Dual Roles in Basketball Leadership a Conflict of Interest for Jacob Leslie?

Jacob Leslie

According to Leslie, he did not want to come out publicly to defend his name. But, he says all attempts to get Smith to remove the social media post and issue an apology have been futile. Up to the time of this interview, the post remained on social media. He says taking legal action would put a further black eye on the development of the discipline in Belize. And, while Jacob is playing a dual role, he told us that he was the first person to ask team owners in a meeting if they had any concerns about his involvement as a team owner and head of the federation.

Jacob Leslie, Co-Owner, Belize City Defender

“There is a conflict they are trying to say because I am the President of the Basketball Federation and part owner of the defenders. I want to make it clear that the first meeting we had to restart the league; I was the one who brought that to the league. I said ok owners I need to understand how comfortable you are, because I have just been elected the President of the Basketball Federation and I am part owner of the Defenders. Do you want me to relinquish my responsibility for the Defenders or is it ok? It was a unanimous vote. Everyone said, no Jacob we are happy to have you at the table. And they are happy you have me at the table because they understand the principles and the character I have and I would never compromise my position that I have for the federation and development of basketball in this country. It is unfortunate that up to now, from January ninth when he had discontinued communication with me that he has never spoken with me again for us to talk man to man to figure out a way forward. Hurricanes have reached out and other people have reached out with their hidden agendas, with their own agenda. But as a man, who he reached out to, I didn’t reach out him, if he was having second thoughts about it. If he wanted to go somewhere else, I would have just liked for conversation to happen, not to create a lie around my name, because like I said, my reputation has been in basketball for all these years. I have volunteered my time and resources to the development of basketball. I have always been player. I go to ownership meetings and fight on behalf of players. I make sure the league takes into consideration their leagues. All the players in this league who knows with me can vouch for that. It is unfortunate that one player decides that this is the route he wants to take just to play basketball.”