While opposition critics are pouring cold water on the the Hoops for Life project introduced in Trinidad on Saturday the son of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning is giving the idea a thumbs up.
Brian Manning told local media he is fully in support of the "Hoop of Life" national basketball competition, which is aimed at encourging youths to get iunvolved in sport as an alternative to criminal activities.
Manning is a former president of the National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago. He told the Express newspaper the idea of using basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal to promote the sport is "excellent".
He said he had always been interested in promoting basketball and added that he is happy that the People's Partnership Government is doing it. However he cautioned government on how to handle the project.
"They are professionalising community basketball...The awarding of stipends to young people could later on jeopardise potential foreign scholarships," he said.
Manning explained that one of the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the U.S. is that once young players are being paid to participate in any league or competition, they are ineligible to play at the college level.
Manning is a former president of the National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago. He told the Express newspaper the idea of using basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal to promote the sport is "excellent".
He said he had always been interested in promoting basketball and added that he is happy that the People's Partnership Government is doing it. However he cautioned government on how to handle the project.
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| PM Kamla and Shaq on Saturday |
Manning explained that one of the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the U.S. is that once young players are being paid to participate in any league or competition, they are ineligible to play at the college level.
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