Monday 13th January 2014 - SKNABA will be celebrating 50 years since the Introduction of Basketball to St.Kitts-Nevis and over 30 years since the affliation to the world governing body FIBA and with that backdrop the St.Kitts Amateur Basketball Association now St.Kitts-Nevis Amateur Basketball Association is about to embark on the arguably the most significant step in the development of the sport since its introduction.
The SKNABA Exceutive announced to it’s membership the proposed start of an upgrade to Basketball City which will include the construction of a roof.
President Kenroy “Romel” Tobias made the announcement to a large and appreciative SKNABA membership. Ove 40 Persons representing Over 20 of the 24 Clubs/Teams in the Association were present to hear the good news regarding the developmentof basketball in the federation.
General Secretary Wallis Wilkin chaired the meeting an gave background information and outlined the steps taken by the Association to reach the point of being able to present and announce plans for the upgrade.
According to Wilkin the Executive had been working on plans for for the upgrade for almost a year. The plans were presented to Minister of Sports Glen Phillip along with Director of Sports Jeffrey Hazel who were both very impressed with the plans presented and the development strategy to be pursued. Phillip gave the commitment of his Ministry to support and facilitate the upgrade which will take place in 4 phases.
The first Phase will begin shortly and will include the upgrade of the Northern stands to include dressing room s, offices and bathroom facilities. This phase is expected to be completed by April of this year. The 2nd phase will include the construction of a ROOF to cover basketball City. This phase is scheduled to start immediately at the close of the 2014 season and along with Phase 3 and 4 which will include the upgrade of the southern stands and construction of office spaces for the Ministry of Social Development which is currently housed adjacent to the Basketball City grounds will be completed by the beginning of the 2015 season.
President Tobias Indicated that it his executive has already pursued and received initial verbal commitments t from corporate and other entities to assist and lend support to the historic upgrade.
The drawings and design of the new Basketball City was done by Architect Shane Berry who is himself a very active SKNABA Player with the former League Champions Ghaut Bucs.
Tobias called on members present to lend of their expertise and skills and partner with the executive in ensuring the long awaited dream of a Roof over Basketball City becomes a reality.
SKNABA President Kenroy Tobias outlined
“We are in the beginning stage. We are basically trying to put all the estimates in place and have the floor plan presented to the Minister, and then we will try to move forward with phase one and have it ongoing and complete the entire construction by the start of the new season in 2015.”
He further said that most of the financial burden would be absorb by the Ministry of Sports but added that his association would do what it could to assist in the construction.
“The cost for the facility...we have requested that the Ministry transfer the funding they were about to use to renovate and we, the association, would seek funding to help finalise and finish so that this could be a reality for all of us.”
“It is our 50th Anniversary this year and we want to know that we can change what we have become accustomed to in basketball over the 50 years.”
General Secretry Wallis Wilkin also commented on the development and stated “We are pleased with this major step forward in the development of Basketball in the federation. The Minister of Sports Mr Glenn Phillip and his Director Mr Jeffrey Hazel should also be commended for accommodating the SKNABA Executive and giving their significant support to the historic venture.”
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