MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has called on the national basketball regulator to save the Pioneers Basketball Club amid ongoing uncertainty over its future.
While the club has been in talks with Basketball Australia, there is still no way forward for the iconic Mount Gambier sporting club.
The club’s administrators are seeking urgent talks with Basketball Australia in Melbourne early next week as it fights for its survival.
The 30-year-old club has been thrown into turmoil after being locked out of a restructured elite Victoria-based league.
Anger is building over the fact Basketball Australia receives millions of dollars in Federal Government funding, but has orchestrated the demise of a powerhouse regionally-based club.
“Basketball Australia has a lot to answer for. It must ensure the Pioneers are accommodated,” Mr Bell said.
“Quite frankly, this is an Australian organisation that receives Federal Government funding.
“The Pioneers have been left without a competition to play in.”
Pioneers chair Tom Kosch said the board had sent a request to meet with Basketball Australia officials in Melbourne early next week.
“The board is working very hard to find a solution for 2019,” Mr Kosch told The Border Watch yesterday.
“We will know more in the middle of next week.”
He said the club was determined to play in the highest level it could.
Meanwhile, Basketball Victoria – which rejected the Pioneers’ bid to join its new elite league – sent a statement to The Border Watch.
But in an extraordinary move, a media spokesperson said Basketball Victoria “will no longer be making comment regarding the Pioneers”.
“On behalf of Basketball Victoria, I would like to thank all applicants for their submissions and expressions of interest in joining our new league’s inaugural season in 2019,” Basketball Victoria chief executive Nick Honey said.
He said the committee had undertaken a rigorous assessment of all applications ahead of the inaugural season.
“Basketball Victoria thanks the selection committee for their work in determining the composition of the league and its 18 foundation licence holders,” Mr Honey said.
“Application to the league is not restricted to this year – organisations that meet the eligibility criteria in upcoming seasons will be able to submit applications for consideration.
“We will advocate for expansion of the league when it is suitable to do so and Basketball Victoria will keep in communication with all potential joining associations to ensure the Victorian-managed senior elite league will be the number one option for winter representative basketball in Australia.
“We look forward to seeing our 18 foundation licence holders take the court in 2019.”
Meanwhile, Tenison Woods College high performance basketball students yesterday threw their support behind the Pioneers.
Student Malok Makoi – a member of the Pioneers development squad – said the demise of the Pioneers would be a major blow for the community.
He said the club gave basketballers such as himself a pathway towards participating in an elite level.
The Pioneers also play a key role in the school’s high performance basketball program.
