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Works yet to commence at MSC Basketball Court
This is what the MSC Basketball Court looks like with large cracks in the surface. The basketball rings at left and right have since been taken down to commence works on the surface but nothing has been done and the court remains ring-less with more cracks.
– despite the awarding of contracts
By Edison Jefford
The much-anticipated rehabilitation works are still to commence at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Basketball Court despite the awarding of contracts. The non-progress of a Government promise has irked the Linden sub-association for basketball.
Kaieteur Sport understands that nothing has been done to the premier basketball facility after our visit last weekend and the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) has complained that the underdevelopment is seriously affecting their programmes.
Works were expected to commence at the only facility for competition in Linden after President Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Odinga Lumumba made their public rehabilitation promise following a Cabinet Outreach visit. Contracts for unknown sums were subsequently issued for the construction of a 60-feet bleacher, resurfacing the court and construction of an official scorers’ area. However, nothing, further than the LABA taking down the rings, has been done to the court.
The rehabilitation work at the facility was initially part of a holistic plan to develop the Club that is one of the landmarks in the community. But with the lack of funding affecting the progress of the MSC project, the LABA took it upon them to seek help.
The Linden sub-association’s first bit of support came in the form of an eastern bleacher that was constructed earlier this year. During Jagdeo’s outreach programme in Linden, Abdulla Hamid, as LABA President, had however discussed help from Government.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday, Hamid informed that basketball is not being played and it is because players have no where else to play other than the Central Mackenzie venue, which is usually the main practice place for players in the community.
“We had to ease our basketball programmes because we were expecting the rehabilitation works to start a long time ago because we know that contracts were signed for the works to be done. It is not a situation that we like in Linden,” Hamid said yesterday.
Generally, the fact that players from Linden are unable to use the venue for practice could affect their chances for national selection. That was evident in August when several players, from what is largely a sports community, were left off the senior team.
Hamid stated that his association prides itself in being able to provide several programmes from peewees right up to the seniors, however, they have been unable to do so for a while given what he called “the unplayable state of the MSC Basketball Court”.
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