After an eventful summer, Swiss Basketball calmly approaches the start of the SBL championships this weekend. The elite will evolve on a formula of ten teams for men and eight for women.
‘We are delighted with the dynamics of men’s and women’s basketball, declared the general secretary of Swiss Basketball, Erik Lehmann, during the pre-season press conference on Wednesday in Fribourg. We often tend to self-flagellate, but I think the level is quite suitable and consistent.’
Erik Lehmann expects closer championships, even if Friborg Olympic for the men and Elfic Friborg for the ladies should once again hold the leading roles. “I think there will be no Grand Slam for men, where the titles will be better distributed,” he assured.
The former successful coach of Hélios Basket is delighted that an even number of teams are entered for both men and women. Just like Gilles Delessert: ‘A calendar with nine teams is much more complex to manage than with ten or eight. We must avoid long periods without a match at home,’ said the head of planning within the Competition department.
Vevey accompanied all summer
However, it came close to making this ten-team structure in the men’s LNA not possible this year. Vevey Riviera has in fact obtained its gaming license at the last minute to continue to evolve among the elite. ‘The National Advisory and Management Control Committee (Concecg) supported the club throughout the summer to help it,’ he underlined.
After the withdrawals of Boncourt and Swiss Central, Swiss Basketball did everything so that Vevey Riviera, finalist of the last Coupe de la Ligue, could continue to play in the elite. ‘I concede that there is a form of injustice towards the other clubs which have remained in the lead. But we wanted to put all the lambs in the fold,’ said Erik Lehmann.
‘Is it better to do everything to save a traditional club or to ruin it in May?’, when the licensing commission delivers its first verdict. ‘I think it is desirable to support the club in order to help it professionalize its structures,’ said Erik Lehmann, rejoicing that ‘Vevey (is) better armed for the future.’
Major decisions to make
The medium-term future is also the next deadlines for the national teams. The ladies will be competing in the Euro 2025 qualifiers with only one window planned this season, in November (two matches). ‘We have ambitions and hope with a new generation arriving and a new experienced coach, Hervé Coudray,’ explained Erik Lehmann.
The men will play the first part of the pre-qualifications for the 2027 World Cup, again with only one window (two matches in February). ‘For this World Cup, the road is long and steep, but we also have a lot of hope. It is not a fantasy to see Switzerland qualify, as long as all the clubs are moving in the same direction,’ he assured.
Recalling that ‘the national team is THE flagship product of the federation’, Erik Lehmann is nevertheless well aware that Swiss basketball is at a crossroads: ‘The league remains very amateur. We will have major strategic decisions to make in the next five years. Will we want to become more or less professional?’ The question is raised.
/ATS
2023-09-27 15:45:47
#Lehmann #tend #selfflagellate
