FIBA threatens to expel cadets from competition if 10,000 euro registration fee is not paid!

If the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not pay the registration fee for the young U16 national team at the European Championship, this BiH selection, which advanced to the semifinals of this continental competition in Lithuania today, will be expelled, representatives of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) warned.

This was confirmed to Al Jazeera by the head coach of the BiH national team, Josip Pandža, after the 70:54 quarterfinal victory over Germany, as reported by the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- After the match, in the midst of celebration, the FIBA delegation informed us that we would have to go home if we did not pay the registration fee within two days, because we are the only team that has not paid it due to the difficult financial situation - Pandža said.

When asked how things will be resolved, he said:

- We don't know and we don't think much about it. That's how it is with us, where logic ends, BiH begins.

- A great thing has been achieved, and that is qualification for the World Championship. The kids truly deserved it because they are an excellent group. I was afraid they might burn out from too much desire, but they followed every agreement, were so focused, calm, and decided the winner already in the first half. We secured the World Championship, the next goal is a medal - the BiH coach emphasized.

 

The cadets are scheduled to play against Spain tomorrow for the European Championship final.

- Spain is a big opponent, they are all players from Real Madrid and Barcelona, while we have nine players from our youth league. However, our kids have shown something new and better every day, and on a good day we have a chance even against a strong opponent - he pointed out.

Harun Mahmutović, the general secretary of the Basketball Federation of BiH, told Radiosarajevo.ba that "the money will be found, we will borrow it as we have countless times before, but I wonder if it makes sense? Who are we doing all this for? I don't know, I really don't know - Mahmutović said.