Indonesia has been stripped off the Under-20 World Cup after two of the country’s top politicians called for Israel to be banned from the competition.
FIFA made the virtually unheard of move just weeks before the tournament was set to kick off.
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Indonesia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, and support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation runs high, fuelling local opposition to hosting the Israeli team.
FIFA’s decision to find a new host — thereby nixing Indonesia’s automatic qualifying spot — puts the country’s most popular sport back in the doldrums and facing another bout of isolation.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino after being re-elected on March 16. Photo by Simon MAINA / AFPSource: AFPThe logo for the U20 World Cup.Source: Supplied
Some of the archipelago nation’s football prodigies took to social media with fury and heartbreak after losing the chance to play at what FIFA bills as the “tournament of tomorrow’s superstars”.
“Energy, time, sweat, and even blood we have put in, but in a moment failed because of political reasons. Here’s our big dream that you’ve destroyed,” wrote 19-year-old striker Rabbani Tasnim.
An Indonesian FA video showed players with heads bowed and their coach in tears after receiving the news late Wednesday that FIFA would seek a new host.
“We, the players, are now affected, not just us but all footballers,” said 18-year-old striker Hokky Caraka.
On Thursday morning, flower boards for the players popped up outside the FA headquarters in central Jakarta, including one that read “do not give up on your dream”.
Indonesians inundated the Instagram page of Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo — one of the leading candidates in next year’s presidential election — with negative comments after he opposed Israel’s participation.
Protesters in Jakarta are seen calling for Israel to be banned from the tournament. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)Source: AFP
Bali’s governor had also joined the anti-Israel chorus and around a hundred conservative Muslim protesters held an anti-Israel rally in Jakarta this month.
But there was popular support for the tournament the country was handed in 2019, with many viewing it as a source of national pride.
Jakarta pledged to guarantee Israel’s participation despite its pro-Palestinian stance, yet opposing voices became too loud for FIFA.
“This is truly a very painful incident for the Indonesian people. Those who made the noise and made us fail … must be held accountable,” said Akmal Marhali, expert at football watchdog Save Our Soccer.
Indonesian officials said losing the tournament could cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars.
FIFA threatened further sanctions and could exclude Indonesia from 2026 World Cup qualifiers that begin in October. It was banned for a year in 2015 over government interference.
A Muslim woman participates in a protest to reject Israel from the 2023 U20 World Cup (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)Source: AFP
But for Indonesia’s fervent fans, it was the loss of their first ever major football tournament that hurt the most.
“I am very disappointed because it has been my dream to watch Indonesia hosting a global football event,” said 40-year-old supporter Jarnawi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
The game in the country has long been dogged by shaky infrastructure and fan violence, and is still reeling from a deadly stadium stampede last year that killed more than 130 people.
But it was the clash of politics and sport that ultimately cost it the tournament many had long hoped for.
“We are talking about youths who want to play soccer. They do not have any more interests,” said pundit Justin Lhaksana.
“Why is this issue blindly mixed with political games?”
The last nation to lose hosting rights of a World Cup tournament was Colombia, who pulled out of hosting the 1986 World Cup due to financial issues.
There were calls to strip Qatar of the 2022 World Cup amid claims corruption led to the tiny nation being handed the tournament.
Major concerns were also raised about migrant workers being killed while building stadiums and infrastructure in Qatar, with reports claiming that thousands had died.
On the first anniversary of Shane Warne’s tragic death, some of the best stories about the cricket legend are only just coming to light, as his son Jackson makes an emotional tribute.
On the first anniversary of Shane Warne’s tragic death, some of the best stories about the cricket legend are only just coming to light, as his son Jackson makes an emotional tribute.
One of those stories has been revealed in an interview 2GB radio broadcaster Ben Fordham had with Warne’s former boss at Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports, Tom Malone.
In an insightful and humorous interview, Malone who headed up the Nine Network’s cricket coverage in the last years of its four-decade association with the game, that started with Kerry Packer’s foray into World Series Cricket, shared some of his favourite memories of Warne.
Saturday marks the first anniversary of the spin king’s death after he passed away due to a heart attack in Thailand on March 4, last year.
Malone spoke of Warne’s close relationship with the late Kerry Packer, Nine’s longtime boss and cricket tragic. And of the time Packer organised for Warne to further his career as a sports newsreader.
Which was far less successful than his on field career.
“Warnie was very fond of the Packer family and Kerry took Shane under his wing,” Malone said.
“Warnie got a spot as the 11am sports newsreader in Melbourne one day and the way he told the story was that right after his spot finished he got a call from Kerry who said ‘ you better stick to spin bowling, you don’t have a career in news reading.’ And that was that.”
Malone also recalled the time Packer lent Warne a phone to use on a tour of India early on in his career.
“Warnie was so generous, that he lent it to all his teammates and the bill for the whole tour of India was $50,000, so Kerry Packer decided he wouldn’t be lending him a phone again,” Malone said.
