NNational player Moritz Wagner sees no problems at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in interaction with Joshiko Saibou, despite differing views on the corona pandemic. “Politically and socially, I distance myself like Jo (Johannes Voigtmann, the editor) clearly of Joshiko’s opinion, ”said the 24-year-old professional of the“ Berliner Morgenpost ”. That also applies to the way in which Saibou expressed them.
The 31-year-old took part in demonstrations against government measures to contain the corona pandemic last year. Supporters of conspiracy theories and right-wing groups were also present at the events. For him, that he distances himself from Saibou’s opinion does not mean “that I cannot play basketball with him. We have all proven together that it works wonderfully, ”said Wagner.
Born in Berlin, who has played in the NBA since 2018 and has been a member of the Orlando Magic squad since April, emphasized that he too had “thought a lot about it”. “Because as a young person who lives a public life in society, you have a certain responsibility.”
Wagner described sport as a “very interesting platform to address topics like this. Basically, I think that’s good at first – although the topic is of course not a pleasant one ”. Mistakes would be made with stories like that. It is important to learn from it and to deal with it transparently.
Saibou is sponsored by the Basketball Federation at the Olympics
At the Supercup in Hamburg in June they would have discussed it a lot. “I cannot speak for the entire team and say that this has now been finally clarified. Everyone has their own way of dealing with this. The nice thing about our society is that everyone can have a different perspective, ”said Wagner. He himself did not notice any unrest in the team.
Statements like these seem to follow a route taken by the team. Obviously, don’t worry – and no further discussion. This is how the German Basketball Federation (DBB) dealt with the stimulating figure Saibou in the run-up to the Olympic Games. When Henrik Rödl was asked about the controversial professional and the side effects of his nomination, the national coach said only briefly: “We presented ourselves as an extremely good team in all games. Everyone gives everything for everyone. The team is the great strength and Joshiko is part of it. ”
For the 31-year-old Saibou, whose sporting value for the German team is undisputed before the Olympic adventure, the subject is settled. “At no point did I spread a conspiracy theory. Neither personally nor on social media, ”he said before the Olympic qualifying tournament in Split.
When he was asked about the controversy again later, Saibou quickly dismissed it. “I’ve already made statements on this and don’t want to say much about it. I was very, very well received from the start. I’ve known most of the guys for 20 years, that wasn’t a problem at all, ”said Saibou. Teammate Johannes Voigtmann asked for clarification before the start of preparation this summer.
For Saibou this has obviously been eliminated, he wants to focus immediately on the difficult Olympic preliminary round with games against Italy, Nigeria and Australia. “We focus on basketball and that’s what we’re here for. Everything else is in the outside world, ”Saibou said.
The basketball player was not surprised that head coach Rödl called him to the team despite the controversy. “I think sport is the absolute focus for him, so I wasn’t really surprised. I think it was foreseeable that the controversy would bring a bit of tension, ”said Saibou, who had previously played under Rödl at TBB Trier. Saibou explained that the 52-year-old ex-professional had a “big part” in his development.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) also sees Saibou’s nomination as unproblematic. “The comments were not good at the time, but he has since apologized for it,” said Dirk Schimmelpfennig, Chef de Mission in Tokyo and DOSB board member for competitive sports. The past should no longer play a role. “Joshiko Saibou also qualified for Tokyo, was subjected to an integrity check like all those who qualified and will now be able to take part in the games in Tokyo as an accepted part of the basketball team, in compliance with all corona rules,” said the official.
Before joining the national team, Saibou openly admitted mistakes and vowed to get better. He would “communicate much more clearly today and, above all, earlier what I stand for: tolerance, respect, openness. And also very clear against what: any discrimination, “he said,” that it still came across differently to many people, I didn’t go to the demos after last summer either. “
Among other things, Saibou had published a video in May 2020 (“Appeal to the mind”) in which he said with a view to the corona restrictions: “You reproduce what television, newspapers and politicians tell you. Don’t question anything. Even when people are knocked down and arrested. That’s for the good of everyone. “At the end of the video he put on a protective mask and said,” Well. Minutes. ”As a result, he was dismissed without notice from his club, Telekom Baskets Bonn. He now plays for the French first division team Champagne Basket in Reims.
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