Haynes taking shot at collective approach for development in CONCENCABA

The newly-elected president of the Central American and Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CONCENCABA), Guyanese Patrick Haynes, is banking on a collective approach from the affiliated National Federations to advance the sport within the FIBA Sub-Zone region.

Haynes, on February 14, was elected to the position following the CONCENCABA Assembly and Elections in Miami, USA.

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) General Secretary also became the first Guyanese to sit at the helm of CONCENCABA.

In a note to the 31 National Federations under the CONCENCABA banner, Haynes pointed out that “there are several key ingredients to a successful institution, but it always starts with great people, strong brands and a winning culture. And, Central America and the Caribbean has an abundance of all of them— talented, passionate and dedicated people; great basketball; and a heritage of winning.”

“But there’s more we can accomplish by working together and setting the highest standards for our plans and our execution,” Haynes said.

Haynes further added he is a student of the game (basketball), while admitting that he has a lot to learn about the CONCENCABA-affiliated members.

“But I am a fast learner and will get up to speed quickly. One thing I do know is that I am “ALL IN”. The efforts currently underway are sound, and I am committed to continuing the momentum that FIBA is building. I look forward to working closely with each of you, the Americas RO and FIBA HQ,” the Guyanese basketball administrator said.

Haynes described himself as passionate about people and basketball.

“I tell it like it is- good or bad- and I am always willing to listen and learn to help unlock our full potential.”

Founded in 1926, CONCENCABA is a body of FIBA Americas with mirrored powers and responsibilities for its geographic region.

Currently, the National Member Federations assigned to CONCENCABA by the FIBA Central Board are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands.

CONCENCABA recognises the superior authority of FIBA and FIBA Americas.

Subject to the overriding authority of FIBA and FIBA Americas, CONCENCABA is the only competent authority to promote the practice of basketball and to organise competitions within the Sub-Zone of Central America and the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Modesto Robeldo of Mexico, president of the Confederación Centroamericana de Baloncesto (COCABA) will serve as Haynes’ First Vice-President, while Interim president of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC), Leslie Collymore (St. Lucia) is the Second Vice-President.

Sabrina Mitchell (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) is the CONCENCABA Secretary.

The CBC ‘At Large Members’ are Claire Mitchell (Trinidad and Tobago) and Kenneth Vrojijk (Aruba), while the COCABA ‘At Large Members’ are Jair Peralta (Panama) and Frank Martinez Arias (Costa Rica).