D-UP (Defence) Basketball Academy, which operates out of Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, is being led by Head Coach/Director Anthony Kandar, whose aim is to promote the sport and also get youths involved via community-based events.
Kandar told the Guyana Chronicle that D-UP Basketball Academy was established in January 2022 with the goal of promoting and producing productive members of society, and keeping the youths engaged in sports.
He said that he is very concerned about the societal ills plaguing the youths, and as such they register children from age four years to 18 years of age.
Kandar stated that their non-profit organisation (NGO) is often funded by members of the public and the private sector. According to him, the main sponsors included the Ministry of Education, the regional chairman and the RDC, Century Spring Water, Melville Singh Construction and Interior Works, I&S Trading, Gafoors, and a family from the United States of America.
He disclosed that they currently use two basketball courts, one at Tuschen Primary School and the other is at Tuschen Secondary School. Currently, a two-month-long basketball tournament is in progress every Saturday from noon to 17:30hrs.
He related that various schools would participate, including those from Regions Three and Four, including the Bishops’ High, President’s College, St. Stanislaus, Tutorial High, Parika Secondary, Tuschen Secondary, Leonora Secondary, West Demerara Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary, Uitvlugt Secondary, and Vergenoegen Secondary.
Kandar said the semifinal and finals will be played at the Tuschen Secondary School basketball court on November 28, 2026, and it is titled ‘Tournament Region Three Schools Basketball Jamboree’.
He noted that the basketball sessions started on September 18, 2026, and he and his team want to make the events a community-based affair, where the locals can come out to support a team of their choice.
Kandar explained that from this tournament, a team of 12 players will be selected to go to St. Lucia in August 2027.