But Malone, who is now Managing Director – Radio for Nine saved his best for last when telling how a sausage roll and a chocolate milk was Warne’s go-to when he needed a pick-me-up after a late night.
Malone said he had been warned by Nine commentator and former Aussie cricket captain Ian Chappell that even though the likes of Warne, Mark Taylor and Ian Healy might be his sporting heroes, he would still have to pull them into line from time to time as their boss.
Those words were ringing in Malone’s ears when he walking into the commentary box one morning at the Gabba in Brisbane and Warne was asleep at the back after a late night.
“I turned up to work and Warnie was asleep,” Malone told Fordham.
“And I thought ‘oh no’ what am I going to have to do here’.
“But Healy and Chappell both said that he was fine, he’s just had a couple of late night commitments.
“And sure enough at the allotted time, they tapped Warne on the shoulder and woke him up, gave him a sausage roll and a chocolate Oak and you know what the first thing he said was?
“He said: ‘I can tell you what they are doing wrong here’ and he turned around and winked at everyone and then gave the best half-hour of commentary you have ever heard because he just intuitively understood the game better than anyone.”
Fordham replied: “So, a sausage roll and a chocolate Oak was the secret of Warne’s success.”
Malone’s interview came as Warne’s son Jackson posted an emotional tribute on social media to mark the one-year anniversary.
“1 year ago today. Miss you mate, love Jacko,” Jackson Warne captioned the video post.
In the video Shane Warne was asked how he wanted to be remembered: “Loved by Brooke, Jackson and Summer,” Warne replied, in referencing his three children.
“As kids Shane and I spent countless hours batting and bowling in the cricket nets in Tulip St and rode our bikes to them for probably 10 years,’’ Jason said.
“So I just thought I would pull over have a look at the nets, think about a couple of nice memories and then drive on.
“You always get those little moments when you stop and think but you just have to get on with life.’’
Jason will salute his brother in a way in which the late, great spin king would have enjoyed.
“I have a bottle of his SW23 wine that was done in South Africa. I am playing golf Saturday morning and then I am drinking bottle number 518 of 708.
“I have had it before – it’s a nice red. I feel it is a fitting thing to drink on Saturday.’’
The king is gone but the memories live on and the stories keep flowing.
Jason said barely a day goes past without someone telling him of their “Warnie moment’’.
“There is stuff nearly every day. I am amazed how many people have mentioned to me about the anniversary this week. For it to mean that much to people is amazing.
“And it’s all ages. I was at my daughters Tyla’s 21st on the weekend and one of her friends was saying how much he was shocked by it all. And he is 21. It was not just people who watched him play. It’s amazing.
“Everyone has a different memory. Someone told me they were at the MCG and Shane hopped in the lift. The guy had his son with him and Shane took him to the practice nets to meet the boys.
“Then you get an someone tell you they were in the back of a queue for two hours waiting for him to sign an autograph. They thought there was no chance he would be signing autographs when Shane got to the front but he was.
“People will tell you where they were when he bowled the Gatting ball or took seven wickets against the West Indies at the MCG or his hat-trick ball. Everyone has a story about a moment.’’
Fox Cricket will ensure fans get the chance to relive Warne’s major moments by replaying his career highlights on Saturday and there is certain to be more glasses raised in his honour at a T20 match is Lismore next week supported by former team-mate Adam Gilchrist for flood relief.
The passing of Warne and Andrew Symonds has had a deep effect on many of their team-mates who decided they must have an annual catch-up to celebrate absent friends – and each other.
Their first gathering was on the Mornington Peninsula last August where the likes of Gilchrist, Darren Lehmann, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Matt Hayden and Greg Blewett played golf, watched the races and sharing a drink.
Another gathering is in the pipeline for this year and the reunion is expected to grow by the year.
Warne is missed in many ways. His death meant leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson lost his greatest fan at a time when he needed it most.
It would have been interest to see what Warne made of England’s new cavalier Bazball approach because he loved attacking cricket.
It seems appropriate that the week in which his anniversary falls slow bowler Nathan Lyon took a remarkable eight wicket haul in Indore.
Warne would have enjoyed watching it because as a player and commentator he always felt there was no business like slow business.
Todd Blanchfield once again lit it up for the Australian Boomers, making his immediate NBL future all the more fascinating despite being contracted to the Perth Wildcats, and now that the FIBA World Cup qualifying is done, attention turns to the NBL23 Championship Series.
Following the NBL’s Play-In Tournament and then semi-final series, the timing was somewhat unfortunate for a FIBA window to present with the last of the World Cup qualifying matches to be played.
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Next stop WC! Boomers thrash Kazakhstan | 00:37
However, it did offer the chance for plenty of NBL talent to represent their countries and that included two more big wins in Melbourne for the Boomers but the New Zealand Tall Blacks were loaded with talent too — and so was the South Sudan team who made history amidst a bit of controversy.
