BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Sandy Point PRIDE Sport Limited, parent organization of the Sandy Point PRIDE Basketball Club, is refuting comments made by the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Basketball Association (SKNABA) in an article published by this media house.
The article, dated December 28, sought to highlight the year for basketball in the Federation, and it indicated that the suspension of several players from the Pride team were the biggest obstacle for the 2016 season.
The article stated that during an interview withy the General Secretary of the Association, Wallis Wilkin, he indicated that the suspended players had their suspension upheld following an appeal.
“We had and still have a black blotch on the season with a situation that is still somewhat unresolved with the Sandy Point Pride. Four of their players were suspended and after a series of back and forth, they appealed the suspension and it was eventually upheld. But because of that situation, another situation arose where they played in a match and the opposing team protested the game. This was a match to decide who goes to the Final.”
But according to Denver Mike, one of the Directors of the organization, though the article meant well, comments made by Wilkin are deemed misleading.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Mike pointed out that he did not understand how the GS indicated that the Appeals Committee had made a decision.
“Wallis reported that the appeals hearing had already been held and that the suspensions were upheld by the Appeals Committee, which is totally untrue,” he said.
Mike noted that members of the “Appeals Board” had indicated that the matter was not properly presented before them, because the Games Officials had skipped going through a disciplinary committee and went straight to the Appeals Board.
“Everything was sent back to the hearing and after that disciplinary hearing, we appealed the decision of the disciplinary hearing and to this date, we haven’t been able to have that appeal hearing. We have asked for an appeal for about six times now. According to rules and regulations, an appeal is supposed to be handled within 15 days of requesting,” the Director explained.
According to information received by SKNVibes Sports last year, several senior players from the PRIDE Club were seated in the stands in support of the Sandy Point Falcons (Junior Team) when a dispute occurred among the players.
Reportedly, in the absence of security personnel, many spectators, including four seniors and a number of players from other clubs, proceeded on to the court to assist in the restoration of order and to safeguard the youngsters.
The Club’s Team Manager, Randy De Suza, told SKNVibes that “the referee had lodged a complaint to the Games Commissioner, Harold Wharton, against four of our members and on Sunday, July 3, we were notified that they were suspended”.
De Suza said, “On receipt of the notification, we realised that Wharton had written and submitted the report to himself, and without the involvement of other members of the Games Committee, ruled that the four players were suspended. He did not give us an opportunity to defend ourselves and we see this as a violation to SKABA’s League Rules and Regulations.”
Director Mike contends that a picture is being painted that the Sandy Point PRIDE’s unit is “just making a lot of noise”, when in fact, “we are just looking to get the matter resolved”.
He stressed that the team members were "fined and suspended as players" when they were not at the game in a formal capacity but as supporters.
“They were trying to suspend and fine them as if they were players, when in fact, they were members of the audience. …There were several levels of conflict of interest throughout the entire process, where the person who was the head of the Games Committee was also somebody who handed in a letter to say that the players should be suspended.”
SKNVibes Sports understands that several of the suspended players were part of the successful St. Kitts unit that won the recently-concluded LIBA tournament.
The Sandy Point PRIDE Basketball Club is awaiting an official comment from the SKNABA as the new season will shortly and it is one of two teams that should be promoted to the First Division, SKNVibes was told.
Additionally, it was indicated to this publication that the Association is looking to have the A Division finals played shortly.
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