Visa issues spoil Iraq’s preparations
BAGHDAD (2016 FIBA Asia Challenge) - Iraq’s preparation programme for the FIBA Asia Challenge has been dealt with a blow after Serbian authorities refused granting the team entry to the country.
BAGHDAD (2016 FIBA Asia Challenge) - Iraq's preparation programme for the FIBA Asia Challenge has been dealt with a blow after Serbian authorities refused granting the team entry to the country.
The Iraqis were scheduled to leave for Belgrade on Monday for a 10-day training camp, but now they will be flying to Turkey instead, the country's basketball federation announced.
The Federation also revealed that the team will be playing four tune-up games in Turkey during those 10 days before heading to Tehran on 8 September, one day before the start of the FIBA Asia Challenge.
"We were not granted entry to Serbia," said Mhannad Abdul Sater, the Financial Secretary of the Iraqi Basketball Federation. "Now the federation has to come up with a quick decision and change the destination of the training cap to Turkey instead."
It has been a rocky few weeks for the Iraqi team. Last they learned that head coach Qosay Hatem will not be with the team in Iran because of commitments with his club Al-Gharafa in Qatar. Consequently, the federation appointed Serbian coach Srdan Antic as head coach.
“We agreed with coach Antic, he will be in charge of the team in Iran, but Qosay Hatem will join the team in Turkey to coordinate closely with the coach,” he concluded.
It’s also expected that naturalized player Kevin Galloway will join the team this week in Turkey.
| Iraq 12-player roster for FIBA Asia Challenge | |||
| Ahmed Al Tameeni | Dhulfiqar Al Hichaimi | Ali Juboori | Ali Ismael |
| Omar Al Azawi | Kevin Galloway | Ali Hamad | Hussein Talib |
| Ali Hameed | Ihab Al Zuhairi |
Mohammed Al Khafaji |
Hassan Abdullah |
The West Asians will play hosts and defending Champions Iran and Qatar in Group C.
Iraq secured West Asia's final spot for the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge after finishing third in the most recent West Asia Basketball Association Championship in Amman.
The top five teams in the FIBA Asia Challenge will earn for their respective sub-zones an extra berth in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup (formerly the FIBA Asia Championship).
FIBA