26/02/2004
Schools ready for Festival day

School children from around the Leicestershire are gearing up for the Special Schools Basketball Festival, which takes place at Aylestone Leisure Centre tomorrow (Friday 27th).

The event is a culmination of an initiative involving the Leicestershire Special School Sports Federation (LSSSF), Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and the Leicester Riders basketball team.

The LSSSF is an organisation formed by special schools, units and other relevant organisations to offer sporting opportunities for young people with impairments.

The project involved Riders' guard Jermaine Gonsalves visiting schools, providing basketball coaching for children with mild learning difficulties. As well as the basics of the skills of basketball, Gonsalves has been helping the teams with tactics and the rules of the game.

"This is a fantastic programme," said Head Coach Karl Brown. "After last year's tremendously successful event, this year's Festival is set to be another great day. The Riders are delighted to be involved in a programme that helps bring the great sport of basketball to everyone."

Around 70 children from Millgate Centre, Maplewell Hall, Piper Way, Western Park, Keyham Lodge, Ellesmere and Oaklands will compete between 10am and 2pm tomorrow in two different categories, primary and secondary.

The Special Schools Basketball Festival has been funded by an Awards 4 All grant.

02/02/2004
Finn the nick of time!

He left it late, but Leicester Riders' Head Coach Karl Brown has filled the gap in his roster just minutes before the transfer deadline with the capture of 6'1" guard Tero Minetti.

Minetti, 26, will become the first Finnish player ever to play for the Riders when he makes his debut against Scottish Phoenix Honda Record Rocks this Sunday.

"He's a hard-nosed player who will add an extra dimension to our backcourt," said Brown. "He's a good defensive player who will certainly help us and he can penetrate on offence as well as hitting the outside shot. Tero will give us an extra option and add depth to the side."

Although it will be his first season outside of his homeland, Minetti will have at least one familiar face on the team, having played alongside John Smith at Pyrbasket Tampere in Finland a couple of seasons ago.

Minetti has spent his whole career with Pyrbasket and in 2001 he helped them reach the Finnish Championship Final, whilst being named the league's Defensive Player of the Year at the same time.

He averaged around 10 points and 3 assists per game during his eight seasons with Pyrbasket.