Listed service provider JTC has agreed a new two-year basketball sponsorship aimed at providing more sporting opportunities for young people in Guernsey, building on its sponsorship of an equivalent programme in Jersey last year.
The firm will be supporting the Guernsey Basketball Association’s (GBA) Island junior teams for the next two years, in order to create age groups for under-12s and 14s, and to support the need for girls-only sessions for younger players. These new age groups are in addition to the existing Under 17 and Under 21 sides which will also benefit from the partnership.
Late last year, JTC announced its sponsorship of the Jersey Basketball Association (JBBA) Junior Academy, which has since been able to ramp up its training and has seen an increase in young people playing the sport as a result. JTC’s pan-Island sponsorship of grassroots basketball comes ahead of this weekend’s junior and senior inter-insular matches, that will see the youth players from both islands play against each other in JTC-branded kit.
Patrick Ogier, Youth Coach and GBA President, commented on the sponsorship deal: “This support of our junior representative teams will make such a difference to children in Guernsey who either want to start or improve in the sport and also to those with ambition to represent their island. It takes considerable time, facility space and equipment to ensure all our young players receive the best quality training, so JTC’s sponsorship is absolutely vital for the long-term future of the sport.
“We hope to further develop our junior coaches and, following discussions with the JBBA, we’d like to join forces later this year to bring the children together for a few more matches. This will provide the perfect opportunity to gain competitive experience, improve their match skills and have a lot of fun at the same time.”
Tony Whitney, Group Head of Institutional Client Services, JTC added: “We are delighted to be able to offer this pan-Channel Island support for basketball, and very much look forward to seeing the young players in both Guernsey and Jersey thrive as a result. At JTC, we know how important sport is for both your physical and mental well-being. It’s fun, boosts your confidence and teaches great life-skills such as team work, so we hope that these young players are able to benefit as much as possible.”
