‘The General’ to head BVI Basketball Federation

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The BVI Basketball Federation elected Guy ‘The General’ Malone as its new leader, during a special meeting held at the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports last Thursday evening.

Malone’s election to the post—by a 9-2 margin over Devon ‘Mi Gente’ Osborne—ended a month long search that began with nominations in January. There were several delays throughout the process before Malone, one of the most successful coaches in the history of the territory, stepped forward to become the federation’s 10th president.

Malone was the field general for the Disciples, guiding them to six BVI Amateur Basketball Association championships—including a 3-peat from 1993-95—before the association became a federation. He replaces Elvis ‘Jughead’ Harrigan who has been tapped to run the BVI $10M Multipurpose Sports Complex.

He described his new role as ‘a big challenge.’ “But, I think for the amount of years I’ve been with basketball, it’s time I give back something on the other side of the fence. I’ve been a player in the late 70s, most of the 80s and a coach from 1990 to present,” Malone explained. “So I think it’s time to give back something to the association.” As a coach, he said he always harassed past presidents Elvis ‘Jughead’ Harrigan and Roy Barry about certain things he would like to see happen with the sport. “Now I have the opportunity to make some of these things happen, along with the blessings of the other new members of the federation,” Malone said.

Among the challenges facing BVI basketball Malone says, is raising the level of the competition.

“A lot of our youths, they know and love the game, but, the fundamental aspects of basketball, because we are lacking that, you find when we go abroad to competitions, we are behind,” he noted. “I would like to see that enhanced from the junior level upwards.”

The federation suspended its league in 2001 paving way for the construction of a Multipurpose Sports Complex that was completed last year. Malone said it’s now a new beginning and members are working together to come up with new ideas. “One of the things we discussed was getting into the educational system, especially at the BVI High School to have inter-house competitions. We would like to get back in and begin associating ourselves with the schools and getting this sort of competition started from that level,” he pointed out.

“That will help enhance some of our youths who are slowly dropping out. If you give them interesting things and have competitions from there, it will help them stay in school and further their careers.”

Among the immediate plans, the federation has established a committee to amend its constitution. Opening of the league and deciding how many teams in a junior and senior division, were among items discussed during the federation’s first meeting held Tuesday at the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Past BVI Basketball Federation Presidents; Robert Mathavious, Mark Vanterpool, Leo Douglas, Lily Romney, Marvin Blyden, Wendell Gaskin, Steve Turnbull, Roy Barry and Elvis Harrigan.