NBFTT to launch inaugural female league virtually

Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe. -
Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe. -

THE National Basketball Federation of TT (NBFTT) will be launching, virtually, its inaugural TT Female Basketball League (TTFBL) on Friday from 7 pm.

The launch will be aired on the TTFBL’s Facebook page.

Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development, is expected to deliver the virtual keynote speech, and Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly will bring virtual greetings, as the TT Schools Basketball Association (TTSBA) plays a critical role in the development of local basketball.

In a media release, the TTFBL announced its mission, which is “to unlock the potential of women, by creating optimal conditions and systems to support women and girls engaging in basketball”, and its vision – “a sustainable national league for women by women”.

According to the media release, “the TTFBL will address women’s basketball in a holistic manner; that is, from development to professional players and administration. Immediately following this launch, TTFBL will start a video series (entitled) “Women and Basketball” which will be available on our YouTube channel and other social media platforms. TTFBL will also feature online skills development programmes, community caravans, schools based pilot projects, coaching programmes for individuals interested in training females, national skill challenges, officiating courses and 3x3 tournaments. Through the NBFTT the League will focus on sharpening all the tools necessary to develop and maintain competitiveness and interest in basketball and hence ensure that a sustainable league will be developed and maintained.”

League coordinator, Allison Bastien, commented, “Some of you may be asking why start a league in the midst of a global pandemic and all of its challenges? Sports like every other sector has been impacted physically, financially and socially. But I say if not now; then when? We have time to think, we have time to plan, we have time to build. And if the Federation is prepared to navigate the challenges of covid19 to create a space in the sport world for women in basketball. Then we say yes let’s do it, we will adapt and press forward.”

NBFTT president Claire Mitchell said, “This inaugural women’s league is therefore not only necessary, but also timely. Our ultimate goal is to convene a competition structure for women that is on par with or closer to that of our male counterparts. We wish to develop female officials, coaches, referees, and women in leadership positions and most important – to bridge the disparity between the current prize structures that we offer our female elite athletes at local tournaments in comparison to what we offer our men. We wish to remove that imaginary glass ceiling that haunts the female version of our sport. For that we give you the TT Female Basketball League.”

For more information, call 393-2894, 682-9778 or 482-7040.

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