D-Up Basketball Academy aims to produce student-athletes

Aug 18, 2022 Sports

D–UP Basketball Academy, which is based at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, is aiming to produce student-athletes in the near future.

D-Up Academy U12 team (pink jerseys) and the U12 team from Linden.

D-Up Academy female team.

The Academy was founded in 2020 and is headed by Coach Anthony Kandar who is currently training students of Tuschen Primary School, East Bank Essequibo.

Kandar pointed out that he started to play the sport at the age of seven and took up coaching while in High School in Canada. He told Kaieteur Sport that himself and coach Ezekiel Skeete would tutor students on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 15:00hrs to 17:30hrs and on Saturdays from 14:00hrs to 17:30hrs. He added that the response from the public has been good, but sighted the lack of facilities as a major challenge, noting that there is only one court from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika.

“The lack of funding is another challenge and we are asking the business community for assistance. I visited Leguan recently and we are looking to renovate the court at the Secondary school there,” he posited.

Kandar is happy with the progress shown by the students since they commenced training in Tuschen. “Our U12 boys’ team won against an U12 team from Linden, which took part in the Hamid and Joy Foundation tournament there, while our U16 boys lost. Our next assignment will be on August 21 and 22 when we will be hosting three teams from Kwakwani,” he related.

The coach stated that he would like to see more facilities here especially in region three, and securing scholarships for students is in the pipeline. “Not everyone is going to represent their country, but every child must have the basic tools to be a productive member of society,” Kandar said.

The current executive of the academy is-Kandar –President, Joshua Daniels –Vice President, Trudy Paris-Secretary, Kamala Rameshwar -Treasurer, Richard Phillips –Assistant Secretary Treasurer and Elliott Daniels PRO.

Kandar has expressed gratitude to coach Ann Gordon, Superbet of North Road, Ele’s VIP Barbar Shop, Brother Rafman of F and R Buy Everything Cheap Supermarket, Miss Parris of Farm Nursery School, MR. Charles from the Ministry of Education, head teacher and staff of Tuschen Primary School, parents. (Zaheer Mohamed)