New BVIBF President eager to see return of 'Town League'
Businessman and former player, Mr Varlack (14 votes) edged out former national player, coach and promoter Mr Kennedy H. Bass (13 votes) for the post of president when the BVIBF held its elections at the Youth Affairs and Sports Conference Room, Ward’s Building, in Road Town on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.
Formation of Road Town Basketball Association
One of Mr Varlack’s immediate plans is to see the return of the Road Town League and the formation of the Road Town Basketball Association.
“The first focus for the Federation for basketball is to makes sure that the Road Town [Basketball] Association gets formed. It’s not a good thing to say that we have an association that was the grassroots of the BVI, in sport, and in basketball, and you don’t have a league for the last three years.”
“That is my number one focus, to get that association formed.”
Olympics
One of the long term plans of President Varlack is to develop basketball at the grassroots level, with the goal being to prepare a team for the Olympics.
“Our main goal is to develop the youngsters in every district so probably in the next 16 to 20 years we will be putting a team in the Olympics.
“The long term goal is to be able to compete on the world stage in basketball.”
Confidence in Executive Body
The new executive body voted in comprises of Derrick R. Varlack, President; Jason A. Edwin, Vice-President; Natasha M. Marshall, General-Secretary; Mohamed A. Tarabay, Assistant Secretary; CarolAnn P. Simmonds, Treasurer; Kevon S. Lettsome, Assistant Treasurer; Eustace C. Freeman aka ‘Boss’, Public Relations Officer (PRO); and Angelle A. Cameron, Assistant PRO.
The Senior Player Representative is Trevor M. Stevens aka 'West' and Junior Player Representative is Ronald Simmonds aka 'Gola'.
According to Mr Varlack, he didn’t get all the members [elected] that were running alongside him but he has “great confidence” in the persons elected.
“We are working as we speak to get things organised, so I gave great confidence in my team.”
‘I am here to support’- Kennedy H. Bass
Meanwhile, Mr Bass might be considering himself unlucky to lose by just one vote to Mr Varlack, but like a good sportsman which he has exemplified over his lengthy and successful playing days, told Virgin Islands News Online, he will still play an active part wherever he can to move the sport of basketball forward in the territory.
“I am here to support. I am not going to disconnect myself from basketball because I didn’t win. I will still be a part of the sport, whether through coaching, advising and whatever it takes to push basketball forward.”
Asked what advice he would offer to the new executive body, Mr Bass said it was basically what he had told persons during his speech at the BVIBF elections.
“We were speaking about development from the grassroots levels straight up to the 40 plus, bringing back the interest in basketball throughout the territory.”
Mr Bass also said emphasis should be on educating not just the young boys but also the young girls about the game, and try to rekindle the interest “and bring back the love for the game” among parents and coaches.
He said it was important too that the Federation seeks to develop coaches, referees and statisticians.
“Also, the [Basketball administrators] need to be up to speed with what is going on in the world, and in the region, when it comes to basketball, because we have been out of the loop for the past three years competing in FIBA tournaments,” Mr Bass stated.
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