SA basketball teams quit Youth Games

WINDHOEK – South Africa have withdrawn both its basketball teams from the under-20 Youth Games that started in the capital on Monday.

The Games technical manager Gabriel Freyer confirmed this yesterday, saying that both the men’s and women’s basketball teams of South Africa were refused accreditation because most of their players were over-aged. He said the bulk of the South African basketball players would turn 20 years old this year, which is against the rules and regulations of the Zone Six Youth Games that stipulate that athletes should not turn 20 years in the year of the competition.Freyer added that one of the aims of the Youth Games was development which is why the Zonal Organising Committee (ZOC) applies age control strictly.South Africa’s chef de mission, Sylvia Dale confirmed her teams’ withdrawal, saying there was a misunderstanding between Basketball South Africa and the International Federation of Basketball Federations (FIBA).Dale said Basketball South Africa was under the impression that the Youth Games would be played under FIBA rules which categorise under-20 players as those who are 20 years old and younger.She added that her women’s basketball team wanted to use the Youth Games as a qualifying event for the African Championships later this year.Most of the women on the team would turn 20 this year and only four men were over-aged, she added.Meanwhile, South Africa’s track and field team comprising 63 athletes will arrive in Namibia on Friday.- NampaHe said the bulk of the South African basketball players would turn 20 years old this year, which is against the rules and regulations of the Zone Six Youth Games that stipulate that athletes should not turn 20 years in the year of the competition.Freyer added that one of the aims of the Youth Games was development which is why the Zonal Organising Committee (ZOC) applies age control strictly.South Africa’s chef de mission, Sylvia Dale confirmed her teams’ withdrawal, saying there was a misunderstanding between Basketball South Africa and the International Federation of Basketball Federations (FIBA).Dale said Basketball South Africa was under the impression that the Youth Games would be played under FIBA rules which categorise under-20 players as those who are 20 years old and younger.She added that her women’s basketball team wanted to use the Youth Games as a qualifying event for the African Championships later this year.Most of the women on the team would turn 20 this year and only four men were over-aged, she added.Meanwhile, South Africa’s track and field team comprising 63 athletes will arrive in Namibia on Friday.- Nampa