JaBA, UWI sign three-year MOU

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) yesterday signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the institution's Mona campus in a partnership geared towards the development of the sport.

The agreement will see both organisations joining forces to advance the sport through academic programmes and short-term technical courses.

"Basketball is mainly an indoor sport, though it can be played outside, and this relationship adds another indoor facility to the Jamaica Basketball Association's ability to develop the sport right away," said JaBA's President Ajani Williams.

"It formalises and consolidates the relationship with the UWI, strengthen our bonds and our collective vision to advance basketball and sports in Jamaica," he said.

Williams added that the primary focus will be on its academy. There is a mini academy for youths 7-13 and elite academy for youths 14-18.

Professor Gordon Shirley, principal of the UWI, is looking forward to the programme and believes it will help his institution to continue realising its role and obligations towards sport development.

"It is very pleasing for us to have a relationship with the Jamaica Basketball Association," said Shirley. "We are impressed by professionalism and the leadership that they demonstrate ... ," he said.

"We believe that it is very important to be associated with that development, and we believe that we can bring something to the table that can enhance the work that we are trying to do at the Mona Bowl of Excellence," Shirley said.

Williams is confident that the partnership will bear fruit and ensure sustainable growth for the nation's basketball talent.

"We have already started to host NBL (National Basketball League) games here and that was a dream come true for us," said Williams. "It is really important for us to move the games indoors because basketball cannot be played outdoors as there is no value there."

Williams added: "We also want to create a framework in which basketball fans from all over Jamaica can feel comfortable, and what better place to play these games than the UWI Bowl?"

The union with the UWI means JaBA has formalised relationships with three local tertiary institutions. The others are G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport and the University of Technology.