LIB - Fouad Abu Chakra embraces challenge as Lebanon coach

BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Championship) - Fouad ABU CHAKRA now holds the reins to one of Asia's finest teams after being put in charge of Lebanon.

A country that finished second at the last FIBA Asia Championship, Paul Coughter led the team to Japan.

But at the FIBA World Championship, the Lebanese failed to progress from the group stage.

Abu Chakra, the coach of Lebanese giants Riyadi, spoke to Moe Hallal.

FIBA: It is quite an honour to lead a country in international competition. When did you first believe that one day, you might coach the national team?

Abu Chakra: "Of course, every coach has an ambition whether to win titles with clubs or the dream of coaching his national team. Of course, this is a hard time we are going through but the good communication with the Lebanese Basketball Association will help us get through it.
 
FIBA: What is the biggest challenge you face in this new role?

Abu Chakra: "As I said, it is a hard a time and we'll try our best to build a good team for the future. Also, we will try to get players who play outside Lebanon, just like we did with Jo Vogel who is hard to be replaced."

FIBA: There have been a lot of problems with the political instability in Lebanon in the past year. Did you consider the difficulty of coaching a team in a country that has encountered such problems, particularly with the bombings?

Abu Chakra: "I took the job despite this not being a good time and the capabilities are not that good. However, there is good will and cooperation to get out of this situation and I hope we can correct everything for the good of Lebanese basketball."

FIBA: On a more positive note, when you look back at Lebanon's recent success, what has been the biggest reason they have qualified for events like the FIBA World Championships?

Abu Chakra: "I think it's the spirit of the Lebanese players. They love Lebanon a lot and they have great motivation. We might not have had good financial support, but we have had good management and a dream. This dream has become true thanks to the will of the players.
 
FIBA: We saw mixed results in Japan. Lebanon were able to beat a team like France, but not advance to the last 16. Is there a problem with the players maintaining their concentration?
 
Abu Chakra: "In Japan, there was trouble back at home with the war which broke out in July. The goal was to qualify to the next round, but this goal was affected with what was going on in Beirut and the players' minds were distracted. Their concentration was lost and also the players suffered from fatigue. We could have prepared better for the game against Nigeria which was the decisive game for us but I think in general we have presented a good image of Lebanon despite the circumstances at that time."

FIBA: "What can you tell us about the make-up of your team. Can we expect to see a mix of youth and veterans?"

Abu Chakra: I will be trying to make a good young team to prepare it for the next FIBA World Championship. Our next goal is to reach the Olympic Games in China. We have a good chance to look for good players who can continue the success of Lebanese basketball."
 
FIBA: China are such a big country with a lot of financial backing. Will Lebanon have a chance to challenge their supremacy in Asia?

Abu Chakra: "It's true that China have a lot of financial backing but we have the spirit as I said earlier. They have qualified for the Olympic Games as they are the hosts and now our task is to qualify for the Olympics. Probably there will be seven or eight teams fighting for this ticket but we will put a good program in place I'm sure that with the fighting spirit of our players we can make the difference."
 
FIBA: The international game is very exciting now but Lebanon will clearly have to be at their best to stay among the elite teams in Asia with Qatar and other emerging sides like Jordan in the reckoning. Would you say the level of the Asian game overall has improved?

Abu Chakra: "Of course it has improved and personally, I think that Lebanon success gave a sign for the other countries in Asia and especially in West Asia that they can emulate the Lebanese success. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Korea Republic increased their Basketball budgets when they saw Lebanon' success and this improved the game in these countries and other small countries like Lebanon. Also, Lebanon has a good championship and we have an organized association and organized clubs and this made the basketball game successful in our country.
 
FIBA: Tell us about yourself. When did you first play the game and were you a professional?

Abu Chakra: "I started as a basketball player with Champville basketball school and played with the team before moving to Adonis and I also played in the Cypriot Basketball League, when I returned to Lebanon I played with Al Amal Bekfaya. I had several coaching courses in several countries before starting my coaching career as an assistant coach at Al Amal Bekfaya. I then moved to coach Al Wardiye club before moving to Antranik. Afterwards, I coached Champville before coaching my current club Riyadi."
 
FIBA: What players or coaches did you look up to when you were young, and which ones do you admire now?

Abu Chakra: "I don't have any particular names but personally I prefer European basketball rather than the NBA. I love any coach who has a good philosophy and good reality in the game."
 
FIBA: Is the future of Lebanese basketball bright, both at club level and internationally?

Abu Chakra: "I believe that future of Lebanese basketball is bright because we have a good base. We have a strong championship, good clubs and a good youth base."
 
FIBA: "This was the year of Women's Basketball in FIBA Europe. Can you ever see a similar project being launched in Asia?"

Abu Chakra: "The problem facing Women's Basketball in Asia is that it is overshadowed by men's basketball. People in this part of the world follow men basketball rather than women's game. That is why there is no big interest in women's basketball and there is no big improvement in the game. The most important thing is to put in good programs to develop women's basketball and then we can see good improvement in Asia."

FIBA