Page 30
Kaieteur News
Saturday December 28, 2013
Letter to the Sports Editor
WHAT WE NEED IN BASKETBALL DEAR EDITOR, I am penning this letter to the basketball fraternity, in fact to everyone who is genuinely concerned about the state of the game in Guyana. I am not throwing any stones, since I am of the view that the failures of basketball have accumulated over many years. It is a combination of factors that have led to its current state: neglect, poor administration, selfishness, indiscipline, ineptitude and the lack of a unified approach. Some are quick to blame the National Federation for everything. But we must remember that the Federation can’t succeed by itself. It is the construct of the subassociations and represents all stakeholders. The right thing for each stakeholder to do - players, clubs, sub-associations, government, sponsors and fans at large - is to ask of themselves - where have we failed and more importantly how can we help to improve the game? That’s exactly what my associates and I have done and our efforts have resulted in (a) eight successful years of organizing the National School Basketball Festival
(National Championships) and (b) the establishment of Youth Basketball Guyana with its various components. It is what Paul and Patrick Haynes of the Haynes Foundation with their establishment of the Guyana Basketball website and through their many acts of charity has done. It is what Lugard Mohan did by establishing the Guyana Basketball Official Council (GBOC) and now voluntarily giving of his time to developing the next generation of elite athletes. It is exactly what Ann Gordon is doing in Kwakwani. Despite all the challenges she faces, she still selflessly dedicates her life to nurturing young people through basketball and education. Further it is exactly what the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the National Sports Commission have been doing for the last eight years, through the InterGuiana Games. They are providing the only pathway our junior basketball players have had in order to gain international exposure and experience. But much more has to be done. But the point is we must
take collective responsibility and action in order to achieve more success in the game we all love. Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), is not an affiliate of the GABF, although we have tried, and we will continue to work for this recognition, because it is too important not to. Whilst we will not have a representative in attendance at the upcoming meeting and election of the National Federation, YBG is hopeful that this process will provide an opportunity to begin rebuilding and rebranding the sport. As such we would like to encourage those who do have a say in determining the direction of the game to think broadly about what we need in basketball. In my humble opinion, what we need in basketball is: A. To establish a common vision- essentially a clear sense of where the game is going for the short and long term and to effectively communicate this to key stakeholders for them to embrace as a framework for the future. In addition, the sport needs to clarify its values and have consensus on priorities. B. To change the way
the game is structured and managed. We must move beyond electing a few volunteers just because they show up or have been around a long time. We need a broader more professional model of governance and one that includes all stakeholders and is managed by skilled professionals. While the game should remain amateur at its core- we need to employ new methods if we are going to change the trajectory. C. Establish an aggressive strategy for fundraising, marketing, promotion and fan development. D. Change the culture we need a new breed of committed leaders who can get the job done and who do not have anything to prove other than the development of the sport. I am praying that all will go well with the GABF meeting and elections, and for our sport to have multitude of successes in 2014 and beyond. I take this opportunity to wish everyone in the basketball fraternity a peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year. Respectfully, Rev. Chris Bowman Youth Basketball Guyana
Bowling gives us the edge - Dwayne Bravo ESPNcricinfo - Dwayne Bravo, West Indies’ ODI captain, believes his bowling attack will give his team the definitive edge in the fivematch ODI series against New Zealand. Following a tense two-wicket win to lead the series 1-0 at Eden Park, Bravo heaped praise on his new-ball attack of Ravi Rampaul and Jason Holder. “There’s a confidence in the bowlers and it showed. They put the pressure on the Kiwis and helped our fresh faces integrate into the lineup,” Bravo said. “I’ve had honest and open chats with them and as the frontline, it’s important to discuss our brand of bowling and the attitude out there. This is what I’d like to see as a leader. Our bowling from Ravi and Jason was tight and precise and factoring in Sunil Narine, this gives us an advantage.” Bravo himself picked up 4 for 44 while his opening bowlers took two apiece. He indicated that their bowling was something he felt they underplayed in the recent Test display as well as the visit to India. “Over the past few years, we’ve always had strength in bowling and we must play to
this. We made sure to execute our game plans with the ball against New Zealand and I, myself, had to improve after coming into question as a death bowler this year,” he said. “So we all knew we had to step it up. Our bowling and fielding were spot on and we still have to note that there’s room to improve with the bat. The pitch wasn’t the best to bat on but it was a good one to deliver to.” While Darren Sammy (43*) and Lendl Simmons (34) shone with the bat, the captain reiterated that his bowling attack was one that could easily adapt and interchange among the various pitches in New Zealand. He added that while their batsmen may have a more testing time acclimatizing, his bowlers were quicker geared to adjust to different situations. “With our bowling display so far and our net sessions, I can see they’re (bowlers) all relaxed and definitely, after yesterday, the morale is high. I will look to carry on my momentum also but as long as our bowlers keep at it like we did in the first ODI, we’ll stand a great chance of taking the series,” he concluded.
