Basketball captain granted residency

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 56

Basketball captain granted residency

By

FRANK DUGGAN

The American-born captain of the 3ZM Canterbury national league men’s basketball team, Clyde Huntley, has been granted permanent residency in New Zealand.

Huntley is the first black American basketballer to obtain New Zealand residency. He is also the first American in almost a decade — the last pair are believed to be Bill Eldred and Steve McKean — to be granted residency in New Zealand by the Immigration Division of the Labour Department. Huntley first came to New Zealand in 1980 when he was signed by the Karori club in Wellington. He stayed two years with the second division side and then won a contract with the first division Canterbury team at the beginning of 1982.

His impact was immediate, particularly this year when he was a leading motivator in Canterbury finishing in the top four in the national league. The New Zealand Basketball Federation recognised his undoubted qualities by naming him as one of the top five basketballers of the season.

This year Huntley has been equally successful as a player and a coach for the

Canterbury association as well as doing part-time work in basketball education and fitness programmes for the City Council and the Paparua County Council.

Since February, and particularly when he was under contract tto the Canterbury Association, Huntley hs been instrumental in giving hundreds of people, at primary, intermediate, secondary school and women’s levels, an introduction to basketball.

Huntley, a 180 cm (sft Ilin) guard, made up his mind earlier this year that he wanted to settle in New Zealand. A former star of Washington State, he just failed to make a United States professional guard, but was adamant that he wanted to make a career out of basketball. With this in mind he wrote to the New Zealand federation asking if there were any vacancies in a league side. He was signed by Karori but was not particularly happy in the Wellington side, and in 1982 came to Canterbury and the

Admiral Lodge-Checkers club side. It was here that he was able to dovetail his natural skills and ability with a provincial squad of national or near national representatives as well as being allowed scope for coaching.

Almost three months after he had first applied for permanent residency the Immigration Division asked Huntley to undergo a full i medical examination. That . was two weeks ago, and in the interim Huntley faced the prospect of leaving New Zealand rather hurriedly because of the impending expiry of his work permit.

However, yesterday’s letter of confirmation of his application has changed ail that and now Huntley is planning for a basketball future in New Zealand, involving playing and coaching at all levels.

Yesterday a jubilant Huntley planned two celebrations. First he was going to shout himself a “Tall Russian” drink and then finalise plans for a trip to

the United States. He intends returning at the beginning of February. He expects to again take up his appointment with the Canterbury association which will invovle captaining the league side and acting as assistant coach, where he will probably be joined by a fellow American, Joe Brown, a 205 cm forward, who played for Palmerston North this year in his first New Zealand season.

Leading basketball officials in Canterbury yesterday welcomed the approval of Huntley’s application, which the Labour Department described as “allowing the American to live and work in New Zealand without having restrictions.” (He will be eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship after three years.)

The executive director of the Basketball Federation, Mr Joe McLeod, of Christchurch, was another pleased with the decision, adding that Huntley was the first of “a few Americans” seeking residency.