Liberian Clubs To Face Ban

Reported by Horatio Bobby Willie
Friday, 20 October 2006

The Liberia Basketball Federation says Liberian clubs could be banned from international basketball competitions.

LBF Secretary General said this could happen because of the attitude exhibited by NPA Pythons

and Invincible Eleven during the African Basketball Championships qualifying tournament in Ivory Coast.

Mr. Fred Pratt told Star Radio that both IE and Pythons bridged FIBA rules by failing to score a single point when they met in the competition last Friday.

Mr. Pratt said FIBA/Africa officials in Ivory Coast expressed disappointment over the attitude of the teams.

The LBF Secretary General said the teams could face a possible fine and ban.

However, officials of Pythons said they took the action in protest to the poor officiating from referees.

Pythons claimed the referees were unprofessional in their attitude but Fred Pratt said although the referees made some mistakes the action by the two Liberian teams brought disgrace to the country.

FIBA/Africa will make known their decision the action of Invincible Eleven and NPA Pythons of Liberia as well as Ebon Comex of Nigeria.