NEBL Season II Underway
Season Two of the National Elite Basketball League kicked off in San Ignacio on Friday night with Cayo Western Ballaz taking on the Belize Hurricanes on their home court. While James Adderley has the full rundown in tonight’s Sports Monday, the NEBL introduced a new commissioner. He is Karim Juan, formerly of Western Ballaz. In an interview with News Five, Juan spoke about the new season and what can be expected from his tenure as commissioner of the league.
James Adderley
“What will be the difference between your tenure than with that of the former commissioner Isaac Rhys?”
Karim Juan
Karim Juan, Commissioner, NEBL
“One of my main goals this year is not so much to expand the league and to include other stuff but to more solidify the leagues that teams will be prepared at each venue, that every hometown will have a nice game, a nice show for their fans. So right now we want to ensure that all teams are well prepared when they have their home games and their fan base that we see in Cayo that that becomes the norm throughout the league.”
James Adderley
“Is there a more international input?”
Karim Juan
“Yes, actually last year the two teams that met at the finals San Pedro and Western Ballaz were the only two teams with international players. This year six of the eight teams have an international player on their team.”
James Adderley
“Okay. We know you will always be a Cayo Western Ballaz at heart, I need to ask you how will you factor that into commissioner Juan?”
Karim Juan
“Yes, I’m aware that whatever I say is irrelevant because I’m already tainted and associated with the Cayo Western Ballaz but I have, when I met with the teams I guaranteed to them that I’ll be neutral, that I’ll be as objective as possible and that we will govern the league based on bylaws that have been stipulated and agreed upon already. If there is any subjective judgment that needs to be administered then I will consult other members in the executive and other members associated with the NEBL. But surely the other teams should rest assured that there will surely not be any bias toward Cayo Western Ballaz.”
James Adderley will have the blow by blow of that game in Sports Monday.