WIBC congratulates St. Therese’s Win Heart of Oak Masters Chanderpaul on achieving milestones this year Inter Primary School Christmas Football ST JOHN’S Antigua significant strides. The
Hearts of Oak Masters Football Organization continues to play its part in the development of Football in the New Amsterdam/Canje area, Berbice and Guyana in general with the staging of another youth football tournament this time for Primary schools which was won by St. Therese’s Primary. The tournament dubbed the ‘Hearts Oak Masters Christmas Inter Primary School Football tournament’ was played recently at the All Saints Scott Church Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam and saw four school participating namely St. Aloysius Primary, St. Therese’s Primary, New Amsterdam Primary and All Saints Primary. St. Therese’s won two and drew one of their games in the round robin one day competition to come out victors. Results of the day’s games saw Delon Alleyne scoring the lone goal to give Therese’s a 1-nil win over St. Aloysius, while N/A Primary and All Saints Primary played to a nil all draw. A defence error gave St. Therese’s a 1-0 win over N/A Primary while
The winning St. Therese’s School team and Heart of Oak officials. game four saw St Aloysius edging out All Saints by another 1-0 score with Kelly Amsterdam being the goal scorer. The All Saints verses St. and Therese’s clash ended 00 all, while Jaden Nedd helped St. Aloysius to a 1-nil win over N/A Primary. The second place went to St. Aloysius Primary. The top two teams each received a trophy. At the end of the tournament trophies were
presented to outstanding players. The best goalkeeper was Tyrese Rogeo of St. Therese’s; most goal award went jointly to Dellon Alleyne also of Therese’s and Jaden Nedd of St. Aloysius. The most promising player award was picked up by Timothy Harris of St Therese Primary. The tournament was coordinated by Neil Humphrey who thanked all the players who took part in tournaments organized by the
Heart of Oak Masters Football Club throughout the year. He promises an action packed 2014 and noted that the club will continue to concentrate on the youths. He also expressed his thanks to the many sponsors, wellwishers and friends both local and overseas who assisted the club. In total the club was successful in staging nine competitions at various ages, the most he stated in Guyana. The BFA has not staged any.
(CMC) — President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, has praised veteran middle order batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving several miles stones in his career this year. Chanderpaul played his 150th test match during the recent series against India and earlier this month became the seventh player to pass 11,000 runs in test cricket playing in the series against New Zealand. In his Christmas message, the WICB president described the Guyanese batsman as ‘durable’. “I must salute Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving 150 Test appearances and 11,000 runs in Test cricket. Shiv continues to be a shining champion of whom we are all proud,” said Cameron. “We have also seen several others players making strides in their world rankings even as our team performances have not always been as strong as we would all like them to be”. Cameron, elected as president earlier this year, said his tenure has been tough so far but that WICB has made
president said based on the work being done by the WICB, he is expecting more success in all formats for both men’s and women’s teams. “At the Board of Directors and management levels we continue to be committed to the hard task of the redevelopment of the game for future successes,” said Cameron. “We are doing the critical work behind the scenes to ensure that we continue to produce world class players and to help to improve the team performance in all formats.” Cameron says 2014 promises to be an exciting year for West Indies cricket. The season begins with the NAGICO Super50 in Trinidad next month before heading into a home limited-over series with Ireland and England. “The West Indies men’s team will defend the World Twenty20 title, the West Indies Under 19 will challenge for the Youth World Cup and the Windies Women will battle for the World T20 title as well,” said Cameron. “Your support of the game and our teams is as vital as it has ever been.”