- Kaieteur News

May 14, 2009 Sports

Smith to quit Presidency

Joe Chapman

Abdullah Hamid

Uborn Smith

Joe Chapman has announced his candidature for Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Presidency following holder of the current office, Uborn Smith’s decision to quit the post at Sunday’s Annual General Meeting.

Smith made the declaration at the final LABA statutory meeting Tuesday night. Chapman is campaigning as an ‘alternative’ to Abdullah Hamid, who had announced his candidacy for the same position early February.
Smith lost the support of clubs in Linden after their recognition that enough work was not being done to advance the sport. He stated in an interview in March, some of the reasons why his administration ‘failed’.
Contacted yesterday, Smith confirmed that personal reasons have forced him to not seek reelection. “Things are not working well for me. I want to keep my options open. I am not even ruling out migration,” he told Kaieteur Sport.
The Wismar Pistons administrator came to power after a coup in 2007 that ousted then LABA President, Colin Aaron. But the promise of a refreshed administration drifted into the shadows and Smith was heavily chastised.

Hamid was among the first critics of Smith’s leadership and an embarrassing and useless imbroglio ensued.
The result was that Hamid’s club, Kings were relegated to Division II after failing to participate in the Linden League.
In an interview with this newspaper earlier this year, Hamid had indicated his compelling support from clubs for the top position. But Chapman was presented, in a press statement yesterday, as an “alternative” to Hamid.
“I have approached clubs affiliated to the LABA to support me primarily as an alternative to current Organizing Secretary, Abdulla Hamid, who has declared an interest in taking up the top position,” Chapman said in the release.

Chapman indicated that his decision to stake a presidential claim was based on Hamid’s unsuitability for the job and the fact that no one else has come forward to challenge the Kashif and Shanghai Kings player/coach.
“I do not think Hamid is suitable for the position, hence my decision to take on Hamid in the runup to the critical leadership position,” Chapman retorted, adding that he hope the clubs will consider the goals that he has furnished. Apparently, Chapman had distributed to clubs a document that this newspaper has seen with the reasons for his candidacy. “I felt obligated to make the effort to give the clubs a chance to make the final decision,” he said.

Chapman has functioned extensively within the LABA and administrative issues between Aaron and him had once forced him out of service entirely. His previous posts include Assistant Secretary and Public Relations Officer.
Chapman, who is a freelance journalist with the Guyana Chronicle, has covered basketball extensively, both locally and internationally, ranging from the CARICOM Championships to the World Basketball Championships in Canada.
(Edison Jefford)