Williams retains JaBA presidency

Ajani Williams was successfully returned as president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) yesterday, after turning aside the challenge of Captain Clifford Lumsden, at JaBA's annual general meeting at the Almond Tree Restaurant, Main Street, Ocho Rios.

It wasn't even close, as Williams secured a 19-9 victory over Lumsden - a former JaBA vice-president during the Marland Nattie leadership - with 28 of the 29 delegates turning up to cast their ballots.

Williams, who came to office in 2009, survived a bitter campaign, which saw his critics complaining about the administration of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the alleged disregard for the women's programme, in particular. This was the second time that he was getting the better of Lumsden, following his 16-8 triumph two years ago.

However, Williams, who was on the roster of NBA team Atlanta Hawks in the 2005-06 season, extended the olive branch to Lumsden, while expressing disappointment on the tone of the lead-up to yesterday's election.

"It's important for all the people who were supporting both sides to realise that even though some things that could be seen as personal were said, I really respect most of the persons in basketball and we are not going to close the door on anyone who has great ideas and are willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of basketball and the administration of basketball in the country, we are not going to close the door on anybody," said Williams.

"Too much of the focus was on the politics of basketball and this is new territory for me, but I am so focused on the game itself that I became lost at times as to the over-focus of the politics," Williams added. "I feel that if we had this kind of energy and passion with the game; debating ideas about how we advance the skill level of players, referees and coaches, if we had his kind of vigour, I think we would have 30 players in the NBA and WNBA, as well as some coaches."

Williams says his administration will now turn its attention to building on the NBL's recent expansion.

Put in effort

"What we hadn't done enough of was the development of the sport ... If we put the same effort in this as we did with expanding the NBL, I think it's going to be fantastic," Williams beamed.

Under Williams' stewardship, the NBL moved from 12 teams to 27, covering western, eastern, central and southern parishes, with plans afoot for the inclusion of northern teams.

Other executive members are: Ann-Marie Stewart, Oberon Pitterson, Michael Stephenson (deputy presidents), Marland Nattie (honorary secretary), Douglas Reid (assistant secretary), Vaughn Cunningham (treasurer), Wayne Stewart (assistant treasurer), Roger Goldson, Richard Pollack, Pete Matthews and Paulton Gordon (committee members).

- Andre Lowe