There’s plenty happening across the NBL too with the Brisbane Bullets loading up their coaching staff under Justin Schueller and having now re-signed DJ Mitchell while the South East Melbourne Phoenix are searching for their new coach following Simon Mitchell standing down.
With the eight teams out of the championship race, they have all turned their attention to NBL24 but for the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers, they begin their best-of-five series over the NBL23 crown this Friday night at Qudos Bank Arena.
COOKS IGNORING ANY OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS
Whether it’s outside noise trying to bring down the Sydney Kings as a team or talking down his own MVP credentials or NBA aspirations, captain Xavier Cooks is having none of it leading into the Championship Series starting Friday night.
There’s no mistaking that the Kings do carry themselves with a swagger that starts with their ownership and carries through to their coach and playing group, but they can also back up that self-confidence.
That has also seen them put a target on their backs which does stem right back to the Grand Final series of last season where they embraced the roles of villains against the fairytale story of the Tasmania JackJumpers on the way to winning that championship.
This season again they have been happy to embrace the fact that they feel people might not like them and you can’t argue with the success they’ve had finishing the season in top spot and then overcoming the Cairns Taipans in three games of the semi finals to reach the Championship Series.
Along the way, Cooks has turned himself from a championship winning captain and Grand Final MVP last season to now being the MVP of this regular season in the NBL and to be knocking on the door of an NBA opportunity.
Xavier Cooks.Source: Getty Images
Cooks has also been happy to express his thoughts through the media and talk up how good he thinks the Kings are and how unstoppable he feels they are, and isn’t afraid to stir up some emotions whether it’s from people on social media or in opposition buildings he plays in.
Cooks embraces that and takes anything those ‘keyboard warriors’ especially have to say like a grain of salt as he prepares to lead the Kings into battle in the Championship Series against the Breakers beginning Friday night at Qudos Bank Arena.
Cooks’ focus is on a fascinating power forward battle between himself and Jarrell Brantley in the series ahead, but when talking about how the Kings appear to be the team everyone loves to hate, he embraces that.
“A lot of those people are just people out west bored at home and tweeting stuff,” Cooks said.
“Either you love the Kings or you hate the Kings, it’s creating a buzz in Sydney and that is what it is about.
“I care when we go into an arena, and we get booed. That kind of fuels me up and gives me energy, but the Instagram and Twitter I don’t care about.”
BREAKERS PROVIDE PLATFORM FOR FUTURE NBA STAR TO SHINE
The New Zealand Breakers have quickly become the masters of the NBL’s Next Stars program and as a result of their foresight, 18-year-old French excitement machine Rayan Rupert has the chance to show his wares in the Championship Series.
While the immediate focus for the Breakers is on trying to win the franchise’s fifth NBL championship over the next two weeks, in the bigger picture making themselves a destination club for future NBA players is something they continue to excel out.
It’s been slim pickings in terms of success for the Breakers in recent years. After winning four NBL championships in five seasons between 2011-15, they hadn’t won a finals game of any sort since 2016 or played in one since 2018 up until this year.
However, even during those lean years, the Breakers have embraced their role of being a destination to produce future NBA stars and you only need to look at RJ Hampton, Ousmane Dieng and Hugo Besson as examples of players to get drafted on the back of the development there.
That’s why French teenager Rupert chose to go to the Breakers this season. He had all the options in the world at his feet about what to do this season to get himself ready for the 2023 NBA Draft.
HS commentators LOSE IT over wild finish | 01:09
He could have spent a year in college in the United States, he could have joined up with a G-League team or becoming part of the Ignite program, or stayed in France or play anywhere throughout Europe.
However, having seen the success of Besson and Dieng last season at the Breakers and how much they developed to end up being drafted to the NBL despite the situation the team was in meant that it became an easy decision.
It’s paid off and even if Rupert’s numbers aren’t jumping off the page with 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds a game across the season, the improvement he’s shown physically and with his game since joining New Zealand has been stark.
He is now a much better all-round player, is someone who can impact the game with or without the ball in his hands, and at both ends of the floor, and is a starter on a team now attempting to win the championship.
Perhaps even more impressively is the fact that he continued to improve both as a player and physically even when he was sidelined with a broken arm.
He now looks every bit a player ready for the NBA and could go close to being a top 10 draft pick in a few months’ time, but right now his coach Mody Maor couldn’t be more impressed.
“Man, is he good. He’s not scared of the moment and is playing with complete freedom and aggressiveness on both sides of the floor,” Maor said.
“I felt he wreaked havoc in that series against the JackJumpers for us for a few moments on ball guards and was really disruptive.
“I think everybody likes to pinpoint the stuff that he does on defence because it’s really clear to see when you have this 6’7 gazelle running around and pressing the ball, and doing amazing things.
“But he is one of our best north-south kind of players, he is aggressive and gets to the rim, he finishes and can make a read and pass. He is fantastic.”
