The Guyana Basketball Federation has secured its own certified hardwood basketball court in what it says is a major investment in the development of the sport locally.
The acquisition comes as Guyana prepares to host the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers from July 8 to 12 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The 10-country tournament is expected to bring regional attention to Guyana’s basketball programme and its ability to stage international events.
According to the GBF, the court was purchased from NCAA Division I institution, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and represents one of the Federation’s most significant infrastructure investments in recent years.
The hardwood floor will be installed at the National Gymnasium and used exclusively for basketball activities. It is expected to play an important role in Guyana’s preparations for the upcoming tournament, while also serving as a training and practice venue for visiting teams.
GBF President Michael Singh said the purchase fits into the Federation’s long-term plan to raise the standard of basketball in Guyana and eventually establish a dedicated facility for the sport.
“The purchase of this court is a major step for basketball in Guyana,” Singh said. “It’s considered a portable court, since the Federation intends to decentralize indoor basketball playing, where we can move the court. We can move it to Linden or Berbice, once we have a covered space.”
Singh said the portability of the court will allow the GBF to take professional-standard indoor basketball beyond Georgetown. This, he noted, could create more opportunities for players in other regions to train and compete on a proper hardwood surface.
He also said the investment was important for player safety and long-term athlete development, particularly since basketball in Guyana has traditionally been played on concrete and other hard surfaces.
“It’s a major addition and good asset to us when it comes to playing basketball at a high level. It will also do tremendously well for players because, for example, Suriname doesn’t play basketball on hard court anymore, to extend the longevity of the players, so we have to play catch-up in that regard when it comes to players’ health,” Singh explained.
The GBF President added that the court meets international standards and is suitable for high-level competition.
“The court is certified, which means NBA and top professional players can use it as well,” he said.
For decades, local basketball has largely been played on surfaces that can place added strain on athletes’ joints and increase the risk of injury over time. The introduction of a certified hardwood court is therefore being viewed as a major step toward bringing Guyana closer to the standard used in international and professional basketball.
The acquisition is also part of the Federation’s wider plan to improve basketball infrastructure across the country. Singh said the GBF intends to work with the Government and private sector to pursue further investments that can support the sport’s long-term growth.
One of the Federation’s major goals is the establishment of a basketball-only facility, which would provide a permanent base for national team preparation, youth development programmes, coaching clinics and domestic competitions.
“While we enjoy use of the courts at the Sports Hall, because it’s a shared space, we are forced to either be considerate or work along with the plans and schedule of the National Sports Commission. We hope to change that and see basketball having its own space, and I think this court is a start in that direction,” Singh said.
Singh said the timing of the investment is especially important, with Guyana preparing to welcome teams from across the Caribbean for the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers.
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