It’s official: Guyana’s senior national male and female basketball teams will be returning to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) championships scheduled for Puerto Rico in August of this year.
President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Godwin McPherson told Stabroek Sport yesterday that through an overseas intervention the federation was able to meet the CBC deadline of March 1 for payment of registration fees.
Each participating country was required to pay a fee of US$1,000 per team to CBC which will enable that team to compete for the highly touted regional basketball title. The federation paid US$2,000 for the participation of its two national teams.
“People are generally happy that we will be returning to the Caricom Championships this year. We want to turn a new leaf in basketball with this gesture that will make our sponsors and supporters proud,” McPherson said.
The local basketball body in collaboration with overseas-based, Paul and Patrick Haynes lobbied from the beginning of the year on Twinkillas.com for support of the local male and female teams for the CBC (Caricom) tournament.
“Through some support from overseas, we have been able to register both a male and female team to participate in Caricom this year,” McPherson said.
The GABF head indicated that the federation would now be working to ensure that both teams continue the tradition of outstanding performances Guyana has had over the years at the CBC championships.
“This return is not just a return, we are doing everything within our power to ensure that we return with a bang,” the GABF boss vowed.
Guyana hosted the inaugural tournament in 1981, placing third in the male championships. In 1994, Guyana hosted the event again and finished second after reaching the final in the male competition. The national female unit brought the country glory in 1996 when they carted of the championship trophy.
The local females last participated in the Caribbean tournament in 1998 while the male side bounced their last ball among their regional counterparts in 2000.
Asked about the significance of Guyana’s return to the championships and the motivational source for the GABF to have both teams attend, McPherson alluded to Guyana’s status and reputation at the prestigious competition.
“Guyana is a founding member of the Caricom championships and when you are a founding member, your absence is always felt,” he said.
The gesture of returning to the event has triggered widespread international interest in the local teams. McPherson confirmed that there were a number of overseas-based players who were waiting for the green light to wear the national colours.
The GABF president had told Stabroek Sport earlier this week that the federation is in contact with Europe-based players, Lorenzo Withrite and Andrew Ifill while several players from the locally Washington DC Jammers will come in.
For the first time in the history of the event, the panel of coaches named by the GABF to select the national team will have their hands tied with the multitude of quality players, locally and internationally, who are available to represent Guyana.
Local players will have two opportunities to put their names on the roster when the GABF hosts a Linden vs. Georgetown inter- association tournament and a national first-division tournament later this month.
“It seems to be everybody who plays and coaches overseas are e-mailing us offering their service,” he observed but only 12 male and female players along with three officials and one referee will be make up the official Guyana contingent.
According to McPherson, the federation in an effort to quell the sore point of refereeing and fill the opening for a referee at CBC, will send four referees to an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) certification exercise in St Kitts later this year.
Pending the results of the certification exercise, the GABF will make a final decision on the referee who will accompany the team in August. As it is now, United States-based FIBA qualified referee, Howard Peters has been tipped for the slot.
“We are already in touch with Howie (Peters), who has given us his availability to attend the event,” McPherson said. The 2007 CBC male championship is slated for August 6-10 in Caguas while the female event is set for the 11-14 in Morovis.
