Linden clubs boycott LABA AGM

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) had to be postponed Sunday last but a new date has not yet been  scheduled.

The Linden Technical Institute (LTI) auditorium was the venue for the AGM but only the prospective new slated body and two clubs, Amelia’s Ward Jets and Retrieve Raiders, were present for the AGM.

According to LABA President Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid on Sunday, the clubs were properly informed and were given adequate notice of the AGM. He added that the meeting would have to be rescheduled after the majority of the basketball clubs in Linden were absent for Sunday’s meeting.

Eon Murray

However, the next date is not yet known since Hamid, who is also a FIFA assistant referee, said that it is possible that he might have to travel to neighbouring Suriname over the coming weekend on football duties. However, that is expected to be confirmed by tomorrow.

Meanwhile the two presidential candidates, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain Eon Murray and Sports Journalist Rawle Toney have met with the other proposed new executives where it was agreed that Murray will go up for the LABA head position and Toney as his Vice President.

In a release from the  LABA Vice President candidate in relation to his decision to settle for that  position,  Toney noted: “I’ve known Murray for a very long time and he’s already a leader in his official capacity and so I felt as though he will be much more fitting for the role as LABA president. We both share the same view and vision for the resuscitation and development of basketball in and around Linden and so it was agreed upon after a recent meeting that he will be up for the LABA post as president and I as his deputy.”

Rawle Toney

He added: “For me, it doesn’t matter, I’m not going to stifle my conscience about it, all I want is for what’s best for basketball. After learning from Murray that he will be going up, we met and held a discussion and at the same meeting, the way forward for the game was also planned as well, so I can say that the LABA is in safe hands, but what we need now is to regain that trust from the clubs which based on the snub is kind of lost.”

In addition to Toney as vice president, Captain Murray’s executive slate has  Brain Young as second vice president, journalist Joe Chapman as secretary, Eusi Francis as treasurer and Haslim Graham as organizing secretary, among others.