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Local basketball poised to reclaim regional supremacy
Posted Dec 03 2009
PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Basketball Federation Brian Manning has emphasised his commitment to the development of the game locally and will resist all attempts to distract him from fulfilling his responsibilities.
Manning stated in a recent interview that he is extremely pleased with several recent positive developments since his new administration took over the sport and has predicted that under his guidance the sport is poised to scale greater heights.
He ultimately envisages that basketball in Trinidad and Tobago will reclaim its position at the top of the Caribbean ladder and will present the current crop of talented young players with unprecedented opportunities for their career and life development.
Manning, who is also a top club player points to the great strides the national team has already made this year after languishing in the boondocks of the regional game for the past two decades. He said the national men’s team recently competed with distinction in the regional tournament breaking into the Top 20 in the region which augers well for the future.
And based on their resurgent performances Trinidad and Tobago is more than likely to be asked to participate in next year’s Centrobasket; and Central American and Caribbean Games which will further enhance the country’s prominence on the international stage.
Manning said those extremely significant developments reflect the growing stature of the national basketball product under the new administration which has been working assiduously to elevate all elements of the sport to fit the soaring profile and new respect and admiration for the TT team.
He points out that the respective zones have also benefitted from the new-found confidence and optimism that is fuelling the local game with new competitions and dormant competitions springing back to life which he said was demonstrative of the foundation being laid by the current administration.
Manning especially singled out the Central Zone which after an absence of five years recently reactivated under experienced administrator June Rogers and have just recently successfully staged their league and knock-out finals.
The NBFTT president also pointed to similar successes in other areas including La Brea, Marabella and Point Fortin and maintained that the North Zone remains the flagship zone which attracts the best players and still is the most efficiently run in Trinidad and Tobago.
Manning has highlighted the NBFTT’s initiative in exposing the leading local coaches to international standards through training and workshops as evidenced by the recent opportuntities afforded at pre-season training camps of top NBA teams in the US.
He said the coaches would greatly benefit from the experience which they are expected to pass on to their charges on their return home and this process will in turn redound to the development and ultimate success of the clubs, zones and national team.
Manning confirmed that the NBFTT is going ahead with its plan to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to oversee the day to day operations of the organisation in a professional manner which would represent another major step forward for the sport locally.
And despite reports to the contrary, invitations for the position was advertised in the national newspapers and attracted eight highly qualified applicants. Manning said the NBFTT executive was apprised of the developments every step along the way and had ample opportunity to comment on the process and raise concerns.
Manning said that he welcomes criticism but wishes that it is always constructive and fair and not meant to demean him and the work of his executive whose primary focus is to point the sport along the road to development.
He said he has spent many years cultivating his reputation, along the way earning the respect all who have interface with him through his professional life and through his passion for the sport of basketball. Manning said he is loathe to stand idly by while unnamed critics take pot-shots at him.
He points to the success of the NBFTT in the short time the new administration has been in office as the appropriate response to the naysayers.
Source : Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
He ultimately envisages that basketball in Trinidad and Tobago will reclaim its position at the top of the Caribbean ladder and will present the current crop of talented young players with unprecedented opportunities for their career and life development.
Manning, who is also a top club player points to the great strides the national team has already made this year after languishing in the boondocks of the regional game for the past two decades. He said the national men’s team recently competed with distinction in the regional tournament breaking into the Top 20 in the region which augers well for the future.
And based on their resurgent performances Trinidad and Tobago is more than likely to be asked to participate in next year’s Centrobasket; and Central American and Caribbean Games which will further enhance the country’s prominence on the international stage.
Manning said those extremely significant developments reflect the growing stature of the national basketball product under the new administration which has been working assiduously to elevate all elements of the sport to fit the soaring profile and new respect and admiration for the TT team.
He points out that the respective zones have also benefitted from the new-found confidence and optimism that is fuelling the local game with new competitions and dormant competitions springing back to life which he said was demonstrative of the foundation being laid by the current administration.
Manning especially singled out the Central Zone which after an absence of five years recently reactivated under experienced administrator June Rogers and have just recently successfully staged their league and knock-out finals.
The NBFTT president also pointed to similar successes in other areas including La Brea, Marabella and Point Fortin and maintained that the North Zone remains the flagship zone which attracts the best players and still is the most efficiently run in Trinidad and Tobago.
Manning has highlighted the NBFTT’s initiative in exposing the leading local coaches to international standards through training and workshops as evidenced by the recent opportuntities afforded at pre-season training camps of top NBA teams in the US.
He said the coaches would greatly benefit from the experience which they are expected to pass on to their charges on their return home and this process will in turn redound to the development and ultimate success of the clubs, zones and national team.
Manning confirmed that the NBFTT is going ahead with its plan to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to oversee the day to day operations of the organisation in a professional manner which would represent another major step forward for the sport locally.
And despite reports to the contrary, invitations for the position was advertised in the national newspapers and attracted eight highly qualified applicants. Manning said the NBFTT executive was apprised of the developments every step along the way and had ample opportunity to comment on the process and raise concerns.
Manning said that he welcomes criticism but wishes that it is always constructive and fair and not meant to demean him and the work of his executive whose primary focus is to point the sport along the road to development.
He said he has spent many years cultivating his reputation, along the way earning the respect all who have interface with him through his professional life and through his passion for the sport of basketball. Manning said he is loathe to stand idly by while unnamed critics take pot-shots at him.
He points to the success of the NBFTT in the short time the new administration has been in office as the appropriate response to the naysayers.
Source : Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
ABOUT NBFTT
The NBFTT is the governing and controlling body for the sport of basketball in Trinidad and Tobago -overseeing the sport at all levels, from "mini to masters"; from the communities to zonal leagues and national teams......