Young basketball players underdeveloped

Nov 18, 2009 Sports

Pepsi Sonics blame GABA among others

By Edison Jefford
Pepsi Sonics berated Executives of the new Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), stating that young and talented basketball players remain underdeveloped since there are not enough programmes to help them mature.
The club has consistently been at odds with the Trevor Rose-led GABA because it is their view that the administration is more concerned with basketball’s commercial aspects than the holistic and fundamental development of the sport.
The criticism in an Executive Statement yesterday came a day before the GABA prepares to launch its 2009/10 Season. The Georgetown sub-association is scheduled to bounce off its new Season Friday after the expected launch today.
“What is very striking is the stark evidence of neglect when it comes to the recognition of raw talent and exploring potential. There is no structure for basketball and there exists no avenues for those with exceptional talent,” Sonics stated.
The club identified five junior national players with the obvious potential to ascend to the next level as, in their opinion, the sport continues to spiral downwards. These players will be stymied if proper systems are not implemented.
Those players included Akeem Khanai, Orin Rose, Richard Mohandatt, Shelroy Thomas and Yannick Dundas. Khanai and Rose represent Linden; therefore, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) governs their growth.
“These five youngsters have obviously come through the school system and their rise has been through their own efforts and that of concerned persons. These youngsters and those with similar potential need structure,” the club believes.
Pepsi Sonics did not exclude the LABA, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and Government from its criticism. The club referred to the approach of those responsible for the sport in Guyana as meagre “token support”.
“If basketball is going to reach the heights it once enjoyed years ago, it requires structure and systematic approaches with Government and clubs coordinating with assistance from the appropriate organisations,” Pepsi Sonics continued.
According to the statement, that is not currently being done and as a result, basketball has become a hunting ground for those with personal interests. It is their view that players are now more concerned with playing for money as a result.
“The schools’ system can identify the raw talent, the club system can lone them the skills and the federation in conjunction with the Government and Private Sector can market the potential locally and internationally,” the club held.
This was the latest is a spate of critical statements from Pepsi Sonics. Their last statement some weeks ago had identified the GABA as “merely a group of people with no mandate or vision… within the administration of the sport”.
The Georgetown sub-association, on the other hand, has refused to respond to the Sonics’ assertions and have kept with their usual programme to launch the next season which will be done today. An address of these issues is likely.

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Young basketball players underdeveloped

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