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GBOC inflexible with indiscipline
-GABA in full compliance
By Edison Jefford
The new-look Guyana Basketball Officials’ Council (GBOC) has taken an inflexible approach as it relates to indiscipline in the sport, which resulted in several clubs losing games last weekend owed to late arrivals, including the number one ranked Division III Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters.
The Cartoon says it all! Compliments of Guyanabasketball.com
International Basketball Federation (FIBA)-trained referee, Lugard Mohan, who is also a former national player, has taken over GBOC since the resignation of Cecil Chin. Mohan has taken what is definitely a serious approach to disciplinary issues.
This was evident on Saturday when the former Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s (CBC) All-Star for Guyana during his playing career, Mohan, ensured his referees blew a ‘walkover’ against TGH Pacesetters Division III team after they arrived late.
The ‘walkover’ gave the number one ranked club in the division an opening defeat in the Phillip George Legacy tournament, which Colts is hosting in honour of their late Coach, and is currently ongoing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Mohan did not stop there. He repeated the trend on Sunday, promptly ensuring ‘walkovers’ were blown when teams were not respective of game-time, albeit, some teams never showed up. Three more games were decided via ‘walkovers’ on Sunday.
GBOC message was clear last weekend: teams must respect the rules, which state that they must be at the venue 45 minutes before game-time and ready to play when the whistle summons them at their scheduled time. The new ‘modus operandi’ is refreshing.
It also sets new standards for the referees themselves where there were past incidences of them arriving late for games, forcing teams to wait on them. Mohan’s regularisation of the process of officiating is bound to force more respect for the game locally.
Mohan formed GBOC some years ago, and not Chin, as was previously reported, to standardise officials in Guyana following his FIBA accreditation. The President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Michael Singh commended the approach of Mohan, asking the affiliate clubs to act more professional.
“We are asking for more professionalism. The new GBOC appears to be sharp so I am asking all clubs to be professional as it relates to punctuality. I’m happy that this GBOC/GABA is working together to achieve standards,” Singh said when contacted yesterday.
He said that the effort shows that there are some people who have the game at heart. He believed also that referees returning to training and sharpening their skills is refreshing for the sport. It can only result in development, Singh believes, and is asking clubs to cooperate.
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