The GABF is an embarrassment

Apr 22, 2009 Sports

Dear Editor,

As I watch the drama and the collapse of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) unfold before my eyes, in my humble opinion, I believe it is time for its president, Godwin McPherson, to demit office.

McPherson has publicly given us a preamble to his resignation with statements such as, “Look right now, I don’t have the time” and “I honestly fed up with all this. Like I said, I don’t have the time”. Phrases in articles such as “maintaining his silence on the country’s participation” and “efforts to make contact with President proved futile” are also significant.

The GABF is an embarrassment to Guyana and basketball worldwide. McPherson has nothing to gain from basketball, so in all likelihood its future may not be of great interest to him. No one is financially supporting the GABF.

The latest stunt he (McPherson) pulled on basketball players and fans was the GABF’s intention to host the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships, which was the biggest laughing stock among the regional basketball heads.

Why did the GABF beg the Government for money to fund a regional Championship when the National Sports Commission (NSC) already had their hands filled with the Inter–Guiana Games?

McPherson once said “Why do I need to produce financial bookkeeping to the NSC, they are not going to give me any money so why should I waste my time.”

In the January 17, 2009 edition of Kaieteur News, a popular promotion company (Next Level Entertainment [NLE]) had thrown its weight behind the President of the GABF when they said, “We are fully behind McPherson and will support him”.

Later that week, Linden Amateur Basketball Association President, Uborn Smith also threw his weight behind the GABF President, supporting him on not having overseas–based organisations handle CBC affairs. Now, where is Smith, NLE and other backers with their financial contributions to host CBC or even send “Team Guyana” to the British Virgin Islands?

In the same January 17, 2009 edition of Kaieteur News, McPherson said the “CBC meeting is not an appropriate forum for Larry Davis (Assistant Head Coach of the senior men’s team in 2007 in Puerto Rico) since his involvement with Guyana’s basketball is as a coach and not an administrator. “What can a coach come back and tell a federation? We (at the CBC meetings) discuss serious administrative matters not plan plays.”

I seem to recall that Larry Davis was the person who represented Guyana at the General Meeting at the end of the CBC Championships in 2007 and he also visited Guyana for a week to debrief the GABF on his finding and offered to return with coaching and referees’ clinics. Isn’t he good enough now to represent Guyana?

I think that the local players deserve what they get. They get out what they put in. If the players and Executives want change, they have to be the ones to take the necessary action. The players need to stop complaining if they have no intention to do anything about it. They should demand more and they deserve more.

The local promoters are using basketball for personal profits. Basketball players in Guyana are just another labour resource for entrepreneurs to exploit.

The local players have voiced an interest in representing Guyana at this year’s CBC Championships, what are they willing to sacrifice?

Are they willing to sponsor their expenses (visa, airfare, hotel, meals and registration)? Are they hosting fundraisers to back their voices? Are they willing to pay the US$200 annual CBC membership and US$1,000 registration fee which is due on May 1?

Are the local players seeking sponsors for FIBA-approved uniforms (home and away)? Disapproved uniforms are subject to a US$1,000.00 fine. I hope these local players are willing to foot the bill, because there are many overseas–based players and coaches who are keen and excited to represent the Land of Many Waters.

On the issue of playing for trophies versus money, since players in Guyana no longer are enthused about playing for medals and trophies but cash only, the federation should remove the “Amateur” from its name – Guyana Basketball Federation is more suited.

I believe that all the rising stars will find difficulty in acquiring United States college scholarships, despite their being talented and intellectually sound.

Winston Johnson

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The GABF is an embarrassment

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