‘PLAYERS TAKING REPONSIBILITY FOR B’BALL’S DEVELOPMENT’
SPORTSVIEW FROM A DISTANCE
By Peter Haynes
Guyana Chronicle
November 20, 2006
WELCOME! At the outset, I would like to make a correction for some information I received and included in the last piece.
The Uniforms used by the Youth team in Suriname were supplied by the NSDC and not by the GABA/TWINKILLAS. In fact it was the Basketball Federation who borrowed the uniforms for the Goodwill tournament with the D.C. Jammers and other teams.
It seems that it is not unusual for players to ‘jump’ from one team to another during a season whenever they become disgruntled with the club. This obviously would present for both the club the player is leaving and the one he joins. One gets the impression that some of the players begin to feel that they are bigger than the club and sometimes bigger than the game. Naturally, this leads to indiscipline, something which has plagued basketball in Guyana for far too long.
The Association should, as part of their regulations, have each club register players for the season, and this must be done each year.
A simple registration form is all that is required. Whenever a player becomes unhappy with the team he or she registered with at the beginning of the season, he/she would need to be officially released by the first team before he/she could play with another team. Approval from the Association is also a requirement.
Players would obviously be expected to meet their membership qualifications, most importantly their monthly or annual dues. Should a player seeking a transfer not fulfil his/her financial obligations they would not be released.
This is one way in which the Clubs would be able to become less dependent on outside sources for their existence.
As a requirement to represent a club is to be financial, so must be the obligation of the club to the Association to participate in the tournaments. The Association should require clubs to pay their registration fees for the organisation and the players, in addition to the clubs paying entry fees for the respective tournaments.
Am I sounding like a capitalist? Well that is the only way to stop being mendicants. Remember, the Lord helps those help themselves.
UNIFORMS
It is the TWINKILLAS’ intention to prepare uniforms for all Georgetown clubs. The designs and colours have been selected in conjunction with GABA and would be donated to the Association for distribution to the Clubs. The donation to GABA is intended to get them financially started. The clubs would be required to make a contribution to obtain the uniforms.
Does this sound like the players are being placed under some financial pressure, no that’s not the idea, it’s making them understand that the best way for them to appreciate and value anything is by taking responsibility for ownership.
I have learnt that individuals almost always buy into an idea when they take ownership for the matter. In this case, the players having made monetary contributions would value both their clubs and its property. And guess what, there would be less jumping from one team to another.
Clubs are encouraged to develop a ‘fan base’ that would be there to support them at the games. With a fan base developed, the turnstiles would be moving much more than currently. Having paid the rental of the Sports Hall and other administrative costs, the clubs would receive an agreed percentage of the gates.
This sounds that at the end all would benefit for this proposal. It is nothing new; as a matter of fact it happened in the 60’s and 70’s, so it not reinventing the wheel, it’s just putting some oil to make it run easily.
I was impressed to read earlier last week that GABA is taking a firm hand to ensure that discipline remains at a high standard. The individuals who cannot comply would learn that there is no need for them around basketball.
It would be recalled that when the Sports Hall was expanded to its present structure, it was done through assistance from the community and the National Sports Development Council. When I visited the Sports Hall a few months ago, I was disappointed to see its condition. To say that it is in need of some repairs and maintenance, would be putting it lightly. The Hall’s floor needs a full repair; the ventilation should be improved, possibly with some extractors in the ceiling and on the walls.
With the current conditions, it is virtually impossible for players to give of their best for an entire game, not to mention the discomfort the spectators have to endure having paid hard-earned cash to attend the events. My experience was that within half an hour of just sitting, my shirt was wet, not damp. Based on what I am advised are the charges for rental. The NSDC needs to address this matter urgently.
And when the floor is repaired, painted and marked for the respective games, there MUST be restrictions for its use. There was a time way back, when no one, repeat, no one was allowed to walk on the floor unless they wore rubber-soled shoes, this included the spectators. I was so disappointed to see individuals, including officials walking with heavy leather shoes on the floor.
We cannot expect the NSDC to repair the floor and not take personal responsibility for its care.
My sight is failing with age, but I am sure that in recent pix which appeared in the newspaper showing the winners of an indoor hockey tournament, none of the sticks was padded. Should the Hockey Association use the Sports Hall, they must understand that all players must have their sticks padded to prevent damage to the floor. That’s how it was. This statement is nothing new.
As part of the rental, the NSDC should ensure that there is security during the events. There was a report in the newspapers recently about the ganja smoking during the events that is a true statement, as I experienced it a few months ago.
In closing, I would like to pay tribute to my friend for many years, sports promoter, political and community activity, Harold ‘Lightweight’ Kissoon who passed away recently. He also served for many years as a member of the National Sports Development Council. I know how he suffered when he was unable to be active. I recall being associated with him and GBC in the staging of the ‘Day of Sports’ at D’Urban Park.
On that day, tens of thousands of spectators of all ages and sex enjoyed almost every outdoor sport in one day. And it included the ‘dray cart’ derby on Homestretch Avenue. That was a day to remember, as it went well into the night as Chronicle Atlantic Steel Ork. entertained.
Lightweight, it will be remembered played a significant role in the development and promotion of professional boxing in Guyana.
To his surviving relatives, Lynette, Bussie, children and grandchildren, please accept my condolences.