Highly-respected island coach Jeff Stuart (shaven head) gives a team talk during the 2007 Island Games in Rhodes. Guernsey will forego Aland in the summer and look to enter the National League in September. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0457217)
Guernsey’s men’s basketball team are not going to the Island Games.
In an exclusive interview with the Guernsey Press, the side’s award-nominated coach Jeff Stuart explained the reasons behind the monumental decision.
‘After consultation with members of the Collas Day island men’s squad, it was felt that serious consideration was needed over whether we went ahead with Aland or whether we attempted to take the men’s game into a new direction,’ he said.
‘The costs per player were approaching £1,000 and, while the Island Games is a significant event in the calendar of Guernsey sports, we made consideration as to whether the costs would be prohibitive to development of the team as a whole and also to the men’s game in Guernsey.’
He went on to say that his side will look to follow in the footsteps of the island’s women’s team and join the lower echelons of the National League, possibly Division Four South-West, from September.
They will use the money saved by not going to the Games to help fund the venture.
‘This move would see men’s basketball benefit from regular high-quality fixtures, develop pathways for junior players on island and present high level playing opportunities for a squad of Guernsey players, as opposed to Aland featuring 12 players that could afford to go,’ he said.
‘We are looking to develop links with the Reading Rockets Academy, who are one of the leading basketball powers in the UK, and will be taking part in a number of smaller trips over the next six months to compete against established squads in the UK and potential future National League opposition.
‘While it is disappointing not to be attending the Island Games, this is an opportunity for us to take Guernsey men’s basketball to the next level and put in place a development pathway that will benefit the wider members of Guernsey basketball for the years to come.’
Basketball is traditionally a tough event at the Island Games and Guernsey had their best result in Rhodes in 2007 when they finished ninth out of 11 teams.
Since Stuart took over the reins two years ago, they have claimed the last two inter-insulars, having lost the Jersey match the three previous years.
But the Welshman feels that they need to look beyond these two events and sees the National League as the way forward.
‘Men’s basketball has done itself a disservice in previous years by only focussing on two key events – the inter-insulars and the Island Games,’ he said.
‘In order to unlock the potential for all players on island then this action has to be taken.’
The spokesman for the Guernsey Island Games Association, Dave Inglis, said: ‘It’s very disappointing and it’s a shame that they won’t be joining us.’
He added that he was not concerned that other sports may look to pull out because of the costs involved of going to the Games.
‘I’m not worried about that,’ he said.
‘This is normal. People want to go in December, then there’s a reality check that they have to take time off work and the costs.
‘We have to make choices like this in every walk of life.’
Article posted on 8th January, 2009 - 2.30pm
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