Coaches attending the 10-day coaching clinic organized by the Guyana Amateur Basket-ball Federation (GABF) in conjunction with the “Reds” Perreira Sports Foundation have been urged to take full advantage of the programme in an effort to impart knowledge to their charges at the opening ceremony at Olympic House yesterday.
Thirty coaches drawn from around the country are participating in the programme being conducted by Fitzgerald “Naka” Joseph, Technical Director and head coach of the Grenadian Basketball Association.
Sessions are being held daily at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 15:00 h.
Joseph who arrived in Guyana on Thursday afternoon went into action immediately at a session for female basketball players at the Sports Hall.
At yesterday’s opening Conrad Plummer, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and a member of the ‘Reds’ Perreira Sports Foundation said that basketball is a growing sport around the world and coaches must be able to play an active role in players’ development.
“You must be able to establish programmes that will unearth talent, I see sport as a tool of social intervention, sport can work for you and against you so it is your responsibility to develop the individual not the technical skills,” Plummer remarked.
He said that the basketball clinic was the first programme of the Sports Foundation for 2008 and he called on the coaches to set high trends for the remainder of the year.
Vice President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Noel Adonis said the coaches must share their knowledge and instil discipline on the players.
“If you want to decide on a theme for the clinic it should be “To inform, Educate and Motivate.”
He commended the GABF and the `Reds’ Perreira Sports Foundation for collaborating in the programme and stated that training is very important and coaches must show dedication.
Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, congratulated the GABF for taking the initiative.
He said his department will be buying 12 backboards to be distributed countrywide to assist the development of the sport locally.
The visiting coach thanked the GABF and Perreira Foundation for placing the confidence in him.
He noted that too often sporting organizations look outside to find resources when they can tap on the resources available in the Caribbean.
He said the next 10 days will be packed for the participants and he expressed the hope that Guyana will benefit in a positive way at the completion.
Joseph has been the Technical Director of the Grenada Basketball Association for the past 20 years and heads the ‘Naka’ Joseph Basketball School in St. George’s.
He has attended several clinics in the United States including the University of Idaho, University of Illinois, Duke University and University of North Carolina.
The GABF is expected to select a training squad to work along with the coaches.
Joseph has also attended two certification programmes (NCCP in Canada).
GABF President Col. Godwin McPherson welcomed support from the ‘Reds’ Perreira Foundation.
McPherson said that the coaches attending the Clinic were drawn from Linden, Georgetown, Berbice, East Coast Demerara and Bartica.
