Olympic Association embraces Guyana’s historic Commonwealth Games journey

Guyana has officially begun its preparations for a historic debut in basketball at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, following confirmation that the nation will be among 12 countries competing in the Men’s 3×3 tournament.

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled for July 23 to August 3, with 3×3 basketball competition set to run from July 24-29 at the Scottish Event Centre.

Guyana’s inclusion marks a significant milestone for the sport locally, as it signals the country’s first appearance in basketball at the prestigious multi-sport event.

Preparation efforts are being powered by a grant from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), whose president Godfrey Munroe expressed pride in the achievement during a press conference held on Friday at the organisation’s headquarters.

Munroe described Guyana’s qualification as a landmark moment for the development of basketball, particularly the 3×3 format, which has seen steady growth under the guidance of the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF).

He commended the federation for its structured and consistent approach to developing the discipline over the years.

“We are extremely pleased to see Guyana making its debut in basketball at the Commonwealth Games,” Munroe said, noting that the GOA was especially impressed with the GBF’s detailed preparation pathway.

He highlighted the federation’s emphasis on conditioning and its proactive effort to secure expert support staff as key indicators of a serious and professional campaign.

Guyana will compete in an expanded 12-team field, an increase from the eight-team format used at the Birmingham 2022 Games.

The competition is expected to be intense, with Guyana lining up against fellow Caribbean nations Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, as well as Singapore, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Fiji, host nation Scotland, and Nigeria.

Vice-President of the GBF, Rawle Toney, who will serve as the Technical Delegate for the team in Scotland, outlined the structure supporting the national set-up.

The team will be led by internationally experienced 3×3 professional Kidani Brutus, alongside Strength and Conditioning Coach Jason Melhado and physiotherapist Jana Edghill.

Brutus, a Bronx native who has played professionally with Team Harlem and represented the United States, brings valuable experience to the squad.

With Guyanese heritage through his mother, he expressed pride in being part of what he described as a historic journey for Guyana.

He underscored the unique demands of 3×3 basketball, particularly its mental intensity and high-tempo nature, while making it clear that his primary objective is to ensure Guyana is competitive on the global stage.

Meanwhile, Melhado, who is based in Canada and also has Guyanese roots, is making his first visit to the country. He revealed that he reached out to the GBF after learning of Guyana’s qualification through social media, offering his expertise as a way of contributing to the national effort.

Having worked with Canadian basketball programmes at both youth and senior levels, Melhado said he has been impressed with the professionalism and commitment shown by the GBF thus far, though he acknowledged that significant work remains ahead of the Games.

Also speaking at the press conference, GOA Vice-President Cristy Campbell stressed on the broader significance of Guyana’s qualification.

She noted that participation in the Commonwealth Games opens doors for increased involvement in other major multi-sport events.

Campbell added that the GOA is encouraged by the progress made in 3×3 basketball and challenged the federation to replicate that success in the women’s game, urging a similar focus on developing female participation at the international level.

As part of its build-up, the GBF is set to intensify its preparation, both locally and abroad.

According to Toney, the programme will include regional and international exposure, beginning with participation in a Lite Quest tournament in Suriname from May 1-2, where Guyana will field two teams, with the hope of qualifying for the FIBA 3×3 Challenger tournament in Brazil.

The current training pool includes Anish Ramlall, Travis Belgrave, Kedar Edwards, Delroy James, Akil Hughes, Kimol Grimmond, Dominic Vincente, Jaden Simon, Stephen George, Domitre Rankin, Shelroy Thomas and Anthony Moe.

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