• Home
• /
• Local Sports

Call for one-platform events

DUBAI - The senior schools basketball championships in the Indian Basketball Society organised Indian Basketball League (IBL) saw some superb matches this week.

The IBL which has the men’s and women’s divisions as its flagship events for the championships, also provides a neutral platform for schools to decide as to which sides are the best in the community here.

This year the league introduced the under 19 category which by the time the tourney ends will decide the best outfit here among the CBSE, ISC and SSLC schools.

The mini (under 13) category has been a very successful part of the multi-category IBL which runs through the weekends for nearly 2 months.

Surprisingly, some of the schools here have been reluctant to field their sides under their official umbrella and some of the coaches and teachers have on their own initiative sought funds from the parents of the players to field their sides.

Unlike in the many events organised individually by the various schools here, the IBL with internationally qualified referees and professional scorers have seen to it that the rules, draw and scheduling are not bent in favour of any school as has been the case in the previous years of the individual school events here.

It must be kept in mind that the IBS is a fully non-profit, registered and bonafide unit whose officials, all professional coaches and PE officials, have one agenda — to promote the game at the grassroot level among the schools following the carricula mentioned.

All-stream

The best all-stream (international and national curricula) basketball platform for schools in the UAE is conducted by 3SM — Strategic Sports Development, an independently run organisation mainly meant for grassroot level promotion.

One of the directors of the organisation, Abdalla Taryam presented Dh50,000 from the company funds to St Mary’s Catholic High School-Dubai when they won the title for the 2011-12 season.

The main chunk of the money was given to the team members, coaches and officials while a standing figure was alloted for the most promising player along with scholarships for players from constrained financial backgrounds, following an agreement between the officials of the organisers and the school.

For the first time ever here, such a big amount was dispersed for a tournament without any publicity or fanfare about it.

moni@khaleejtimes.com