BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Basketball Association (SKNABA) has embarked on a drive to identify female basketballers and other females who are interested in this sports discipline.
Speaking with SKNVibes Sports, General Secretary of SKNABA, Wallis Wilkin said the move was made in order to resuscitate female basketball in the Federation.
“Basically, it is an effort we are initiating to expand and re-energise the female league. As you are aware, the female league started in 2005 and last season we were not able to have a league.”
He went on to explain why female basketball has gotten to its present stage.
“What happened was that many of the young ladies who were playing in the various leagues over the years have either migrated or retired from playing, and various other factors which have led to a sort of depletion in the number of females participating and playing basketball.”
Wilkin also highlight what would be the focus of the practice sessions.
“What we decided is to start what we call these training and practice sessions to serve two purposes. For the current players, we have for them to practice and play together and improve their skills and for them to also use it as a tool to bring other females to the sport and encourage participation.
“We are hoping by doing that we would expand and enhance the camp. Initially, it will just be a training session. They will be divided into two groups…those who are experienced and those who are new. The new ones will go through the basketball basics and those who are more experienced, it would be more fine tuning of their skills. Initially, we are just trying o get the ladies together, get as much involvement as possible in terms of a female league and hopefully out of all of this we can start an enhanced female league.”
Wilkin is urging interested females to go to Basketball City for the sessions and is reminding them of the opportunities available through basketball.
“The National female team will be the main facilitator of these sessions. It is starting today (yesterday Apr. 9) 6:30 at Basketball City and continues every Wednesday and Friday
“If you are a female and you are interested in Basketball, those are the nights to come to Basketball City. I want to really encourage as many persons to come out. There are a lot of possibilities in female basketball. We have had about six females who have earned basketball scholarships over the last three years. So there is definitely potential in terms of what you can achieve. US colleges are also looking for females basketballers. And for persons who love the sport and want stay fit, this is the perfect opportunity.”
