LIB – El Khatib glad to be back in Lebanon

BEIRUT (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Fadi El Khatib has long been the face of Lebanese basketball, playing in two FIBA World Championships and dominating the Asian country's national league.

But Lebanon's 29-year-old leader decided this off-season to try his hand at hoops in Europe, playing for Ukrainian EuroCup team Cherkaski Mavpy.

He averaged 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in four EuroCup games before being released in January.

El Khatib returned to his native Lebanon and helped Sporting Club Al Riyadh Beirut to their third title at the International Dubai Tournament.

El Khatib will this summer try to help Lebanon reach the Beijing Games via the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

He recently spoke to FIBA.

FIBA: After many years of dominating in Asia and Lebanon, you played the first half of this season in Europe. What do you think about the quality of basketball in Europe?

El Khatib: The basketball level (in Ukraine) is better than in Asia. But still, the teams in the International Dubai Tournament are good enough to play in Europe

FIBA: Why did you decide to try Europe?

El Khatib: Things in Lebanon were not going all that well. So I figured I would play in Europe a few years and come back. The money was a little better. But it was not worth leaving Lebanon. Basketball in Lebanon is good but not at the level of Spain or Italy.

FIBA: How are things going for you back in Lebanon?

El Khatib: I am back in Lebanon playing for Sporting Club Al Riyadh Beirut. We won the International Dubai Tournament. Those are the toughest teams in Asia and level is so high. But we won it. I came back from Europe and came back strong. I missed playing basketball how I used to play.

FIBA: Do you think you'll ever return to Europe to play at the club level?

El Khatib: No, I have my family, and my kids will be in school next year. I have a new-born baby boy and another boy and my wife. I have a good life here. I just hope things calm down. But it is a good opportunity to play in Europe. The national team playing against European teams is much better and that is enough. I know the level in Europe is better than by us. But at least we are playing against European teams at the national team level. I tried that experience and wanted to see what it was like. But now I have other issues - with kids and schools et cetera. I think I'm going to stay here for the rest of my career.

FIBA: You mentioned the national team. Lebanon reached the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men after losing in the Asian Championship final to Iran. But Lebanon have been drawn in a tough Group A with host powerhouses Greece as well as Brazil. What is your reaction to the draw?

El Khatib: Greece went to the semis in the 2006 World Championship and are a great team, a really tough team. And Brazil are the same thing. Yeah, this is a tough situation. But we're always full of surprises. Maybe we can beat somebody like we did against France at the 2006 World Championship in Japan. Yeah both teams have a high level, but who plays better will win the game. I have faith we can do good. I want to win more than anybody else.

FIBA: What does Lebanon have to do to reach the Olympics?

El Khatib: We have to play hard like we always do. But we have been playing together for a long, long time. We know each other and everybody knows their role. We have to play with one heart and we will win.

FIBA: What would it mean for you to reach Beijing 2008?

El Khatib: We had the worst (Asian) final we could have had against Iran. We proved earlier in the tournament that we were better than them by beating them twice. And in the final the players were not ready mentally. As a captain, I can't accept players not to be ready for the game. But I want to go to the Olympics so much. I have been to two World Championships. But the loss to Iran was a huge shock. It was the worst game of our whole life and we lost by only five points. We're going to work hard. I just hope things in Lebanon are calm. Whenever the Lebanese national team plays it seems like there's always a bad situation in our country.

FIBA: Besides the trio of you, Joe Vogel and Brian Feghali, the rest of the Lebanese team is rather young. Do you sense there is a lack of inexperience at all with the Lebanese national team?

El Khatib: The guys have played with the national team a long time and know how to deal with situations at the end of the game. The most important thing is that we play with one heart.

FIBA: The Lebanese national team has switched coaches since the Asian Championship, bringing in Fouad Abou Chakra to replace the Serbian Dragan Raca. You played a long time against him in the Lebanese league. What are your thoughts on Fouad coming in as new coach?

El Khatib: We won the Dubai International Tournament together this year with him as coach. He deals with players professionally and definitely knows the players. I loved to play for Raca, who was a good friend of my and gave me a lot of things. But Fouad works for the players, team and country. And that's what we need right now.

FIBA