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Hamid wants LABA Presidency
Abdullah Hamid
Uborn Smith
By Edison Jefford
Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid ended weeks of speculation yesterday when he confirmed that he will be one of the primary candidates to campaign for the Presidential Post of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA).
Hamid told Kaieteur Sport yesterday in an interview that indeed he will initiate agitations toward the LABA Presidency. The revelation ended the grapevine conjecture that he had developed the ambition to contest the position.
“I will be campaigning. I feel it is time basketball in Linden get someone who is seriously interested in developing the sport. We tried several influential persons in the last decade and the sport is still the same,” Hamid observed.
On the one hand, the comment expressed Hamid’s views on the current LABA President, Uborn Smith while taking on the work of other past Presidents. “We had so many people that could have done something but didn’t,” he said.
The recent spate of ramblings to erupt among Executives of the Linden sub–association surrounded the relegation of the Kashif and Shanghai Kings to Division II, following the club’s decision to boycott the Division I League.
The controversial relegation came months after the LABA had known that Kings would not be participating in its League. The association had been given sufficient information to make an early enough disciplinary decision.
The basketball community in Linden embraced Smith two years ago when he took charge of the association from Colin Aaron. Many pundits felt that the sport in the Mining Town of Linden had taken a major step forward.
However, that backfired when Smith was immensely criticised in September last year on the basis that he had not delivered on the promise that brought him to power. The protests forced an unconstitutional no–confidence motion.
Based on the challenges that face Smith, it is unclear whether he has inclination to run for a second term. If he does, Hamid will be his most formidable opposition and already he is mobilising what he called a “young committed team”.
“I have a commitment to basketball, which I think will make me a good President. I have some young people that have vision. As soon as I get a commitment from them, I will be approaching the clubs for endorsement,” Hamid said.
Asked what motivated his intention to run for the top post in the association, the founder of the Abdullah Hamid Basketball Foundation said that he believes it is time for someone who played the sport to take over the leadership.
“I think it is time we get someone who actually played the sport.
You need people that have the sport at heart,” he said, adding that if he does not get the support of the clubs in his bid for the Presidency, he will quit the sport in Linden.
One of the other primary factors that had made many enthusiasts in Linden disgruntled is the increase in activity in Georgetown. Under new management, the sub–association in Georgetown has been a hive of basketball activity.
“If I don’t get the support of the Linden clubs, I will be finished with the sport in Linden because it will show that they [the clubs] are not interested in development. I will bring my ideas to the City,” the former national coach said.
The LABA is currently awaiting the completion of their first division League so that the much–anticipated date for their Annual General Meeting and Election of Office Bearers can be set and further announced.
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