David Dueh Serves As Guest Speaker At Great Ball Players-USA
MONROVIA – Great Ball Players-USA has ended its annual convention in Philadelphia, United States of America.
By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
The convention was held under the theme: “Beyond Basketball, the past, the present, and the future.
Great Ball Players – USA is a community of retired and slowly-retiring men and women who have graced the basketball leagues in Liberia and in the United States of America.
The goal of the organization is to be their brothers’ keeper. Keeping their brothers has meant moral and financial interventions during bereavement and special circumstances.
Special circumstances have included the renovation of the basketball infrastructure in Liberia and the recent purchase of an electronic scoreboard for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, among other projects.
Guest speaking at the annual convention, Mr. David Dueh, applauded the leadership of the organization headed by G. Alvin Uso, for the invitation and the many gains made by the institution over the years.
Mr. Dueh used the occasion to ideally outlined major milestones and individuals who have contributed to where the institution is today and how they intend to look forward.
He named and recognized some individuals who have sacrificially helped the maintenance of a respectable growth of basketball in Liberia.
Mr. Dueh figured out Mr. Samuel N. Smith Jr., Owner and Sponsor of Speedy United, Mr. Christian T. King, National Basketball Coach; Mr. Jim Minor, Head Coach Barrolle, and the National Team; Mr. Kojo Anderson, Head Coach St. Patrick’s, and the National Team; Mr. Jim Holder, President of the Liberia Basketball Federation as individuals who have single-handedly moved the club championships to the National Sports Commission.
Others are Mr. Alfred Coleman, President of the Liberia Basketball Federation in the 1980s; and the late Mr. Caesar Hall.
“In the modern era of Liberian sports, it would be criminal to forget the contributions of Mr. Marbue Richards. Mr. Richards contributions were many, but paramount is the first payment of a monthly per diem to each member of the National Basketball team. Mr Richards worked tirelessly to put all sports in Liberia on an equal footing. With the change in leadership in 1980, this amount bumped up from $75 to $200 with the ushering of a new government,” he added.