Dec 13, 2018, 5:38 pm
Dear Basketball Wales community
We as a group of players and coaches are all extremely excited about the upcoming BBL Trophy game, when we welcome London City Royals to Cardiff.
When I took the senior side’s reigns in 2016 it was an incredibly difficult time, although we had a long-term goal of competing at the Commonwealth Games the program was first and foremost about player development.
The program now looks forward to the future. Yes, we still face the significant challenges of lack of budget, venues, performance support and meaningful competition. However, the player development and promotion of young talent is very positive, and it gives the coaching team a selection pool of 25 players ahead of this fixture, of those players only five are over 25 years old. As a coaching staff we believe that we have the athletes who can compete at the highest level given the right support, environment and internal motivation to reach that goal.
We have already seen Matthew Broderick (Plymouth Raiders) and Alex Koukaravas (Surrey Scorchers) make BBL rosters. We hope to give the next generation something to aspire towards, whilst also delivering performances that the Welsh basketball community can be proud of. Back in 2017 we had some notable performance - a close game against Bristol Flyers, beating Thames Valley Cavaliers and this year competing hard with Reading Rockets and a physical USA Select team. This is the legacy we are trying to create, this is the legacy that we are on the journey to achieving.
By competing in the BBL Trophy, we have already won! This fixture is not about the result or about us as coaches and players, it is for the Welsh basketball community to celebrate. Thanks to a small band of volunteer coaches, team managers and administrators; Wales has an opportunity to compete at this level and those individuals are helping develop and motivate the next generation of Welsh talent to want to play in games and competitions like this, and compete, and ultimately to represent Wales with pride. So from me a massive thank you.
If we dare to dream and put ourselves in these types of games where we are constantly being tested mentally and physically, improvements will be made, and lessons will be learned.
We had a very tough time of it in September 2018 when we faced a strong Bristol Flyers team and losing by a big score line…but the program is stronger for it. When we went to Edinburgh in early 2017, we took a pretty horrible beating at the hands of the Scots, but the players learnt so much about what is needed to compete with high level teams.
The film sessions we had at our next camp were invaluable and the adjustments made pushed our side to a more competitive level. Another seven new caps have now gone through this process and as a result I have had a significantly harder time considering selection for the BBL game!
The players in the squad are so grateful for the opportunity to compete at the highest level against a BBL professional sides, other international squads and maybe one day as part of the GB setup. We are on that journey now. It will be a long journey, but one we can achieve for the benefit of the Welsh basketball community.
Please support us. Do not expect miracles but expect hard work and dedication and Welsh passion - laying the paving stones for the roads of opportunities ahead for the next generation.
This is our legacy and we are excited to be on that journey together.
I look forward to seeing you and hearing your loud support on the 23 December.
Yours in hoop
Coach Bamfield
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