Caribbean Basketball President laments issues affecting the sport

President of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Barbadian Glyne Clarke has identified some of the blocks which are preventing the sport in the region from scoring more and getting ahead.{{more}}

Clarke, who was guest of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation at its Annual General Meeting last Saturday, told SEARCHLIGHT that he believes the national federations need more professionalism.

“…Simple things like good governance, transparency, co-operation, as you may have a difference in opinion, you may disagree, but you don’t have to be disagreeable.”

The regional basketball boss alluded to the fact that he had to be present in SVG to address a matter of governance within the local basketball organization, as an example of the challenges.

“We have challenges with resources, both financial and human…. A lot of federations have challenges with persons not having finances and not being able to run their operations properly,” he added.

He named Grenada and Dominica as two islands which have struggled to have proper and stable administrative structures in place; hence the two have little participation in the annual Caribbean championships.

Clarke, however, is optimistic that with some of the issues worked out, both will begin work on their national programmes and get the sport in the respective islands back on track.

He revealed that as part of the reform available to associations in the region, the parent body, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), will soon be moving through the islands to carry out a needs assessment and follow up with the necessary corrective measures and resources’ input.

“They will be travelling to each country to meet with the national federations to understand the challenges which they face and they will be meeting with the National Olympic Committees and urge the Olympic committees to assist … They have the wherewithal, they have the resources and the programmes through the International Olympic Committee… They are going also to meet with the ministries of sports in the respective territories”, Clarke revealed.

Clarke noted that countries in the southern part of the Caribbean are always at a disadvantage, compared with the north, which results in a disparity in achievements and opportunities.

Elaborating, he proffered that the close proximity to the USA puts the northern countries in a better position to obtain scholarships to colleges and universities.

“The Bahamas, for example, which is next door to the US, has endless opportunities, as lots of universities go down to the Bahamas and are part of the Battle of Atlantis programme… Jamaica, as well, has a huge network in the US, through their diaspora,” Clarke said.

A hopeful Clarke believes that with the strengthening of some of the structures by the smaller states, some advancements can be made and a form of parity restored.

Clarke and his executive were elected in 2014 and are set to serve until 2019.(RT)