Chin throws support behind Hinds in race for GABF top post

Former Guyana Basketball Officials Council (GBOC) president Cecil Chin said yesterday that former basketball player Nigel Hinds, is the better option ahead of Georgetown Amateur Basketball Federation (GABA) President Michael Singh for the post of GABF president at the upcoming GABF elections on Saturday.

In an exclusive interview via telephone, Chin said:“Nigel Hinds is the better option. He has been a national player and has the knowledge of the sport and sports generally. To me he is the better person to run the federation and he has the managerial skills along with the other qualities to do it.

“I have seen Mike run Georgetown and Colts basketball club and he has definitely not done a bad job, but to me Hinds is the better option,” added Chin.

Cecil Chin
Cecil Chin

Questioned about the current state of basketball under the present administration, Chin said…“Disappointing! They (GABF) were terribly inactive and were not proactive at all. They did nothing for basketball and I say that because it’s the truth. “I don’t deal with personalities, I deal with the issues. The sub-associations were the ones functioning led by Georgetown and Linden. They (GABF) didn’t do anything,” said Chin.

Asked about his expectations for the new executive, Chin noted:“I feel a new executive with a developmental plan can influence basketball and take it to the next level. It has to be collective and all inclusive of administration, players and other people who have the desire to take it where it should be.

“But if you have an agenda for yourself, then basketball will remain the same. However the success of the President also depends on the team of executives elected” added Chin.

He further said “Like it or not, you need to have government support. You need a developmental plan that would have to encompass both the ministry of education and the ministry of culture, youth and sport”.

Following Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President David Patterson opting not to seek re-election, GABA President Michael Singh and former basketball player Nigel Hinds will contest for the Presidential post.

The election will be held on Saturday January 11th at the Guyana Olympic House (GOA) Boardroom, Kingston from 15:00hrs.