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First and Third Divisions ‘Refresh Your Game’ 2012 Basketball Competition…
Tournament extremely important for sport – Pepsi Sonics Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach of Pepsi Sonics Rawle White speaking with Kaieteur Sport during a practice session that was being conducted at the National Gymnasium Hardcourt yesterday, stressed the importance of the upcoming First and Third Divisions ‘Refresh Your Game’ 2012 Basketball Tournaments which is slated to bounce off on September 28, at Burnham Court on Middle and Carmichael Streets.
According to White, the protracted lethargy that has affected the sport could continue if the impending tournament is not a success, adding that he is hoping that clubs and fans wake from their slumber and come out in their numbers.
“Competitions have not been around for sometime so we are now getting out some of the rust that accrued over the period of inactivity.” White told this newspaper.
Members of the Pepsi Sonics Basketball Club seem going through their paces on Tuesday afternoon at the National Gymnasium.
The players were seen going through game simulations, while getting back to match fitness has also been part of their preparations as well.
White added that the club has embarked on getting some sort of activity going for its members who might not be interested in other disciplines such as cricket or football and urged that the sport be given an opportunity to recapture its place amongst the mainstream.
Clubs within the Georgetown sub-association will be involved in the tournament which carries prize monies totaling over $260,000 in cash and trophies.
Meanwhile, President of the club Merle Casey in an earlier interview had said that the tournament is integral to preserve enthusiasm in the sport and sponsorship has become a crucial element towards that aspect.
“It is only through the support of stakeholders such as the Government and Business Community will we see the sport develop at all levels as well as its vibrancy sustained,” Casey stated.
The club she pointed out has been among the forerunners in helping to keep the sport alive, but due to a lack of support from the corporate sector many of its plans had to be shelved.
According to her, there is definite need for the restoration of basketball at all standards in both male and female categories, while the poor standard of facilities apart from the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall has caused many tournaments to be cancelled.
She disclosed that Pepsi Sonics like so many of the other clubs are deeply concerned about the current state of affairs in relation to basketball in the country, and is therefore taking the initiative to begin the process of re-energising basketball and returning it to its former glory.
According to her during the staging of the tournament the club will pay recognition to the contribution made by the late Ret. Colonel Godwin McPherson, who passed away in August 2011 and once headed the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation.
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