Basketball allegations groundless: executive

Press, 13 April 1984, Page 6

Basketball allegations groundless: executive

Allegations made this week by the former captain of the New Zealand men's basketball team, Stan Hill, that up to eight of last year’s national team were unavailable this year because of their dissatisfaction with the chief coach, Peter Schmidt, of Auckland, have been found to be groundless. The executive of the Basketball Federation met in Christchurch last evening and found that Hill’s assertions were not valid. On Wednesday members of the executive had been asked to discuss the allegations with last year’s players, who had earlier announced they would be unavailable this season. Alter last evening’s meeting the Chairman of the executive.

Mr Graeme Davey, of Christchurch, released the following statement. “The federation has contacted six of the seven players that were not available for the New Zealand programme this year and, as a result of the response, we confirm our full support of the coach, Peter Schmidt, as there was no substance in the allegations made by Stan Hill that they were unavailable because of a conflict with the coach.” “The federation recognises the contributions that both Stan Hill and Mr Schmidt have made to New Zealand basketball and hope that the differences that have emerged can be resolved so that Hill will be available to play for New in the future,” the statement said.