NBL clubs disgruntled at delay

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The constant delay of the National Basketball League (NBL) has left a number of coaches and team managers very frustrated.

The NBL, which was scheduled to begin in August, has been postponed on a number of occasions by the Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA).

"The guys have been training from the end of May and all they keep on hearing is that the league is put off every minute," said Wayne Bartley, manager of defending champions Tivoli Gardens.

"It has also affected us heavily financially because we have to pay our players to play for us. We also have to provide them with refreshments and food," Bartley said.

"We heard that the league is going to start in October, but from what I have seen it won't start on that date because they are currently having some problems with the referees and there is also other things that need to be sort out before it can start," Bartley explained.

Disappointment

Richard Rowe, first vice-president of the Southern Conference Basketball Association and manger of last year's beaten finalists, Majesty Gardens, said the delay has also affected his team financially.

"The delay has increased our preparation cost and it has also cost some degree of disappointment and despondency among our players," said Rowe.

He added that they were preparing for a much earlier start, in lieu of plans proposed by members of the NBL committee at the end of last season.

"We were also hoping for a much longer competition this year, seeing that we had a shortened version of the league last year," said Rowe.

"There are a number things that are not yet in place for an October start, which I am hearing the JBA committee is proposing because proper accreditation of teams, officials and the a set of uniforms from the sponsors are yet to be made."

When contacted, Ajani Williams, president of the JBA, told The Gleaner that they were still negotiating media coverage, with an intent to launch as soon as possible.

"We're trying to finalise arrangements with a media and television partner because we don't have a big production and broadcast budget for this year's competition," Williams explained.

"I think once the media side is sorted out then all other things will fall into place because we have been working around the clock to get everything ready for the league to start," he stated.

Williams, who is serving his first term as head of the JBA, noted that the NBL organising committee has put forward a start date between October 16 and 29.