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 What
is the true story about the last game between
Champville and Sagesse?
In the playoffs, there is a possibility to play
against either Antranik or Anibal Zahle.
We prefer to meet Antarnik.
First of all, Anibal team has more experience on his
home court where he could clinch at any time a kind
of a surprise during the games against any team.
Therefore, technically, it is much more difficult
for us to go all the way to Zahle rather than going
to meet Antranik in Dbaye (AGBU). Also, we have met
Antranik twice this season and our games were
somehow “painless”. Therefore, in order to achieve
our aim, we decided not to set all our strength
against Sagesse and consequently clinch a possible
win. Thus, the next game between United and Anibal
won’t make any difference for United team because he
would have guaranteed the fourth place anyways. But
this game would be very crucial for Anibal allowing
then not to face the Blue Stars.
Now, with what happened, United team will be more
motivated to take full power over Anibal in order to
maintain the fourth place, to meet Sagesse and to
keep their home court advantage.
If we had won over Sagesse, United team will
categorically stand in the fourth place and they
won’t be motivated to prevail over Anibal. Let’s
hope that United wins.
We didn’t hurt anyone; we just “annoyed’ some teams.
That’s all.. United team was hoping that we defend
his fourth place by winning over Sagesse. Now,
United team has to secure his own 4th
position.
On the other hand, Champville team is going to
Alleppo to participate in the West Asian games
playoffs where we will play around 6 to 7 games in 8
days. Therefore, all our players must be ready and
those who didn’t have the chance to play at the
Lebanese Championship, had their chance especially
Hassan Lakkis, and Samer Mechref who played a good
game against Sagesse. Our Lebanese bench will also
participate in the game against Antonin this
Saturday. Therefore, our entire 12th
players will be mostly ready for our West Asian
games in Allepo.
Most of the teams are planning to change their
foreign players, is Champville going to do the same?
We are studying this matter but nothing is set for
the time being.
Will champville acquire any other Lebanese players
to Alleppo?
We are not getting anyone except Joe Mansour who had
signed already with us.
How did you observe the last game between Riyadi and
Blue Stars?
I anticipated what will occur in a press interview
two weeks before the game:
Riyadi will keep the first place easily. The blue
stars team has committed the same technical mistakes
of last year’s. Exactly as Sagesse team when they
acted the similar way thinking that getting Fadi El
Khatib would be the only way to win the Title.
As I see it, Blue Stars Team has a long and hard
working way to be capable of stopping Riyadi’s
winning performances. This step is very far from
happening.. At least, in the near future.
Who do you think is the best Lebanese player;
especially that Fadi El Khatib and Joe Vogel are
both Lebanese.
In my opinion, I am looking at the advantage of that
matter and not placing Fadi and Joe head to head in
my judgment. I am seeing the benefit that Joe seats
with Riyadi and the same for Fadi with Sagesse last
year and Blue Stars this year. It is shown very
clearly that Joe’s performance with Riyadi is much
more essential than Fadi’s part with Blue Stars.
Unfortunately, I would have preferred to say the
opposite as Fadi keeps a special place in my heart.
Taking of Joe Vogel from Riyadi would be a
technical failure unlike getting Fadi out from the
blue stars as they haven’t gained any more
improvement from last year.
Is Ismaeel Ahmad the best Foreigner?
I would say that Ismaeel is one of the best foreign
players that came to Lebanon but I would like to see
Ismaeel playing without any help from the two
Riyadi’s foreign players.
I prefer then to Judge Ismaeel when he can play with
only one foreign player without the help of Joe
Vogel who is considered as Foreign - Lebanese and is
a great asset to Riyadi’s team..
Who would you like to see, as Lebanese Players, with
Champville team next year?
First of all, I would like to see Ghaleb Rida
getting on his feet back again with us.
Ghaled Rida is a superior player for Champville team
and for the basketball game in general.
