Schools b-ball bounce-off tomorrow

The Secondary Schools Basketball Association (SSBA) are set to start the 2004 NGC/Express Secondary School’s Basketball League (SSBL) season tomorrow at 10 am at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. All zones are expected to be represented when the teams parade their lineups accompanied by the Regiment Marching Band. Scarborough Under-20 is carded to play Pleasantville Under-20 at noon and the winner will face Tranquillity Secondary for the opening day’s challenge trophy. Tranquillity are the defending North Zone and national champions having swept all zonal and national titles  titles during their phenomenal run of form in 2003.

They will be the main target when the North Zone competition tips off on Saturday. The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Education will be represented at the opening ceremony and this year’s competition will see the revival of the girls’ Under-15 division. This will add more life and more action to the Girls Open and Boys’ Under-15, 17 and 20 divisions. The National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago (NBFTT) have advised that the deadline for applications for the positions of head coach of their men’s and women’s national teams, at the senior, junior  and Under-20 levels is tomorrow. The four positions are open to all suitably qualified persons and all applications must include a short biography, curriculum vitae, one reference and an outline for the relevant team’s preparation.

Team preparation plans should include: national player screening sessions, pre-season training sessions for the period February-April, 2004, in-season training April-June, and pre-competition training June-July. Plans should also accommodate the infusion of foreign-based players from May 2004. Applications should also include a short list of candidates for assistant coaches. Remuneration packages will be discussed during the interview phase. All applications should be addressed to The Secretary, National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago, St Paul’s Street Gymnasium, St Paul’s Street, Port-of-Spain.