GABF President Nigel Hinds said the arrival of US-based player Ginelle Ifill from Odessa College for Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) trials, is due largely to the donation made by corporate giant John Fernandes Limited.
Ifill, who is expected to arrive on May 9th, secured a full scholarship to the Texas-based institution following exemplary performances at the 2014 edition of the CBC championship in the British Virgin Islands.
Speaking exclusively with Stabroek Sports, Hinds said that a portion of the funds donated by the company towards the male and female teams’ participation at the CBC event was directed towards offsetting the travel expenses of the female star.
He thanked the company for its continued support, noting this is the second year in a row that the company has made a contribution.
According to Hinds, further donations are required from the corporate and governmental sectors to help offset expenses, especially with regards to the travelling of players outside of the Georgetown region for training sessions.
He noted that both squads feature players from Linden and Berbice and as such, the federation’s traveling expenses often exceeds $30,000 per session. Hinds further encouraged other sponsors to come on board while disclosing they are three training sessions per week.
Asked if any other overseas based players will be attending the trials, he said the male provisional squad will feature the likes of Keiron McKenzie, Gordon Klaiber, John Ashley and potential centers and siblings Delroy and Sean James who are listed as 6’10 and 6’9 respectively.
Hinds hinted that the female provisional side will possibly feature the likes of Cindy Johnson, Mariam McKenzie, Shontelle Nelson and Brianna Fraser.
Questioned if international matches will be arranged by the federation to prepare the teams, Hinds said that while nothing concrete has been structured for the female side yet, the federation is currently in tentative negotiations for the male team to play Suriname in an international series in the Dutch nation.
Hinds said that the three match series would commence on May 1st and run until May 4th. According to an earlier official press release, the male provisional squad which will be under the watchful eye of Darcel Harris, will comprise of Randy Richardson, Neil Wills, Kevin Emanuel, Denyson Fraser, Akeem Kanhai, Terron Welch, Neil Marks, Amoniki Archibald, Shane Webster, Chris Williams, Harold Adams, Keon Cameron, Stephan Tappin, Dwight McKinnon, Dominic Vincente, Travis Burnette, Ryan Stephney, Nikolai Smith, Jason Squires, Rodwell Fortune, Stephon Gillis, Tyrone Hamid, Ryan Gullen, Royston Siland, Jermaine Slater, Rudy James, Kurt Elias, Drunson McCulley, Fabian Johnson, Dave Causway and Shelroy Thomas.
Meanwhile the female squad who will be under the tutelage of Julian Haynes, will consist of Kristy Roberts, Natasha Andrews, Kean Andrews, Timike Joseph-De Rouche, Lowquantor Gibson, Aleea Caesar, Sheeneeza Atwell, Natoila Primo, Amera Alphonso, Ginelle Ifill, Shenne Subrattie, Renika Prince, Jenessa Waithe, Kemika France, Suripa Swamy, Rhonda Fraser, Althea Mingo, Sonia Rodney, Tamara Hunter, Latoya Rodney, Necosia Mitchell, Kenesha Leacock, Jenelle Belle, Shanna Chester and Nichola Jacobs.