BLANCHFIELD’S FUTURE FASCINATING AFTER BOOMERS EXPLOSION
Todd Blanchfield scored 51 points across two games for the Australian Boomers after taking the last 18 matches of NBL23 to do that with the Perth Wildcats and while still contracted, a former ‘Cats great believes he should look to move on.
Blanchfield has had a strong 373-game career in the NBL but never has he found himself in a situation like in NBL23 where he was largely relegated to the role of a cheerleader at the Wildcats as he fell out of the rotation of coach John Rillie.
At just 31 and with a sound body, and no signs of his game slowing down, Blanchfield appears to have plenty left in the tank and remains contracted to the Wildcats for a further two seasons.
Despite that, it might very well be in the best interests of all involved to look to find a way out of that contract and for Blanchfield to find a new home.
The Wildcats don’t appear to have a role for him. Michael Harris played ahead of him this season as a development player and looks likely to be upgraded to a roster spot. With Bryce Cotton, Tai Webster and Corey Webster there playing similar roles, it’s unlikely things will change in NBL24.
It all comes down ultimately to what Blanchfield wants. If he goes to the Wildcats and says he would rather move on, it would be unlikely they would stand in his way because really, it frees up some good money for them and a roster spot.
Todd Blanchfield of Australia, Daniel Grida of Australia, Mason Peatling of Australia and Rhys Vague of Australia look on during the national anthem during the FIBA World Cup Qualification match between Australia Boomers and Kazakhstan.Source: Getty Images
Blanchfield could very well want to remain in the Wildcats and want to earn some minutes. It’s a big gamble to take because if things pan out similarly, he would have wasted two seasons of a career that should be seeing him spend much more time on the court.
It might very well be that the Wildcats only allow Blanchfield to leave if he doesn’t play in the NBL, but he would be a natural to follow the likes of Angus Brant, Nick Kay and Rhys Vague to Japan should he want to.
Ultimately it’s all going to play out in the coming weeks, but what Blanchfield did prove during the FIBA window for the Boomers is what he’s still capable of.
Across the last 17 games of the season, he scored a total of 30 points and didn’t score at all in the last six matches the Wildcats played in including the two finals.
But across the two games for the Boomers, he scored 51 points while shooting a combined 18/28 from the field and 11/19 from three-point land.
That included 31 points on 7/12 three-point shooting against Kazakhstan on Sunday which is the best individual performance from a Boomers player since what Patty Mills did in the bronze medal match in Tokyo.
Six-time Wildcats champion Damian Martin feels it would be in the best interests of Blanchfield to look to continue his career elsewhere.
“I don’t think he’s past it, he can still put points on the board so if he wants to stay, there’s a contract they will honour but he would like the challenge,” Martin said on SEN WA.
“He is competitive and even though he got leapfrogged in the pecking order during the season even by Michael Harris who John Rillie went with. I’m sure other clubs will be making that phone call to the Wildcats, it won’t be the call going out.
“It will be the calls that are coming in asking what you are doing with Todd because you didn’t play him many minutes, we could use him and can we put to his management team and then let Todd make the decision once he knows what the Wildcats and another team are happy with.
“But he won’t be going out there saying he wants out, but he will have to look at it if something is presented. When it comes to Todd, with Michael Harris seeming to be more in favour with JR, it makes it even harder for him to get out there next season in that position.”
TALL BLACKS DEPTH HIGHLIGHTING STRENGTH OF NZ BASKETBALL
The Australian Boomers aren’t the only nation gearing up for a strong FIBA World Cup campaign with the New Zealand Tall Blacks looking set to launch an assault on a best ever result with their deepest contingent of players coming together.
Not only are the New Zealand Breakers back competing for the NBL championship this season as they prepare for the Championship Series against the Sydney Kings starting with Game 1 on Friday night, but the overall state of New Zealand basketball is strong.
Just starting with that Breakers team and there’s Izayah Le’afa, Tom Abercrombie, Tom Vodanovich, Rob Loe, Sam Timmins, Daniel Fotu and Alex McNaught as homegrown talents all important members of the squad three games away from the franchise’s fifth NBL championship.
Then you look at the Tall Blacks squad who have qualified for the World Cup to be played in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines starting in late August and it highlights just how strong of a position New Zealand basketball is in right now.
The squad that won their last two qualifying matches against Saudi Arabia and Lebanon didn’t feature any Breakers players but still consisted of NBL players Sam Waardenburg, Reuben Te Rangi, Tohi Smith-Milner, Hyrum Harris and Tyrell Harrison.
Along with them were former NBL players Jordan Ngatai, Taylor Britt, Ethan Rusbatch and Jordan Hunt with Isaac Fotu leading the charge including 23 points and seven rebounds on 10/12 in Monday night’s 106-91 win against Lebanon.
