiliated Linden clubs and the regional body.

Hinds made the donations of two basketballs each to the six clubs: Victory Valley Royals, Half Mile Bulls, Block 22 Flames, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Retrieve Raiders and Bankers Trust Falcons, as they are in preparation mode for planned competitions of the association.
The rest of the basketballs will be given for training of players at the school level and by the association, Hinds noted.

However, nothing positive has been forthcoming and basketball remains at a standstill at the main basketball playing facility, where one of its fibreglass backboards crashed recently at the hard court.

Since then LABA wrote the National Sports Commission’s Director of Sport Christopher Jones for assistance but to no avail, as it was stated the basketball goals at the National Gymnasium is the property of the NSC and cannot be placed at a venue which is not owned by it.

However, president of the GABF, Nigel Hinds, debunked that explanation. He said the basketball goals will remain the property of the NSC and it is going to be utilised for the playing of basketball where there is need to ensure the use of it by youths who can divert to negative activities which are not good for the nation.

Hinds is calling on the relevant authorities at the ministerial levels to intervene on behalf of basketball and the young people who are affected in Linden due to the absence of competitive basketball being played.