The National Community Basketball League (NCBL) which is a revamped version of the Inter Ward Basketball Tournament is not receiving enough corporate assistance which is not only stifling the league but basketball as a sport according to the organizers of the league.
Organizers Kwame Mentor and national coach Bobby Cadogan, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, said that while the league was in its knockout stage, they were operating at a loss.
“We have managed to keep the league going and we are in the knockout stage but it has been a challenge to execute the league with the lack of sponsorship in some areas.
“We operate on a nightly basis and it is at a loss but the big picture is to the sport and the development of the sport and so we have persevered amidst all the challenges,” Mentor told Stabroek Sport yesterday.
Mentor also went on to make a public plea to the corporate society to invest in the sport and the league because, he says 16 teams in the league shows that the interest in the sport is still alive.
“The league had 16 teams and is near its completion and that is an indication that basketball is still alive in Guyana.
“I want to appeal to corporate society to invest in the sport… investing in the sport can help change the lives of youngsters some of whom are involved in irregular practices. You see if sponsors embrace the sport, it can help harness talent as well as raise the level of the sport… it can also help with the development of the sport and the infrastructure as well,” Mentor reasoned.
The organizer, who has good track record of putting on successful events such as the Wrestle Rama event and who played a part in the Damian Marley aka Junior Gong show that was held this year, said that it was a shame that a drinks company did not see it fit to be a part of the league.
“At this point we haven’t had a chance to secure an official drinks company and the thing is all the companies promote sports drinks, which is weird that they wouldn’t seize such an opportunity,” Mentor stated.
Mentor also disclosed that the coming All Star weekend can bring in some much-needed sponsorship.
However, if the league doesn’t receive enough sponsorship to bring in the American basketballers they can lose the sponsorship from companies such as Vitamin Water, Powerade and AND1 which are all based in Miami, United States of America.
“We have foreign companies ready and willing to sponsor us but if we don’t get enough sponsorship to bring in these foreign players we can lose all these sponsorship for that particular weekend, so we really need the help of the corporate companies to pull this off,” Mentor said.
While it was acknowledged by Mentor that maybe there are persons at the head of the sport who have not sought to advance the game, he believes that this should not be a reason to not support the game which he thinks can by all means better the country holistically.
The organizer also hinted that CARICOM weekend will be another big weekend for basketball in Guyana as he is planning a triangular series between the DC Jammers of America, the Brooklyn Bullogs, which will contain players who have migrated from Guyana and Guyana’s national side.
In his final plea, Mentor mentioned that corporate investment can also help benefit the national team and hopefully a good national team that can do well abroad compared to the past.
Cadogan thanked all the sponsors that made major and minor contributions to the tournament which include: Giftland Office Max, White Castle Fish Shop, the Sports Commission, Guyana Lottery, Western Union, Eazy Jet (Official Carrier for Allstar Weekend) and Denmor Garment Factory (provided uniforms for the teams); Universal group of Companies, Sculpture Craft, Pamco Mining, Guinness Bar, Moda Grif Construction, HJTV, BTV, Starr Party Rental, Gizmos and Gadgets, Digicom, Muffy’s café, Colors Botique, Cut Style Botique, Rand D Engineering, Antarctic maintenance, Insurance Broker and Nigel Hinds and Associates.