That squad, like the Boomers team, might very well feature precious few players who will be there for the Tall Blacks during the World Cup with coach Pero Cameron to have some tough calls to make on who makes that final 12.
That Tall Blacks World Cup squad will likely feature NBA centre Steven Adams with Finn Delany and Yanni Wetzell to be cornerstones up front along with Tom Abercrombie, Corey and Tai Webster, and if healthy, Shea Ili to settle into the back court along with rising star Flynn Cameron.
Trying to replicate the heroics of a fourth place finish from 2002 is a lofty goal, but this Tall Blacks team is well placed for a World Cup assault and that’s why a veteran of the national team like Jordan
Ngatai is so excited whether he makes the final 12 or not.
“What you love about it is having those competition for spots and I know for myself, I’ve got a lot to do to try and get in that 12 but I love that challenge,” Ngatai said.
“It’s awesome that I get to compete against these but then hopefully get to be their teammates as well. I think this is probably the first time in a long time where New Zealand basketball has had a great depth chart in basically every position.
“Especially guys who have been in the States and then making a good enough impression during the Aussie NBL. Like Sam had a great Aussie NBL and deserved everything, and he’s done great to bring that to the Tall Blacks has been great.”
NBL’S SOUTH SUDANESE CONTINGENT CRUCIAL IN MAKING HISTORY
South Sudanese players are becoming key players on plenty of NBL teams at the moment and they have translated that into a passion to represent their nation and lead them to the FIBA World Cup even if their fans weren’t allowed to cheer them on in Egypt.
Just this past season and all you have to do is look at the players in the NBL from a South Sudanese background and you get an idea of how proud a basketball nation it is, and why the players have become so passionate to represent it on the international stage.
South Sudan has qualified for the World Cup starting in late August across Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines having dominated the African Qualifying stages with the world’s youngest nation preparing now for their first major tournament.
You wouldn’t rule out the possibility of them being able to have a genuine impact at the World Cup either.
You just look at the NBL talent they have to choose from and it’s a terrific starting point. Just this past season, and Sundy Dech, Lual Diing, Deng Acouth, Bul Kuol, Majok Deng, Deng Deng, Josh Duach, Makuach Maluach, Majok Majok, Junior Madut, Kouat Noi and Jackson Makoi were part of the league.
That will only be a starting point for the team that South Sudan will take into a historic World Cup campaign but for a nation that barely existed a decade ago, it continues to face some unexpected hurdles.
The African qualifying stage concluded over the last week in Egypt, but that presented a whole new set of challenges.
All South Sudan had to do to secure their World Cup spot was to win one of their three matches, which they did first up beating Senegal 83-75, but it was a result that created history that was soured by what happened outside the stadium.
A strong contingent of South Sudanese supporters had travelled to Egypt to support their team, but upon arrival were informed they were not to be permitted inside the stadiums to watch their team play, and ultimately make history.
Officially security reasons were used by Egyptian officials for not allowing either the South Sudanese or Senegal supporters into the building, but either way it took away from a once in a lifetime occasion for the players to celebrate making history with their supporters.
South Sudan might be a new nation but has a rich history with basketball and Luol Deng is a significant part of that.
Boomers beat Bahrain in run to world cup | 01:01
He was a genuine NBA star especially for a decade at the Chicago Bulls during a career that spanned 964 appearances and saw him earn two All-Star selections.
He is now president of South Sudanese basketball and was interim coach in Egypt for the team. While proud of what his team accomplished, his anger over the supporters not being allowed in boiled over.
“This is going out to FIBA, this is going out to the Egyptian Federation. Whatever’s been going on this week, I hope everything is being recorded how teams are being treated and everything’s been programmed,” Deng said
“That’s an incredible story not only for FIBA but for African basketball. Our fans are travelling from states, travelling from countries, flying in. Nobody brings in more fans than South Sudan right now.
“For our fans to show up at the stadium, there was no notice. We were never told that there would be no fans allowed in the game. We were told fans were allowed to come.
“FIBA should be ashamed, the Egyptian Federation should be ashamed. Whatever is going on here, it needs to stop. Basketball doesn’t need this. This is a great story and we’ve been robbed today from celebrating with our fans who came all the way out here.
“That’s the biggest disappointment that I have. We make history and our fans are now allowed on the day of making it. They didn’t announce it yesterday or last week, they announced it today. FIBA needs to look at that.”
It’s been a big week in the NBL even with the Championship Series still a week out from starting with plenty of coaching moves, player movement and then an out of favour Perth Wildcats star reminding what he can do for the Australian Boomers.
Todd Blanchfield lit it up for the Boomers on Thursday night sending a reminder that the out of favour Wildcats veteran still has plenty to offer, but there’s a lot more going on this week as the build up to the Championship Series grows.
