CAM - FIBA Sport director in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH (Referee Clinic) - The FIBA-ASIA referee clinic was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from July 12th - 13th.

The clinic was conducted by Mr. Lubomir Kotleba FIBA Sport Director.

The clinic was attended by 15 candidates and three observers from Japan Mr. Nubuo Hashimoto [FIBA Commissioner] and Ms Shoko Suguro [FIBA active referee] and Mr. Lee Jang Hak [Director of Referees] from Korea.

The President of the Cambodian Basketball federation Mr. Mam Sophana, thanked the Secretary General FIBA-Asia Dato Yeoh Choo Hock for his support and He welcomed the fifteen candidates to the first FIBA-ASIA referee clinic in Cambodia.

1. Mr. Cheung Kowk-Shun - Hong-Kong
2. Mr. Oh Yun Seok - Korea
3. Mr. Shin Gi Rok - Korea
4. Mr. Khoo Min Sheng - Malaysia
5. Mr. Yeoh Han Yeow - Malaysia
6. Mr. Chen Fan Chong - Malaysia
7. Mr. Ong Zhen Iang - Malaysia
8. Mrs. Kimiko Nakadake - Japan
9. Mr. Iran Viet Minh Nhat – Vietnam
10. Mr. Nhim Sopheak - Cambodia
11. Mr. Oum Sophanarath - Cambodia
12. Mr. Oum Sophanaroth - Cambodia
13. Mr. Ros Thal - Cambodia
14. Mr. Koav Kannaly - Cambodia
15. Miss. Kam Sopheap - Cambodia

Mr.Kotleba in his opening remark was highly impressed with Cambodian basketball federation decision to host the clinic, the numbers of candidates from five different countries and he was equally amazed about the infrastructural changes in the country since he visited the country Ten years ago, he encourage the federation to continue to improve the knowledge of the local referees.

In declaring the clinic open the special guest of honor His Excellency Bun Sok the Secretary of State at Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, expressed the government appreciation to FIBA for hosting such clinic in Cambodia, he said that the four priority sports in Cambodia are football, Volleyball, track and field and Basketball. He pledged the government support to the development of basketball in Cambodia and he asked FIBA-ASIA to help Cambodian Basketball Federation with equipments and in training of coaches and Referees.

The first day of the clinic was kicked off with series of lectures by the Instructor Mr.Kotleba: Differences in International officiating, recent changes in basketball rules, question and answers section, basketball rules written test, and the fist day ended with Practical games officiating where the candidates demonstrated there knowledge of the rule of the game, its interpretations and the two man officiating mechanism.

The second day started with the Physical fitness test, it was followed by on the court practical lectures by Mr. Kotleba about, his observation from the practical games, the movement/switching after foul, in Two-Person and Three-Person officiating.

The afternoon section was devoted to review of the written test, the FIBA DVD on FIBA guideline for referee education and personal interview with Candidates.

In his closing speech Mr. Kotleba thanked the organizer of the clinic, the Cambodian Ministry of Education,youth and sports and he urged the candidates to continue to learn more about the rules of the game, and that information are available on FIBA website for education purposes and it is free, he urge all the candidates to make use of such opportunity, this will surely help them becoming a good referee.

The Clinic was declared close by the Secretary General of the Cambodian Olympic committee Professor Meas Sarin, he thanked Mr. Kotleba for finding time out of his numerous schedules to conduct the clinic in Cambodian, FIBA-ASIA for given the Cambodian Basketball federation the opportunity to host the clinic and finally he congratulated all the candidates for participating in the clinic.

The Clinic was rounded up with a farewell dinner for participant and guest at Juliana Hotel Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Koledoye Abayomi Austin