Pepsi Sonics Vocational B/ball Programme attracts large turnout

Aug 28, 2014 Sports

It had its birth in 2006 and ever since the Pepsi Sonics Annual Vocational Basketball Programme has survived through the perseverance of Club President Merle Casey and this is despite the sparse support offered for its continued existence.
This year the Programme which is being conducted at the National Gymnasium under the watchful eyes of Casey, a former national basketballer, has in attendance forty-three participants ranging between the ages of 9-17 years and residents of such communities as Charlestown, Meadow Brook, Lodge, East La Penitence and North Ruimveldt.
According to Casey, the young participants were exposed to the basic rudiments of the sport, while an academic segment was also catered for with them being taught Mathematics and English Language by North Ruimveldt Secondary School teacher Sir Sheldon.
Casey in reflecting on the importance of the programme said that it allowed the children to be gainfully engaged in activities that could enhance their lives, adding that in a period that is stained by violence and crime, the participants are being given the opportunity to choose another alternative.
In giving additional insight into the benefits of the Programme, Casey disclosed that players, the calibre of Diminic Vincente, Jonathan Pooran, Jamal Singh, Carl Jackman, Jason Warde and Jaime Mayers, all came through the Programme and this she put forward as one of the many benefits of the exercise.
The former national standout told Kaieteur Sport that the response by the children was positive, informing that they were very receptive to what was being taught and she feels that just like what obtained in the past, a cadre of talented players could emerge in the future.
“The enthusiasm they showed was very encouraging and I also saw a lot of potential and providing that they continue to receive the necessary guidance who knows what some of them could develop into,” Casey said.
Commenting on the importance of the programme, Casey said the club remains the only one to have such an activity during the Summer break and while lamenting the lack of corporate support, she informed that due to the current crime situation and other negative influences that are affecting the country she feels compelled to continue the Programme.
“This year I did not bother to approach many corporate entities due to past responses, but I still persevered because I see the importance of getting them involved in activities that could benefit them in the future and at the same time be engaged in positive activities. However, the cost was borne by the club and a couple of business entities such as Bacchus Drug Store and Automotive Essentials, two companies that were there from the start,” Casey mentioned.
She spoke of the challenge faced every year to solicit funding for the Programme which she said was vital to its sustainability.
“The cost to procure snacks and transportation for such a large contingent is not easy, but weigh that against not having them positively engaged in meaningful activities could be a real burden to society,” Casey posited.
She said the event has become part of her and promised that as long as she has life in her body she will continue to host the Programme since she firmly believes that something good will come out of it.
She called on entities such as the Ministry of Sport, National Sports Commission and the corporate community to do more for such Programmes. The Programme which commenced on August 12 will end tomorrow.

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Pepsi Sonics Vocational B/ball Programme attracts large turnout

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