Latest update November 15th, 2024 1:00 AM
John Fernandes Ltd. dishes assist to GABF CBC campaign
– Five overseas-based players for women’s team
By Edison Jefford
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) scored some crucial points
Ginelle Ifill
yesterday when John Fernandes Limited dished an assist that will fund the return of United States-based basketball scholarship recipient, Ginelle Ifill to Guyana to prepare for the upcoming Caribbean Championships.
President of the GABF, Nigel Hinds was extremely grateful for the contribution, stating that they are “the first major donor to the federation”. He underscored the importance of companies giving early financial support to both male and female national teams as they continue to prepare for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships.
“John Fernandes allows for GABF to finance Ifill’s return. It’s important to get an early response from sponsors to ensure our smooth preparation for the Caribbean Championships,” he said. Ifill is on a basketball scholarship at Odessa College in Texas, USA.
The top female player, who was spotted at the 2014 CBC Championships, will arrive in Guyana on May 10 to join the local players. In addition, Hinds disclosed that four other US-based players could arrive in Guyana on May 26 to boost the chances of the women, who are expected to leave on June 6 for Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Miriam McKenzie, who was a standout player for Guyana in Puerto Rico in 2007, will lead those four players touted for the women national team. Cindy Johnson, Shauntelle Nelson, and Brianna Fraser,
Nigel Hinds
are the other players on the national federation’s radar.
“These are all premier players to boost Guyana into the top four at least,” Hinds informed, before he also disclosed that Guyana-born Coach, Chummy Gill, has committed to joining the Coaching Staff of the women’s team. “She is a well-resumed coach,” he said.
According to Hinds, the GABF CBC momentum is all about financing. “We have to get properly funded training sessions so that our players will be comfortable. We just do not turn up and train, we also have to provide transportation, fruits, water etc…” Hinds added.
Overall, it will cost the federation $12M to send both teams to Tortola in June. The sum includes airfare, accommodation, meals and stipends for both contingents that will number approximately 40 individuals (15 players each, Coaching Staff and Management) when combined.
Asked if Guyana stands any chance of winning both titles at CBC 2015, Hinds said: “winning is one thing, but finishing among the top four is more realistic; once we get there, it all depends on the strength of the top four. But the first aim is to get to the final four and we will then fancy our chances of getting to the final”.
The GABF President indicated that their approach, therefore, is to take the tournament one game at a time with the hope of winning both titles given the projected strength of both teams when the overseas-based players are added to both national rosters.
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