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Sep 13, 2020 Sports
Balls distributed, clinics to be held on an ongoing basis
By Franklin Wilson
Presidents of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Michael Singh and Jermaine Slater have expressed optimism that new Minister of Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson Jr., is on the right path.
The duo were part of a community Outreach that was conducted by Minister Ramson two Saturday’s ago in Tiger Bay which was also attended by President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde and Executive Committee Member, Dion Inniss among many other officials.
The Tiger Bay visit was a follow up to the visit and commitment made by His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali. Singh expressed his Federation’s delight at the pace Minister Ramson has hit the ground running noting that they are willing to partner with this new administration in furtherance of the development of the game, throughout Guyana.
He commented on the Tiger Bay initiative: “I think hitting the ground running, giving them {Tiger Bay youths} the opportunity where they can get a facility in an area like this would do tremendous for the community. Those of you who know me, I played basketball in the Tiger Bay area and a lot of the athletes at the national level have played in Tiger Bay.
It’s an environment that molds you to become a little bit more strong, a little bit more aggressive in areas where you take that on in life in a positive way.”
Apart from sharing out some molten branded basketballs, Singh has promised that the GABF will go beyond to help empower the youths of this community.
“I want to commit the federation to conducting a clinic here, we are networking with some of the more matured individuals in the area. We shared out some molten balls but it won’t stop there. We will try to put a structure in here where we will have ongoing clinics, where they will have gear and apart from basketball we will try to look after some of them off the court also.”
Slater in his comments noted that the GABA’s focus would be in the areas of youth development especially at the community level. He informed that the Association has already done some ground work and would have noticed that lots of kids use old bicycle rims as rings when playing.
“A lot of children are interested out there, so what we are trying to do is get a data base of them, we will be working with players from different clubs and also Youth Basketball Guyana to get a listing of the school kids that actually play. The youths are the ones who will take the mantle and Guyana forward.”
Slater further informed that they have already engaged Minister Ramson on this initiative and he is committed.
“So we expect that as soon as the pandemic is through we will see a full slate of activities and we expect the Ministry to be on board with us. I am actually excited because we actually have someone in government who is actually sports oriented, who actually feels and knows the streets like us and we intend to definitely keep this partnership going.”
Veteran Coach and Table Official Dennis Clarke would be working closely with the Federation and Association towards realising the Coaching Clinics for the Youths of Tiger Bay. These clinics would most likely take place at Burnham Court on Middle Street.
Teaching the fundamentals of the sport would be the main aim, Slater indicated. “Not just scrubby as we know it but teaching them the fundamentals, the basics, that’s the only way the sport can actually progress in the country; so based on what I saw there {Tiger Bay} I am sure the Minister would be going into other areas and once we are invited to go we will be doing the same.”
Minister Ramson stated that his Ministry would be in regular and constant contact with all of the Federations and Associations.
“And just like what Mr. Slater mentioned there, being able to develop young talent through coaching, those are things we’ll be able to collaborate on. In addition to the facilities, we’re going to be able to identify areas with a lot of the younger talent, more dense areas; we can help to create that and continuously help progressing it, moving forward.”
Ramson also applauded both GABF and GABA for the level of commitment that they have displayed in expressing the desire to partner, collaborate as well as their willingness to engage his Ministry.
“They know that obviously that makes sense because many hands make light work and you can get a lot more things done, working together. But, having said that, they didn’t have to do it, it shows that from an organisational standpoint they are committed to fulfilling their mandate.
Why that matters to me is because we can only build this place and build Guyanese people in a cooperative way and an environment where there isn’t hostility, conflict and fear. That’s what we want to be able to do as a government and that’s what I would like to be able to do on behalf of the Ministry and I know for a fact, that’s what the President is interested in.”
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