NEW national basketball team coach American Sam Vincent arrived in Bahrain yesterday.
The former NBA player and coach will take over from Serbian Darko Russo, who was in charge of Bahrain’s national team during the GCC Basketball Championship in Kuwait last year.
Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) chairman Talal Kanoo received the new coach and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the national team to many victories.
National teams director Jaleel Khudhair was also present to receive Vincent.
“The board of directors have provided all that is needed for the national team,” said Kanoo.
The Asian Basketball Championship (2021 FIBA Asia Cup) to be held next year will be Vincent’s long-term goal. Before that Bahrain have to book their berth in the championship through a qualifying round.
Bahrain are in Group ‘D’ in the qualifying round along with Lebanon, Iraq and India. The national team will first play India in Bahrain on February 21 before taking on Lebanon in Beirut on February 24.
Bahrain will play Iraq on November 26 in Iraq before travelling to India to take on the hosts on November 29.
The national squad will then play Lebanon and Iraq in two home matches scheduled for February 19 and 21, 2021, respectively.