‘Zero tolerance’ 4th Hon Fraser League launched
The 4th annual tournament, which bounces off on August 20, 2016, was launched this morning, June 24, 2016 at the Save the Seed Energy Centre Conference Room in Duff’s Bottom.
Both Directors of the League, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Bishop John I. Cline, stressed on the importance of discipline and their desire to have nothing but a clean tournament where families can come out to the games without having to witness a fight among players or having to inhale “second hand marijuana smoke.”
Anyone can play in League but…
According to Hon Fraser, reaching out to the young people to bring their teams into the league is a step in the right direction, in molding the young people of this territory.
“Everyone who wants to play in the League, I shall make every effort to assist them into getting into the league under one condition- that they accept the zero tolerance rule that the league has,” Hon Fraser said.
Although affected by indiscipline among players and coaches in the past, the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League remains one of the most successful leagues in the territory and one which many look forward to.
Hon Fraser attributes that to the fact that many people that follow the league recognise that the league has leadership. “I think neither the Bishop nor myself, as I have said before, are in this thing for any fame, fortune or glory. We are doing it for the community. The same way we walked into it we can walk out of it. Once people understand this is for their benefit and that we are not going to tolerate anything that is going to spoil our reputation, because we have a reputation and our names mean something to us, they are going to come.”
Not just about basketball
According to Bishop Cline, the league aims to build cohesiveness in the community, teamwork and handling responsibilities, which he said aid in the development of a person’s character.
“So this is not just about basketball for us but it is a way that we feel we can contribute significantly to the development of the youth in our community.”
According to Bishop Cline, the Save the Seed facility is one that is designed for families and which offers various activities that facilitate that.
“And one thing we want to ensure is that the family environment is preserved, that when people come to the Save the Seed Energy Centre they wouldn’t have to worry about fights, violence, they don’t have to worry about inhaling somebody’s second hand marijuana smoke on our premises or in our gym. And because of that we have had to go out and hire security. And hiring security is very expensive. We wish we didn’t have to do that but because of some of the things that we have experienced in the past we want to take no chances. And that is why we have also developed the policy of no tolerance,” Bishop Cline said.
Bishop Cline made an appeal to the players, coaches and managers of teams taking part in the league to make discipline their watchword and to engage in clean play always.
“Some of the players bring their girlfriends, their wives, their mothers, their children to see the games and no one wants to see a display of violence or anger on the court.”
Reaction from Platinum Sponsors
Head of Business Solutions at Digicel BVI, Mr Kevin Carragher said he was impressed with Hon Fraser’s comments that the league was not done for the glory or fame and noted that Digicel’s sponsorship of the league was not a branding exercise but “an incredibly important part of what we need to do as one of the larger companies here in the BVI.”
Carragher said he is also a sports person, with football being his main sport, and has observed that one’s conduct or the way one approached the game almost always is a reflection of how they were in their professional life.
The opportunity, he explained, is there for the organisors, coaches and managers involved to affect the youngsters, to help mold them in order to make them into total players, with the right attitudes. “That will reflect on them in their professional lives and their education.”
Insurance Manager of Nagico Insurances, Simon Cross said Nagico is excited to be a part of what promises to be a very exciting Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League.
Nagico has been a sponsor of the league from the inception and commended the organisors for the “hard work” they have been doing to make the event a worthwhile one.
“Nagico understands that the event offers an outlet for a huge number of people of the territory. It brings together people to achieve a common goal, teaches valuable lessons in working hard and as a single unit to achieve success. It also offers valuable lessons in defeat and how to handle those situations,” Mr Cross said.
Also present at the launching were Chairperson of the League Committee, Mrs Kharid T. Fraser, and League Commissioner Derrick R. Varlack.
Tremendous success anticipated
The Fourth Edition of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League bounces off on August 20, 2016 and wraps up on October 30, 2016.
The defending champions are West Gunners. Ruff House won the first edition, while Bayside Blazers captured the championship in 2014.
The fourth edition of the league, according to Hon Fraser, promises to be a tremendous success, learning from the experiences of the past.
“I have no reason to doubt that the changes made during the third year of the league will be of tremendous benefit to the league in 2016.”
Sponsors of the league include Digicel, Nagico Insurances, Sol, FirstCaribbean International Bank, National Bank of the Virgin Islands, Caribbean Insurers, Tropical Car Rentals, James Todman Construction, Walkers, Ojier’s, and the BVI Olympic Committee.
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