I wish him a quick recovery. As for other Lebanese
players, I would like to see from other teams: Joe
Mansour, Ali Fakhreddine, Hussein Tawbe, Rony Fahed
and Anis Feghali from Antonin team. I think having
these players would be a very good benefit for us.
Any Changes at Champville’s Lebanese Lineup?
On the contrary, and even though we had lots of
Changes last year and the year before where we
almost changed 90% of our Lebanese lineup, I am
confident that this year’s Lebanese players are here
to continue and to become more effective. May be we
can substitute one or two players who play in the
same position as the previous ones, but we are not
performing major changes for the next year.
What can you say about Champville's website getting
online officially again?
This is a very good and professional step where the
fans can follow up the Team’s news and performance
and acting as a link for Champville team followers
outside Lebanon. Furthermore, there are more
essential steps to be prepared to back up our team
like setting up a fan committee for example to
represent the school’s students and other fans as
well.
 Why
there are no Lebanese players with the team that
belongs to the School?
First of all, graduating from any school is quite
different then getting to the professional standing
of the First Division. There are some players who go
to the Universities and have lots of Studying
pressure. Second, most of the players have no
“height” enough. For example, if a forward player
has a 180 cm height and is performing very well with
his school’s team, getting him to face other forward
players and foreigners in the first division with
190 cm and above would be a failure. Three, there
are good players who plays with the Juniors NT and
decided to climb the professional ladder very fast,
like Rodrigue Akl for example, is now sitting on the
bench with the blue Stars first division team;
unlike when he played with Champville last year.
On the other hand, we have Rudy Farraj, who is
playing well with us but, unfortunately, since he is
performing with the Junior NT, he must to play with
the second division teams to prepare for the World
Cup Juniors. So, Rudy’s time is dedicated to the
Junior’s NT and has no occasion to play with us. As
for Ziad Chebib, he decided to continue his studies
in USA.
But we always prefer to get Champville School’s
student to play with their 1st division
team under specific technical regulations. It takes
time.
What about Brian bechara. The never ending story..
This question has always been a mystery to us. As we
were preparing last year to play at the Arab
Championship in Morroco and also to the Final 4,
our Captain, Brian Bechara came to me, exactly like
this time period, and two weeks before the end of
the Championship and he told me that he decided to
leave the team and go back to the US. We were
shocked by his demand. It was quite a disaster for
all our plans and a kind of disgraceful behavior
from the Captain of our team. I am sure that Brian
is not worthy being with our lineup team this year.
Although Brian is a very outstanding player but
leaving his team in the 3/4 of the season is not a
professional act at all.. I don’t think that Brian
deserves to be with us nor with any other team as
well.. Unfortunately, we have preferred that Brian
stays because in my opinion, Brian has gained much
more experience from us that we did from him. When
he was with Sagesse, the new administration refused
to renew his contract. And when he went to Blue
Stars, the same affair happened and Brian left the
Blue Stars. He then was packing his things when I
met him and I told Brian that I will get him the
exact role that he should have taken years ago. Even
though we can’t pay him as much as he was getting
paid with other teams but at least, I will get his
credits very high and he will obtain more offers
than before.
And this was shown when Brian’s average points
reached 20 per game with us and this is when he got
a very good deal from Riyadi. We were hurt most by
Brian’s unfortunate incident. But, we have reached
the final 4 without Brian although he was an extra
asset for our team.
Last question Coach. What do you think about the
FLB’s latest decision to give the Lebanese NT
leadership to a Local Lebanese Coach Fouad
AbouChacra.
I have already performed and alone a big
confrontation with the Lebanese basketball
Federation 2 years ago. I wanted firmly to make
certain that a Lebanese Coach takes the lead of our
Lebanese national team. I don’t want anyone to think
that I was working on that matter for a personal
benefit. On the contrary, I specifically ensured
that I don’t want this Job as long as Michel Tannous
stays at the FLB’s presidency. I am totally glad to
see Coach Fouad taking the lead and I wish him the
best of luck.
Thank you Coach for your time.
Thank you also Roland for taking care of this
interview and wish you the best of luck.
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