Basketball: Men’s SBF Cup final-No decision yet |17 November 2004

Three weeks have gone since game two was played on Saturday November 23 but some ugly scenes on the court and in the stands forced the SBF to postpone game three scheduled for the next day (October 24).

The National Basketball Technical Committee (NBTC), an arm of the SBF, met on Monday October 25 and came up with the decision that “the game must be played behind closed doors with high security around the venue.”

In a letter signed by NBTC chairperson Tracey Moustache and sent to National Sports Council (NSC) managing director Eric Arnephy, it was also written that those to be allowed inside the Palais des Sports for the re-scheduled game three on Sunday October 31 at 10 a.m. were “17 members from each team – 12 players, a coach, an assistant coach, a statistician, one manager and a team doctor – SBF and NBTC members, scheduled referees, table officials and VIPS.”

Copies of the letter were sent to SBF chairman Brian Julie and Sports principal secretary Patrick Nanty.

After the two teams met with the SBF, they did not agree to play behind closed doors, a decision the NSC had endorsed upon receiving NBTC’s letter. Until today (Tuesday), a final decision is yet to be taken.

NSC managing director Arnephy told Sports Nation on Tuesday the sport’s body met with SBF representatives on Thursday November 11 to discuss the matter.

“The SBF said during the meeting that it was not aware of the decision (to play the match behind closed doors) taken by the NBTC. We now await an explanation from the SBF regarding the matter (why it is not aware of the decision taken by the NBTC) and what it intends to do next. From then on, NSC will move to phase two of the issue,” said Mr Arnephy.

Reached by telephone on Tuesday, SBF chairman Brian Julie said that the sport’s executive committee had decided not to play the match behind closed doors and a letter, containing all the reasons, was to be dispatched to the NSC on Tuesday.
All attempts by Sports Nation to get a copy of the letter was in vain.

The question many are asking now is how long will this matter drag when we know that the Palais des Sports will be fully booked for the forthcoming two weeks with the hosting of two international competitions – the Premium Cobras basketball tournament and the Indian Ocean Club Championship for volleyball.

When the going gets tough, the tough really gets going.

G. G.