LABA tournaments in doubt due to smashed fibreglass backboard at MSC hard court Frantic efforts on for replacement

Dec 05, 2018 Sports

Following the unfortunate crashing to the floor of one of the fiberglass backboards in Linden which was smashed at the Mackenzie Sports Club recently, the playing of the year ending tournaments including the ‘Fat’ Wayne Andries Memorial, an Under 21 and the Open championship by the governing Linden Amateur Basketball Association, are now in serious doubt says President of the LABA Lawrence Simon.
This was the state of affairs over the weekend and up to yesterday as it relates to organized basketball planned by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association at the only available playing facility in Linden.
Simon said that a letter from the Mackenzie Sports Club’s President Avery Trim, owners of the court, which is the ‘Mecca’ for the sport in Linden, was obtained and addressed to Director of Sport Christopher Jones, for which a discussion was held between Jones and Secretary of the LABA Joseph Chapman.

Picture of shattered backboard at MSC Hard Court.

In light of this frantic situation, Simon said there is still hope that some form of immediate assistance will be rendered to quickly get the competitions off as planned; even if it meant playing back-to-back basketball games to achieve this.
It is necessary also that Simon, now an APNU councilor of the Linden municipality, would see it necessary that the new Council focuses on sport facilities across the town to upgrade them for such situations like these.
Secretary of the LABA Joseph Chapman is hopeful that from the efforts made to have the replacement fibreglass backboard fitted as soon as possible that the ‘Fat’ Wayne Andries Memorial tournament will get started on Saturday and the necessary adjustments will have to be made to accommodate the format of the tournaments and ensure that players are able to showcase their skills during the Christmas season.
Basketball at the Mackenzie Sports Club over the years has become burdensome and while the playing surface has deteriorated somewhat, it remains the only court that basketball can be played since it is necessary to be played under floodlights for which the MSC is the only one having such.
The LABA met last night and should be meeting the clubs tonight which will be playing in the three tournaments planned for what will be a very busy month of basketball.