Mountaineers not deterred despite cancellations

THE Toowoomba Mountaineers remain ready for a potential QSL season, and are prepared for the 2021 NBL1 North.

PUSHING FORWARD: The Toowoomba Mountaineers are disappointed, but not disheartened by the coronavirus pandemic that has impacted the season. Picture: File

BASKETBALL: The coronavirus pandemic has had a sweeping impact across the sporting landscape.

One of the hardest hit organisations has been the Toowoomba Mountaineers, who were deep into preparations for the NBL1 North season before the inaugural edition of the competition was abandoned.

It served as a cruel blow for the club, who was amid an ideal preparation after a horror 2019 season.

Mountaineers chairman Lindsay Weber said that it has been tough on the organisation with such high expectations for the year ahead.

“At the end of the season last year and heading into this year, to the point of COVID-19 hitting, we had one of the most competitive teams the Toowoomba Mountaineers have had for years, both men and women” Weber said.

“We had an awesome response from our sponsors so that we could fund the program.”

Senior coaches Martyn Ford and Karina Agius said things were planning out perfectly from an on-court perspective.

“The player interest (particularly the men) generated by the coaching team on the back of the Toowoomba Basketball Association competitions and in particular the junior Mountaineers, has been amazing,” they said.

“Never before have we had so many local players seek selection.

“The result of that was we had three men’s teams (NBL1 North and two QSL teams) training and ready to go.

“The women though struggling early had a very competitive squad by the end of the period with a combination of local girls, previous players and two of the best imports you could wish for.

“Four imports were signed, their airfares were paid for, visas and accommodations were sorted.”

They’re not giving up hope of playing competitive basketball again this year, with Basketball Queensland refusing to cancel the Queensland State League season.

Weber said this would be a viable option for the Mountaineers for local players.

“The Mountaineer Board had no other option but to place the NBL1 North program on hold for 12 months, with that competition not taking place,” he said.

“We are still waiting for the appropriate time when the government opens up the approvals to play. If that is the case, we will look to have men’s teams and a women’s team in the QSL.”

Operations director John Gouldson added that they hoped Basketball Queensland would proceed with the season.

“Door takings haven’t always been the most significant part of Mountaineers income, but if the QSL runs we would focus on trying to attract more spectators,” he said.

“The beautiful part of the QSL is that is an affordable competition with no airfares and being based in the southeast corner there is limited cost for travel.

“Looking forward to 2021 financial arrangements the Mountaineers board are grateful that most sponsors are happy to carry over their sponsorship and In most instances we’ve been able to get refunds for 2020 expenses paid.

“The only area we’ve lost out on is the cost of airfares for import players. We do have vouchers courtesy of Qantas and Virgin though but only time will tell what they are worth.”

Weber acknowledged this was a disappointing period, he said that some things are bigger than basketball, and the Mountaineers would be firing in 2021.

“From my point of view, you have to put things into perspective and being passionate about basketball this is something that we’ve found hard,” he said.

“We’re very conscious of the fact this is a sport which we’re trying to grow towards a business, but we know from a sponsors point of view, a major focus has to be their own lives and livelihoods.

“We’re conscious that business is doing it tough at the moment and we don’t want to unnecessarily burden them.

“The COVID – 19 has been like a huge sledgehammer, especially when the club has made the efforts to be so well prepared and have such a promising 2020 in front of us.

“It has been immensely disappointing, but life goes on as it’s only a game.

“We will survive, and we will be ready for next year.”

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