Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Michael Singh is new GABA President
New GABA Executive! Members of the new administration for basketball in Georgetown surround President, Michael Singh (centre) after yesterday’s elections; from left, Ian Andrews, Adrian Hooper, Kevin Amsterdam and Darcel Harris.
– says his focus is on “forward”
By Edison Jefford
Owner of Paladin Security Firm, and President of the Colts Basketball Club, Michael Singh, was yesterday elected President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) after an electoral process handed him a unanimous decision.
Colts and Pacesetters had nominated Singh for the post. He was the only nominee and eventually ran uncontested with the nine clubs present at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Library collectively agreeing via vote that he is the man to run basketball in Georgetown.
Melanie Patriots’ Kevin Amsterdam beat out Plaisance Guardians, Andrew Hercules seven votes to two for the Vice-President slot. Former national centre, Ian Andrews was elected to the post of Secretary after Hercules and Sereiah Clarke declined nomination.
Accountant and Head Coach of the Ravens Basketball Club, Darcel Harris was elected Treasurer while Eagles officials, Adrian Hooper will serve as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, completing the five elected positions of the Georgetown sub-association.
Singh only came to the fore of basketball administration late last year, but was always behind the scenes. He has a deep history growing up in basketball from his high school playing days at Saint Stanislaus College to playing under Phillip George at Colts.
The Entrepreneur told the media yesterday that his focus is the way forward for the sport. Singh believes that rebuilding the image of the association and the sport in the largest sub-association is necessary to make the corporate connection for success.
“I just want to tell you that I am embracing this position. At Colts, I took about 30 young men and embraced them as my own. From finding sponsorship to mentoring, I pioneered rebuilding the club,” Singh said, hinting that he knows how to turn things around.
Colts went through a transitional period after George died late in 2011. Singh was at the helm of the Phillip George Legacy tournament last December, which from all accounts was a success. He vowed to be non-partisan in his approach to management.
“I have 14 teams now that I have to call my own. It will be the same love, the same commitment that I have shown since I am around. The assets and networks I have I will be putting into to get this going. From this day, we have to consider ourselves moving forward,” he continued.
Among his immediate plans is to get a solid calendar year of events for every level of basketball that will help popularise the sport. He believes that once the sport becomes popular again there is going to be a corporate influx to sustain growth and development.
Once that is achieved, strategically he said his aim will be to give clubs and players exposure out and in Guyana with organised visits of Caribbean clubs and teams. He said he has already built a relationship with clubs in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
“We have to be vibrant. We are the biggest sub-association, we have to be out there,” Singh said, anticipating that the association will be pro-active. He also spoke of continuing Burnham Court’s Rehabilitation Project so that more tournaments are open to the public.
Former Vice-President, Kester Gomes facilitated the transition process after publicly stating that he is not seeking re-election and after single-handedly holding the association together following wide-spread resignations last year after clubs expressed no-confidence.
“I will meet the new administration to discuss some of the issues we had and what could be done differently for them to succeed,” Gomes said. Ravens’ Clarke moved to thank Gomes for holding the association together in the midst of administrative challenges.
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