Take it to the hole!

My friend Cikku grabbed the little piggy from his legs, turned him upside down and shook him violently.

Despite the rather brutal treatment, the piggy let out nothing, for he had nothing to let out. Cikku was still Lm15 short!

Cikku had been saving up to go to Brazil for a short holiday before the season begins.

Since it never rains in Malta (!!) Cikku decided a week in the Amazon rainforest would make an interesting change.

Despite the careful budgeting, however, he still did not have the necessary funds to make the trip. Cikku was crestfallen and began to complain about the effect that money can have on our lives...

Liquid assets!

It is true that there is often a lack of rain in our islands but maybe the water that submerged the hardwood at Ta' Qali should not be considered as an asset!

Whichever way you look at it, those severe downpours of last week will have a profound effect on not just the programme of fixtures but also on the financial situation of the Malta Basketball Association (MBA) and its clubs.

The cost of having a new parquet floor installed (Lm60,000 will leave you with very little small change according to contacts I made locally and abroad) and the cost of installing a new power system are expenses that were immediately identified by most of the basketball community but there are several underlying costs that will raise the deficit caused by the storms to over Lm100,000.

To rent and not to rent!

For the duration of the period of convalescence of Ta' Qali, the MBA will lose out on revenue that usually comes from advertising on the courtside boards as well as rent paid by clubs using the facility to train or other Associations who utilise the court from time to time.

According to sources within the MBA this amounts to around Lm1,500 a month.

This issue is further complicated by the rent that the MBA will have to pay to utilise alternative venues if the season is going to start before January, which is the earliest reasonable time-frame for the rehabilitation of the Basketball Pavilion.

Clubs, and their sponsors, are clamouring for the senior leagues to begin as early as possible and the MBA is looking at the end of October for the rescheduling of the senior leagues.

Clubs that do not own their own gymnasium will also be severely affected.

With the junior season expected to finish two months later than usual, they are facing a 20 per cent increase which in some cases will amount to several hundreds of Liri, an expense that may have major repercussions for those clubs already facing financial difficulties.

All in all the picture is rather bleak at the moment although everything possible is being done by the MBA to limit the damage.

I can see a rainbow!

Officials of the MBA had an urgent meeting with Jesmond Mugliett, Minister for Youth and the Arts.

While details of the meeting were not disclosed, one MBA official described it as "very positive" saying that the Minister had promised his full cooperation.

I must admit it was the first time I saw the same MBA official with the hint of a smile for almost two weeks.

There is no doubt that the MBA is not in a position to foot the bill for repairing the Ta' Qali pavilion.

Beyond our shores

Just as the MBA has sought help from within our shores, I am sure that its president, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi will use all his contacts at FIBA to find assistance in keeping the MBA solvent.

Magistrate Mizzi can be a very persuasive person and I would be surprised if he does not manage to pull out a rabbit from FIBA's hat.

It is hoped that clubs without their own venue can also find some kind of assistance to alleviate the problems washed in by the rains.

And who knows Cikku might even find another Lm15 to allow him to visit the rainforest before the new season begins!