NZL - WOF, WOF? Yes!

DUNEDIN (FIBA Oceania Championship for Women) - When you travel to many countries, it's sometimes the everyday things that the locals take for granted which capture your attention.

When travelling in New Zealand during the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, I have wanted to woof, woof in response to the WOF signs displayed at every second petrol station.

Of course kiwis see these signs as part of the wallpaper of everyday life and never give them a second glance.

They understand that a WOF is a Warrant Of Fitness “ the certification that your motor vehicle is roadworthy. You know the drill; do the lights work? Tick. Do the brakes work? Tick. Is the car exhaust environmentally friendly? "

Some in New Zealand are asking if their Tall Ferns have a W.O.F. to compete in Beijing, even though they last night earned 1 of 7 spots in the 12 team Olympic Competition, coming second in the FIBA Oceania Championships to the Australian Opals.

You had better understand that a berth in Beijing allocated to the Tall Ferns by FIBA, places you in elite company.

Only 12 of FIBA's 213 member will claim that prize, in fact if you discount China, who are there as Olympics hosts, only 11 basketball nations will meet the qualification standard.

You'd have to imagine that every one of the 213 FIBA member federations would dearly love to play in the Olympic Basketball Competition for women in Beijing, very few will.

Imagine this if you can. The USA, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, Argentina all recognised basketball nations from the FIBA continent of the Americas, have to submit themselves to a qualification tournament to prove they are good enough to be in Beijing. They are battling it out for only one guaranteed spot in the Beijing Olympic competition.

Japan a world ranking basketball nation from the Asian continent has missed the qualification standard and now has to submit to a do-or-die second chance tournament.

On the continent of Europe, only one of the powerhouse countries of Russia, Spain, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Serbia will survive the FIBA Europe Championships now underway.

But the Tall Ferns have already passed that hurdle, so you can put a tick on the certificate against the box marked "Meets FIBA selection criteria".

Using the "Past Performance" test, the Tall Ferns have been fortunate to have participated in the last two Olympics, admittedly as the result of a great helping hand from the Australians, but in their last Olympics they made the quarter finals.

In the end they finished ahead of all the countries from the African and Asian continents. So you can definitely tick the box which asks "Legitimate right to be there".

And then there's the question of what Basketball New Zealand will do to help the Tall Ferns prepare for Beijing?

In response, the federation clearly see Beijing as a milestone along the road, not a destination.

They have a plan to help their national women's team establish a regular place in FIBA's international competition program. As well as an overseas and domestic competition program against other basketball countries leading into Beijing, they have invested big $'s in gathering as many Tall Ferns as possible in a Christchurch based team which, commencing next week, will play in the Australian National Women's Basketball League (AWNBL).

Supporting that effort they have secured basketball expertise from overseas to provide the technical knowledge needed for success.

It's a matter of fact that the Australian Opals are the present FIBA World Champions, and most of the members play in the AWNBL. The league itself is among the best 4 leagues in the world.

Playing against the world's best, in a quality competition on a regular basis will certainly help the Tall Ferns hone their skills in the lead-up to Beijing. Yes, you can tick the box "Appropriate and Rigorous Preparation Program".

New Zealand sports funding agency SPARC, some time ago recognised that Basketball New Zealand was a well-run organisation with a clear sense of direction and has, as a result, financially committed to supporting the effort to raise the standard and profile of women's basketball.

Tick the box "Support of Government"!

And while you have the pen in hand also tick the box "Appropriate ambassadors for New Zealand", because surely the performance of the players in past international events and at the just concluded FIBA Oceania Championships must give you the confidence that players and management have what's needed to showcase NZ to the world, and, win or lose add to the international standing of the kiwi.

So, do the Tall Ferns have a WOF?

I say yes and it is to be hoped that after clearing the hurdle of the FIBA qualification process (and remember only 12 of 213 applicants will pass that test), no further obstacles will be placed in their way.

Go Tall Ferns! See you in Beijing.

Steve Smith