SVGBF honours five committed contributors

Five persons have been specially recognized for their contributions to the sport of basketball in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation bestowed the honour on Richard Cato, Kenlyn Clouden,{{more}} Walter Jones, Sabrina Mitchell and Randolph Williams at a dinner last Saturday night at the Palmyra Restaurant at Pembroke.

Richard Cato

Cato was the mainstay in the position of manager during the emergence of Calliaqua United as a potent force in local basketball circles.

He has also been credited with being one of the leading lights of the Calliaqua Basketball Competition, which during the 1990’s was a staple among lovers of the sport.

During that period, the Calliaqua Invitational tournament filled the void left by the dormancy of the national set-up.

Through Cato’s instrumentality, the Calliaqua hard court was able to acquire an electronic scoreboard in 1998.

Also that year, a coaching clinic for primary schools in the East Constituency took place, under the tutelage of the Calliaqua Basketball Committee.

Cato also served as vice-president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation, as well as acting president.

Cato is the founder and coach of the Mavrix Basketball team.

Kenlyn Clouden

Clouden used her netball skills to good effect in the sport of basketball, as that gender component began to take root.

As a member of the Bustas team, Clouden gained selection to the national team, then went on to be the team’s manager.

Also holding the post of games secretary of the national body, Clouden took to officiating, and is among the leading referees in the various competitions, especially at the national level.

Incidentally, she became the first female basketball referee in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Clouden has also been elevated to serve as an instructor for referees.

Walter Jones

Jones has long been associated with the Valley Nets basketball outfit on Union Island, which is a household name on that island.

Going full circle, Jones served as a player, coach, manager and youth development officer on the island.

Now the assistant coach of the St Vincent and the Grenadines male team, Jones has been lending his services over the years to organizing the basketball component of the Easterval celebrations held on Union Island annually.

Sabrina Mitchell

One who holds several positions, Mitchell has carried the weight of the annual Bequia Basketball Tournament for the past 16 years, also serving as the president of the Bequia Basketball Tournament.

Mitchell has been the general secretary of the Caribbean Basketball Federation since 2004.

Additionally, Mitchell is the manager of the St Vincent and the Grenadines senior men’s team and the Bequia All Stars.

Co-ordinator of the revived Digicel Grenadines Championships and board member of the Adonal Foyle Kerosene Lamp Foundation, Mitchell has served as the secretary of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation from 2002 to 2006.

A central board member of FIBA Americas, from 2010 to the present, Mitchell recently gained another accomplishment, as she now sits on the FIBA committee responsible for international development.

Randolph Williams

A member of the senior national men’s team from 1992 to 2014, Williams has given his service as a coach, both at the club and national levels, having attained a level three FIBA certification.

Installed as coach of Calliaqua United men’s team this year, Williams performed the role as assistant coach to the female national team which participated in the 2014 Caribbean Basketball Championships in Tortola.

Williams is also the coach of the Calliaqua United female team.

Last Saturday’s event also served as a fund-raiser to purchase some electronic equipment ahead of the national championships, which are set to open in February, 2015.(RT)