FIBA challenges eligibility of Belize’s players

The COCABA games had a rocky start for Team Belize. The excitement wasn’t expected until the boys hit the court, but it appears that there was some strategy to scratch off more than half of the players from the roster prior to the first game. The late challenge was made by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) regarding the eligibility of the players. That made the team hit hard in its first game. But it was the Belize Basketball Federation and the team’s legal advisor who had to play defense.

Paul Thompson, President, B.B.F.
“Fifteen minutes before game time we are told that of the seven players that are in question, two of those players will be able to play; Milton Palacio and Alex Carcamo based on the fact that they had played in 1998 and that they are going against their rule. But based on the fact, they are going to allow them and they are also going to allow Marlon Garnett based on the naturalization act. So he will play as a naturalized player. So that is where we stand right now. Of the seven players they only want three of them playing.”

Godfrey Smith, Attorney
“Having reviewed the documentation, there is no evidence that they are quarrelling with our interpretation of the law. What there is, is that they have automatically assumed that all the players are Belizeans by naturalization, which means that they didn’t look at the certificates of registration that were sent to them because it’s clear that they are Belizeans by descent. So no, there is no quarrel. They’re not saying well under the laws they can’t play. They were assuming that the boys were naturalized and they are saying under FIBA regulations only one can play. It’s simple responses, they’re not naturalized Belizeans, they are Belizeans by descent. The local arm of FIBA has tried to avoid grappling with the issue. They have been saying that look it’s up to Geneva Switzerland to make the decision, they are waiting and we ought to have gotten a response by this morning and we didn’t.”

William Neal
“Have you received anything stamped by FIBA saying exactly the guys don’t qualify?”

Paul Thompson
“Well at this point at the gym we have not received a letter; no we haven’t.”

William Neal
“What are the four players that are still in question at this point?”

Paul Thompson
“At this point the four players are Herbert Allen, Dakin Braddick, Kenan Jordan, and Tyrone Stokes. We will go ahead and play under protest and we will play with all our players because if they are going to allow one of the guys to play that was in question, then that erases the rule automatically. They have to allow all. If they would have said they allowed one player, then we would have understood but now they are saying three of that can play. I don’t understand why they are doing this.”

As was mentioned in the interviews, Team Belize is playing under protest until FIBA makes a ruling regarding the status of Herbert Allen, Dakin Braddick, Kenan Jordan, and Tyrone Stokes.