Watch the NBL23 Championship Series between Sydney Kings v New Zealand Breakers LIVE and FREE on ESPN on Kayo Freebies. Series begins March 3. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Nick Kay has been captaining the Boomers in Melbourne and while he would like to return to the Wildcats one day, it appears no time soon while another Australian player, Nathan Sobey is liking the changes that are being made at the Brisbane Bullets.
The South East Melbourne Phoenix are on the look out for a new coach with Simon Mitchell standing down after four years and then the preparations continue for the Championship Series.
That begins next Friday between the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers.
MITCHELL STANDS DOWN, WHO WILL BE SECOND PHOENIX COACH?
Expect the South East Melbourne Phoenix to leave no stone unturned in their search for a coach to take them over a hump that Simon Mitchell went so close to doing in a four-year tenure that he deserves to be proud of.
The Phoenix have been in the NBL for four seasons but only ever had the one head coach and it’s hard to imagine a better man for the job up to this point than Mitchell.
Circumstances have conspired again him, but in all four seasons the Phoenix have been a more than competitive outfit. They started their debut season on fire before injuries ripped their team apart in the back end of the campaign.
Then in the second season, they were tantalisingly close to a championship. They started Game 3 of the semi finals against Melbourne United in blistering fashion.
They couldn’t quite complete the job and if they did, they could well be champions given what was awaiting was a Bryce Cotton-less Perth Wildcats in the Grand Final Series.
Now if you look at the last two seasons and the Phoenix have had tremendous rosters, but both have been again marred by injuries and were never given the proper chance to reach their potential just through circumstances conspiring against them.
As NBL23 unfolded, you could clearly see the exhaustion written all over Mitchell’s face every time he fronted the media post-match. After losses, he was understandably frustrated but after wins, he found himself unable to enjoy them like he deserved.
Simon Mitchell has left his post with the Phoenix. Picture: Phoenix MediaSource: Supplied
Throw in the fact that Gary Browne, Trey Kell III and Ryan Broekhoff continued to be in and out through injury, and then all of the drama surrounding Zhou Qi’s availability or lack of it, and there was a lot weighing Mitchell down.
Still, they reached the finals and it was only a 41-point fourth quarter outburst led by Cotton that saw the Wildcats eliminate them.
However, Mitchell was just exhausted. He knew he needed a break from being a head coach and that made it an easy decision to step down after four seasons.
“It probably goes stems back to last off-season when I had to replace my assistant coaches and it was just a real tight squeeze of getting everything in, getting the team together and we had a lot of injuries in pre-season,” Mitchell said.
“We weren’t able to get the majority of our team on the floor throughout the pre-season, and then going into the season missing a number of blokes as well. I guess the frustrations sort of started to rear their head with just how it was going.
“We’d always set year four as the one when we’d really put an assault on being a contender, we really thought it would be the year for it all to come together.
“I think it’s just the frustrations of some of the hurdles we faced just started to creep in, and had me thinking about alternatives to coaching on.
“Once it got to the end of the season, once you start having those thoughts it’s probably time to hand over the reins and let someone with some fresh ideas and renewed energy to freshen up the place.
“Hopefully next year the club can pull itself back together and put the roster on the floor that can contend again.”
The Phoenix are on the hunt for a new coach. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It’s now going to be fascinating which direction the Phoenix go in appointing their second ever head coach.
Trevor Gleeson and Brian Goorjian will be right at the top of that list. They might have been unrealistic for the Brisbane Bullets to chase, but the Phoenix might have a legitimate chance to make an offer they can’t refuse.
Sam Mackinnon has an amazing history at South East Melbourne going back to his playing days, his coaching fire was stoked this season at the Bullets and he might be a serious option. So might be the man who replaced him, Greg Vanderjagt.
Former Phoenix assistant Judd Flavell is another who has the potential to be a successful NBL head coach and across the league, current assistants Kevin Lisch, Rhys Carter, Jacob Chance and Mike Kelly would be worth considering.
You could also take a look into seeing if former coaches Aaron Fearne or Shawn Dennis would consider a return to the league, and possibly even Andrej Lemanis.
Adam Caporn, Anthony Petrie and Pero Cameron are other names that could come into calculations or they could go totally left-field and try to pluck an American. Either way, it’s going to be a decision to make or break where the Phoenix go in the immediate future.
Brian Goorjian is expected to be on the Phoenix’s shortlist for coaching candidates. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHANGE GALORE CONTINUING AT THE BULLETS
The Brisbane Bullets are going to be a decidedly new-look outfit off the court in NBL24 with Sam Mackinnon, Peter Crawford and Pero Cameron having now all departed while Darryl McDonald is confirmed to join Justin Schueller’s new coaching staff.
It was an NBL season that promised so much at the Bullets that ended up becoming their most tumultuous one since returning to the league back in 2016.
Despite the presence of Olympians Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes, the NBA experienced Tyler Johnson and a good mix of youth and experience with Jason Cadee, DJ Mitchell, Harry Froling, Tanner Krebs, Tyrell Harrison, Gorjok Gak and eventually Andrew White III, it never clicked.
