Basketball Move To Get U.S. Coaches

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31729, 12 July 1968, Page 12

Basketball Move To Get U.S. Coaches

The New Zealand Men’s Basketball Association’s coaching panel is considering bringing four top-grade American players to New Zealand for a period of two years in an effort to raise the standard of the game.

There seems a good chance that if the scheme is adopted one of the Americans will play and coach in Christchurch.

The Canterbury association decided last evening to apply for one of these players to live in Christchurch. It would be prepared to find employment for the American. Where necessary, the Americans could be included in invitation teams against overseas opposition, the national coach (Mr C. Agnew, of Hamilton) said in a circular received last evening. “There were arguments against this. They would be taking the place of New Zealand boys, but unless our boys are prepared to fight for their places, they don’t deserve consideration,” Mr Agnew said. The New Zealand association hopes to start the scheme in 1969. The help of Mr S.

K. Inman, the prominent American coach who has already made several visits to New Zealand, will be enlisted to choose the four players.

University Gama.—An application from the University club to play Otago University at Dunedin on July 27 was held over. Members felt that there was insufficient information contained in the letter. Rep. Fixture.—Marlborough, which defaulted its South Island championship match to Canterbury earlier in the season, had agreed to play Canterbury in Cowles Stadium on August 3, the secretary (Mr G. N. Davey) reported. Approval for the match was given. A representative team from the Tuesday night A Reserve grade will be chosen to play Canterbury colts in the curtain raiser. Mr W. Allan was appointed coach-selector for the A reserve team. B Grade Hatch.—A request from Mid-Canterbury asking for a team of B grade club players to contest the triangular tournament for the Don Adams Trophy on August 3 was received with much surprise. Members commented that MidCanterbury had previously sought the best possible competition it could get for its representative team but this time wanted a weaker side. Previously, the Canterbury B side, which contains a mixture of A grade and B grade club players, contested the tournament. The meeting agreed to the request and appointed Mr R. Dew as selector-coach of the B grade team.