Basketball can win gold

Kennedy Kereama

THE Fiji basketball teams have the potential of winning gold medals in the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. The New Zealand national women's basketball team or the Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama spent about a week with the Fiji teams helping in the preparation towards the Pacific Games. "The teams have the potential, they have the skills and they have been working hard," Kereama said. "There is a lot of talent in Fiji but despite basketball not being a major sport in Fiji, the national federation has done a marvellous job in organising competitions and running the national teams. "I think both the women's and men's teams can do it but they will have to play as a team and stick to the instructions given by the coaches." According to Kereama, Fiji has a good mix of players. "There is a good composition of players. You have the much experienced players who have played college basketball and then there are the eager young ones who always want to push themselves to the next level," he said. "The sport of basketball can grow in Fiji and with it the standard of the game. Fiji either the sports federation or the government have to build indoor facilities which the basketball players can have access to." Kereama files to Australia tomorrow. The Pacific Games starts on July 4.
Courtesy of: fijitimes.com