Tobias to seek re-election as President

President Romel Tobias

Basketball City (Janury 4th 2013) — The St.Kitts Amateur Basketball Association will be holding it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday January 8th 2012 at the FND Conference Room.

According to the associations constitution the AGM was due in November of last year however due to the National Teams engagement in Dominica at the annual Sugar Creole Festival coupled with the fact that over the last few years the AGM has been held in between the months of January and February it was decided to convene the meeting early in the new year 2013.

The main agenda item of the AGM will be the SKABA elections where Kenroy Romel Tobias will be seeking another term as President. Tobias has had a very impressive record of achievements during his tenure over the last two years. The SKABA saw the construction of a brand new massive world class 6 feet by 6 feet game clock as well as glass backboards and shot clocks for the first time.

His association was also able to collaborate with the Dominica Basketball Association to host the hugely successful first ever Sugar Creole Festival which was held in St. Kitts in 2011 and then in Dominica in 2012. The Sugar Creole Festival is scheduled for St. Kitts in late November in 2013 and is expected to feature some 6 teams from throughout the OECS.

National Team at the 2nd Annual Sugar Creole Festival

The tournament has been recognized by the OECS Sports Desk and will be the first sub regional tournament of its kind and of this magnitude since the defunct or dormant OECS Club and National Championship of the 80’s and 90’s. The National League saw an overall increase in the number of teams over the last two years and an initiative to incorporate Nevis on a much more significant level with the staging of games in Nevis has been very successful both for SKABA and the development of basketball in Nevis. At least 6 SKABA games were played in Nevis for the first time. The national team was also resurrected after some 6 years .

The last time a National Team had been selected and participated in any tournament or games outside the federation was in the 2006 CBC tournament. The National team was revived under the able leadership of former National Player Dave “Doc” Sutton. The team journeyed to Dominica and won the 2ndannual Sugar Creole Festival . This was the first time in over a decade that the St.Kitts National team had won any tournament outside of the federation.

Tobias was also able to negotiate the most lucrative sponsorship package in league history with telecoms giant Digicel. The National Bank also returned as major sponsors of the league after a short absence.

President Tobias and is executive was also able to stage both a Level 1 and Level 2 Olympic Solidarity coaching clinics in September and November of last year. Coach Terry Layton came from the US compliments the NOC and conducted both clinics. The last time such clinics were held was in 2004. Approximately 25 coaches got level 1 certificates and about 19 received Level 2 coaching certificates.

“I have a passion for the development of basketball and I am nothing more than a humble servant who is always seeking ways to develop the sport I love in any capacity,” said Tobias.

Coach Terry Layton conducting Coaching Clinic at Basketball City

“I am seeking another term as President because I think I have much more to offer and there are many projects and programmes that my association and I have begun that I would like to guide and see to through to fruition,” Tobias continued.

Tobias’tenure has not been without it’s challenges as mid way through his first term a number of changes had to be made to his executive following the untimely passing of Executive member Dwayne Sturge .

“Dwayne’s passing was an extremely tough loss to the entire basketball fraternity and to my executive and me personally. He was a very hardworking and committed individual whose loss impacted the entire executive in a major way. However we used his loss and the thought that he would want us to trod on and develop the game even in his absence, as the motivation to continue and to see many of his dreams for SKABA come to past,” stated Tobias

There has been no indication that anyone else will be vying for the Presidency. However persons can be nominated on the night of the elections. Tobias indicated that he has put a team together and will present his team to the SKABA membership at the meeting on Tuesday.

Among the meetings agenda is the presentation of the Presidents Report and the association’s Financial Report as is required by the constitution. The Meeting is scheduled for a 6pm start and all Club members are asked to send 2 representatives.