Having three coaches in as many weeks at one point didn’t help either with James Duncan sacked to be replaced by GM Sam Mackinnon before eventually Greg Vanderjagt took over for the last 14 matches.
Things have been just as eventual now in the weeks after the season with Melbourne United assistant Justin Schueller named the new head coach while assistants Peter Crawford and Pero Cameron have moved on.
So has GM of basketball Mackinnon. In the three games he took over as coach, he openly talked about how much of a fire it lit under him to coach in the NBL. However, he was given an ultimatum to either be a coach or GM, he decided to remain in his full-time that now he no longer has.
Sam Mackinnon has left the Bullets. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Bullets have now already announced an addition to Schueller’s coaching staff with former 486-game NBL legend Darryl McDonald joining him after both worked together as assistants with United.
The good news for the Bullets already looking to NBL24 is that Olympians Sobey and Baynes are contracted and locked in.
That gives Schueller plenty to build around as he embarks on life as an NBL head coach for the first time.
Sobey is currently in Melbourne playing in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers for the Boomers. He was last week named Bullets MVP for the season and is looking forward to putting NBL23 behind him, and is excited for what lies ahead.
“It was a frustrating year for sure. We had bigger expectation with the group we had put together, but sometimes that doesn’t work out and things didn’t go our way in a few areas. We’ll learn from it and we’ll be better moving forward,” Sobey said on SEN.
“I think Justin’s going to be great for the group. I think he brings a connection from Australian junior programs and then also having success with Melbourne United as well. I think he’s going to be great to have on board and to get us on the right direction.”
Bullets star Nathan Sobey is looking forward to putting the nightmare season behind him. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BUFORD FOCUSED ON GROWTH WITH KINGS OVER NBA FUTURE
You look at the success Chase Buford has already had in the G-League and NBL as a young coach and clearly he has an NBA future in a coaching capacity, but right now he’s just focused on continuing to get better and to try to go back-to-back with the Sydney Kings.
Buford arrived at the Kings at the start of the 2021/22 NBL season having already led the Wisconsin Herd to top spot in the G-League before COVID meant that 2019/20 season was never able to be finished.
Before that, he had already worked in the NBA in various roles with the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and then with the Milwaukee Bucks while coaching the Herd.
On top of that, his father is the hugely respected and successful GM of the San Antonio Spurs, RC Buford, so it is only a natural that Buford would have a potentially long coaching career in the NBA when he chooses to pursue that.
However, at just 34 years of age he knows time is on his side and so is the need to continue to grow and develop all the time.
Buford already took the Kings to last season’s NBL championship and now has taken them to top spot this season and into the Championship Series once more starting next Friday in a best-of-five series against the New Zealand Breakers.
That doesn’t mean it’s always been a smooth ride. Buford’s passion can sometimes spill over while riding the sideline and he’s already been suspended by the NBL as a result, has attended anger management and is trying to curtail some of his more over the top reactions.
That didn’t quite work when he was ejected late in Game 2 of the semi-final series against the Cairns Taipans in Far North Queensland.
Kings coach Chase Buford isn’t thinking about a future in the NBA just yet. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
When Kouat Noi was called for a flop despite contact with DJ Hogg leaving him with a bloody nose, Buford couldn’t curtail his frustrations and was sent to the locker room early.
The fact the NBL later admitted the decision on Noi to be called for a flop was incorrect means that you can understand Buford’s anger. It’s still a part of his coaching he has been trying to rein in and he might need to continue to do that before returning to the NBA system.
However, having two championships as a head coaching while still a 34-year-old will make Buford hot property on the coaching market globally if it happens once this NBL season is over in the coming weeks.
Right now, though, Buford isn’t focused on his future and is trying to improve as a coach and person all the time, and is just worried about winning another championship for the Kings.
“I think it was just the point that our guy was sitting there with a bloodied nose and we’d got our fifth flop warning in two games,” Buford said.
“That was a frustrating trend for our team but I’ve got to handle myself better in a lot of moments. I’m growing as a person and a coach, but I think standing up for my guys and being a passionate competitor isn’t something I’m going to lose anytime soon.
“At the end of the day, you want to play or coach at the highest level so eventually I think I’d like to get back to the NBA. But right now I’m loving being a head coach, loving living in Sydney and have a great bunch of guys and staff that I get to work with every day. I’m just fired up for the finals and I’m just focused on that at the moment.”
Buford is hoping to lead the Kings to consecutive NBL titles. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
UNEXPECTED TITLE CHANCE FOR BREAKERS CAPTAIN
There’s precious little Tom Abercrombie still has to accomplish in the NBL and while he already his four championships to his credit at the New Zealand Breakers, a fifth could well be the most meaningful because he never expected to get another opportunity.
Abercrombie is already an all-time New Zealand basketball and Breakers great no matter what else he accomplishes in his career.
