BOSAI Minerals Group Guyana Inc. General Manager, George Zhoa, and the Chairman of the BOSAI’s Sports Committee, Wainwright Bethune, have disclosed that some US10 000 ($2M) is available to promote sports in Linden. So far, it has sought the major spectator sports like football and basketball associations, along with the Linden Table Tennis Committee and the Linden Scouts, to cone up with plans towards the bauxite company assisting in promoting sports within the community.
Bethune has indicated that the Linden bauxite operation is willing to pump at least US$10 000 into sport while at the same time it is open to accommodating other sports.
He disclosed recently that “the management has decided to pump some money into sponsorship of sports. We know that football has been ailing for lack of sponsorship, maybe sports in general in Linden, and we just looked at the larger spectator sports, football and basketball.”
He stated, “I have spoken to the football association, the basketball association, the table tennis committee and the Police scouts. What I am also doing is encouraging any other sporting body such as athletics if they can come forward we can come forward with a budget or a programme to see how we can assist with that.
BOSAI’s inter-department sports programmes have included events like basketball and football competitions, which have not been played for the year 2012, and will continue to encourage sports to be a major factor in its operations, to build relationships among its employees and their families, and the wider community at large.
Additionally, the Mackenzie Sports Club has sought BOSAI’s assistance, along with that of the Linmine Secretariat, to effect much needed repairs to the existing floodlights on the MSC basketball court where invariably the lights during competition matches leave much to be desired by the athletes.
Then at times it is impossible to have basketball matches played when football is also being contested at the same time, as they share floodlights also from the MSC ground, which accommodates football.
However, if the necessary equipment and personnel are made available at this moment, with the Linden Town Week coming up; then the expected competitions of basketball and football being played simultaneously at times become a distinct possibility.
If this does not happen then the calendar of events will be severely hampered for this year’s major anniversary celebrations in the town.