'Vulgarity in sport has to stop!'
- GABF president Mc Pherson
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
February 7, 2004
President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and retired army colonel, Godwin Mc Pherson is adamant that vulgarity in sport at all levels must stop.
The president was speaking at a press conference called by the GABF at the Public Service Union (PSU) headquarters on Regent and New Garden streets. He was at the time responding to claims of conflict of interest by Linden player/coach Abdullah Hamid in an article in this newspaper.
In that article, Hamid said that having Dennis Clarke, coach of finalists Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust, 'help out' in the tournament was a conflict of interest. But according to McPherson, even if the Linden team had concerns about conflict of interest or a problem with the officiating referees, the proper thing to do was to play under protest. He said the federation is in the process of setting up a three-man disciplinary team to probe the "fiasco".
The ex-soldier said the federation held an emergency meeting last Wednesday, when the tournament committee decided to award a walk-over to Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust, while also agreeing to launch an investigation into what led to the non-appearance on court of Central Mackenzie in their scheduled semi-final last Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. He added that the committee will decide how much time it needs to conduct the probe and the GABF was prepared to act on its recommendations.
When asked if he was personally satisfied with the way the tournament was being administered and refereed, he said he was satisfied with the general administration of the competition but has reservations about the quality of refereeing. He added that in any sport the refereeing is usually what determines whether or not a tournament or game is successful. "Nothing can destroy a game more than bad officiating."
He said the GABF is very concerned with this aspect of the game and as a consequence has invited FIBA referee Gline Clarke, a St. Lucian, to conduct several training clinics with local referees. Clarke, who is also technical vice-president of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC), is expected in Guyana on February 14. During Clarke's stay, training sessions will be held in Linden, New Amsterdam and Georgetown.
The president also unveiled extensive plans for basketball in Guyana in the next couple of months.
In two weeks, a New York Pioneers Veterans team will visit the country and play three matches against veteran teams from Linden and Georgetown. In addition, they will conduct clinics for school children aged 9-12 in Georgetown and Linden. The veterans will also pay visits to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and a number of charitable homes. They will also be looking at talented under-19 male and female players with a view to identifying some of them for possible scholarships in the USA.
Mc Pherson revealed that he had recently attended a meeting of the Caribbean Basketball Federation CBF) in St. Vincent. According to him, teams from St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands are interested in exchange visits with Guyana.
He added that this year's Caribbean male and female basketball championships are scheduled for Cuba from June 11-19, and the Centro Championships in the Dominican Republic in July.
Meanwhile, the GABF will award the national under-19 team at a ceremony to be held later this month.
With regard to the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), which had been in the news recently, Mc Pherson said he was shocked when that body's president autocratically declared that two persons were sacked from GABA and said that those actions were incorrect. Mc Pherson urged clubs in Georgetown to get together and correct the situation.
The GABF president agreed with suggestions from the media that the federation launch an inquiry as to why the GABA has not seen it fit as yet to conclude the women's final of the Yohance Douglas tournament as well as to hand over prizes won in the other categories.
Mc Pherson said the visit by the under-19 team to St. Lucia was sanctioned by the federation and not the GABA since only the GABF had the authority to sanction such tours. The former soldier also stated that the GABF is responsible for permitting intra basketball tours such as those between teams from various parts of the country.
He also addressed the vexed question of monies owed to local Airline Caribbean Star and The Harbour Light Inn in St. Lucia and revealed that a "personal arrangement" has been worked out with regard to its settlement by the parties involved. He added that a financial report had been submitted to the federation in which it was stated that there were "shortfalls" which would be settled personally in due course.
McPherson was quizzed by the media as to the other members of the GABF executive and named two vice-presidents, Dennis Patterson and Joe Chapman (the third vice-president post is vacant), a secretary Mark Bender, assistant secretary Merle Jordan and assistant treasurer Colin April. The treasurer's post is also vacant.
With basketball competing for scare human and other resources Mc Pherson feels it has to put its house in order. He said that with proper planning and well implemented programs along with good discipline the federation can do well and win public support for its efforts
He appealed to the media and the general public to help the sport grow and sustain itself.