In fact, he could be the greatest Breaker of all-time already and his coach Mody Maor put it best talking about having someone who is already a Hall of Famer leading his group.
Abercrombie is a four-time NBL championship winner and was the Grand Final MVP in one of those triumphs where the Breakers won four of five titles in the league between 2011-15.
It has largely been tough going since for the Breakers with their last Grand Final appearance in 2016 and last finals appearance in 2018 up until what they’ve been able to accomplish so far in NBL23.
Abercrombie has played all 394 of his NBL games with the Breakers and won the four championships along the way including being Grand Final MVP and twice he has been named the club MVP.
He is also the all-time leader at the Breakers not only in games played but also points scored, wins played in, field goals, three-pointers and free-throws made and attempted, and blocked shots.
Breakers star Tom Abercrombie is hoping to win his fifth NBL title. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It’s quite the career that he’s put together but the Breakers captain had accepted that another run at a fifth championship was unlikely given the way things have gone for his club in recent years.
An ownership change took time to settle and to get the right culture and pieces in place, and then COVID impacted the Breakers like no other club with them virtually based out of Australia for the last two years.
Coming into this season, the Breakers had not won a final in the NBL since 2016 and not played in one since 2018 so with a new coach at the helm and a vastly new-look playing group, it was going to be a tall order.
However, everything has come together brilliantly starting with coach Maor to imports Jarrell Brantley, Dererk Pardon and Barry Brown Jr, and with the captaincy, leadership, experience and brilliant defence of Abercrombie.
He admits that he thought it might never be possible to have another chance at a championship with the Breakers, but now will be making most of the opportunity in the Championship Series starting next Friday in Sydney against the Kings.
Abercrombie has played a key role in the Breakers’ title push this season. (Photo by Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“The game has changed a lot in seven years and this is as good a team as we’ve ever had, but it means nothing going into the finals,” Abercrombie said.
“It’s a battle in itself once you get into a finals series and I haven’t been in a best-of-five series before either. That’s going to be a different animal. You’ve already got tactical battles and back-and-forths in a best-of-three, but I’m sure in a best-of-five that gets taken to another level.
“I think as it was before, the backbone of this team and our identity and culture is a really strong point. It’s something that’s carried us through the tough times this year and I’m just very excited to be back on that stage to get a chance to represent this club in a finals series again.
“That’s a really cool moment to come full circle and after the last couple of years, I honesty never thought I’d be back in this position so you don’t take it for granted. I’m going to enjoy this moment and go out to have fun.”
Howard among 12 ejections in wild brawl! | 01:31
BOOMERS CAPTAIN UNLIKELY FOR RETURN SOON TO NBL
Nick Kay is already a member of the Perth Wildcats’ 40th anniversary team how significant was his impact in two seasons, but despite currently captaining the Australian Boomers, he’s unlikely to be lured back from Japan any time soon.
Kay’s stocks have only continued to rise after the last of his two seasons with the Wildcats where he won championships with him currently plying his trade in Japan as part of his league-leading Shimane Susanoo Magic team.
He was also part of the historic Boomers team that won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games and is currently captaining the Australian team in their last two FIBA World Cup qualifying match ups this week in Melbourne.
Kay led the Boomers to an emphatic 83-51 win over Bahrain on Thursday night with 13 points and five rebounds ahead of another clash at the State Basketball Centre against Kazakhstan on Sunday.
The 30-year-old appears a lock to again be part of the Boomers team as well for the World Cup to be held later this year across Japan, Philippines and Indonesia starting late August, but there continues to be a focus on his return to the NBL.
Starting as the Rookie of the Year at the Townsville Crocodiles before joining the Illawarra Hawks and then having two championship winning seasons at the Wildcats, Kay was a standout power forward across his first 158 games in the NBL.
Don’t expect Nick Kay to come back to the NBL any time soon. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, he has both found a home he enjoys in Japan over the last three years and is playing some outstanding basketball on a title contending team. Throw in the fact he’s making more money in Japan than he likely could in the NBL and it’s not going to be easy to lure him home.
Working in the favour of the Wildcats, though, is the fact that Kay and his partner now call Perth home, are getting ready to welcome their first child and being together in Western Australia will soon be something they can’t keep living without.
That means that a return to the Wildcats before his career is over appears a near certainty, but unfortunately for coach John Rillie and the Red Army, it doesn’t appear it’s a possibility for NBL24.
“I am hoping to get back at some point, I don’t know when that will be but WA is home now so it will be great to be able to get back and play for those Wildcats at some point again,” Kay told SEN.
“I tried to watch every game I could this season. Obviously I’ve got a lot of friends who still play for them with Norto (Mitch Norton) and Wags (Jesse Wagstaff) so it’s great watching them.
“Obviously it wasn’t the most successful season they’ve had but I’m keen to see how they bounce back next year. They’ve got a lot of talent out there so I’m keen to see how it all progresses over this next season.”
