BASKETBALL in Scotland is at a critical point in its development.
The men’s national team exceeded almost everyone’s expectations at last month’s Commonwealth Games, finishing in fourth place after narrowly missing out on a spot on the podium.
This would, one would have thought, be the perfect platform on which to build but in fact, the sport is facing an uphill struggle to continue the momentum that the national team generated in Gold Coast.
Captain Kieron Achara admits to being hugely proud of the level his team reached in Australia, but with the players not being afforded the level of support he would like, he admits to wondering what they could achieve with greater support.
“Three of the guys are part-time players and so from the squad we had, what we achieved was unbelievable,” he said.
“You compare us to the England team who are all professionals, and we beat them despite our circumstances. I believe that the infrastructure in Scotland has to change, but that’s very difficult.”
The men’s team excelling in Gold Coast will, Achara hopes, inspire at least a few new players in to the sport. But basketball in this country must use Gold Coast as a platform on which to build.
“I think the style of basketball and the passion we played with is what people are buying into,” he said.
“So money aside, I think this could be the spark for the next generation to start playing.
“But it all starts at grassroots – that’s the area that’s so important. It’s all about the next generation. A lot of sports or teams receive funding and concentrate on the very top but if you’re not getting the bottom right, there’s no point because there’s not going to be a next generation. So I just hope that what we did in Gold Coast ignites a few more players to take up the sport but then we have to catch them and then nurture them and help them along that pathway.”
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