GABF coaches’ clinic cancelled

Jul 26, 2008 Sports

–DC Jammers due in August

By Edison Jefford
The unprecedented surge in airfare to travel between Guyana and the United States of America struck local sports when the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) was forced to cancel it coaches’ clinic.

Technical Coordinator of the GABF, Robert Cadogan informed Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the clinic, which was scheduled for this weekend at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, was cancelled owing to ‘steep’ airfares.

“I received an email stating that in addition to the rise in airfare, the coaches [expected] were summoned by the Mexican Professional League to scout players in another part of the country urgently,” Cadogan noted.

Head Coach of Guyana’s national male basketball team that participated at the Caribbean Championships last year, Larry Davis was due in Guyana yesterday along with Mexican Pro League coaches, Alan Wall and John Libby.

The pool of coaches would have conducted both theoretical and practical preparation for local coaches. Cadogan had told this paper earlier this month that they would have been working will all categories of the sport.

“They will be looking for possible candidates, so once our guys have the right work ethic, they can be scouted,” Cadogan, a former national Coach, had revealed earlier but as is now known, that won’t be possible until next year.

In an email sent to the GABF on behalf of Davis, Wall laments the high prices of airfare to travel out of San Antonio, Texas to Guyana, stating that he is not in a position to fund his own way as a result.

“Mr Davis asked that I send this email to inform you that I cannot attend the camp in Guyana. My reason is strictly economic,” Wall expressed in the document, which this paper was privy to yesterday.

Wall, a Head Coach of the Nue Vo Laredo Venados Basketball Club in the Mexican Pro League indicated that tickets were being priced between US$1,300 and US$1,600 (roundtrip) to Guyana.

“Though I would have loved to have done the camp in Guyana that is very much needed, I am not in a position make such an economic sacrifice,” the Mexican Pro League coach informed, adding that he hopes to make the trip next year.

Meanwhile, Cadogan notified Kaieteur Sport that the Washington D.C Jammers are tentatively set to arrive in Guyana on August 12 for their annual tour. He said that the Guyana teams will be selected over this weekend.

“The national under–23 team, the senior squad and the President’s 12 will be named over the course of this weekend,” Cadogan said yesterday while adding that the D.C Jammers will tour the Dominican Republic before Guyana.