A file picture taken on April 18, 2013 of Al Rayyan coach Brian Rowsom. Rowsom played 82 games, scoring a total of 457 points during his NBA career with Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: The decision to bring in ‘good imports’ and the development of home-grown professional basketball players will take the game forward in Qatar, Al Rayyan’s American coach Brian Rowsom has said.
Rowsom, who played for Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets, on Friday guided Al Rayyan to their second major trophy of the season when they beat Al Sadd in the Emir Cup final.
It was the second title victory for Rowsom who saw his side – the game’s giants in the country - win the Heir Apparent triumph last month after his players were beaten to the National League crown by Al Sadd.
With jostling for titles getting intense among the top clubs, Rowsom, 52, seems anything but worried.
“The league is getting better with other clubs bringing good imports,” Rowsom said when asked about the development of the game in Qatar.
“Their local players are developing. Also, they (Al Rayyan’s rivals) don’t have the fear factor. They are not afraid of Al Rayyan anymore,” the former NBA player said.
“So they feel they can win if they play well. It makes it tougher for Al Rayyan but also a challenge. That’s what I like,” he added.
“It’s become a lot better. I have been here for four years now. Since I have come here, the league has just gotten better,” Rowsom said.
“The players are getting better every year. Right now you see that there is more balance in the league,” he explained.
“It used to be that Al Rayyan was at a higher level and all the other clubs were at this (gestures with his hand) level.
“But the league is more balanced and makes the league more exciting for all the clubs, for the media and for the fans. Now every club can win. They (the clubs) play well,” he said.
The Al Rayyan coach said his team was being under pressure by other improving sides.
“It is a little bit of both - that Al Rayyan may have slowed down and others have come up. Al Rayyan’s players are getting older. You have seen most of them playing a long time. Saleem, Erfan - those guys have been there a long time with Al Rayyan. They are getting older, of course,” he said.
Despite the resurgence of basketball as a popular sport in the country, Rowsom wants to see greater fans attending the games.
“I am happy when they (the fans) come - especially for the finals, there are always a lot of people - but I wish there were more spectators at all the matches,” Rowsom said.
“When I am looking at the games in the Middle East - in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran or Dubai - there’s a lot of spectators come to the matches (of their teams). I want them to do also the same here. Maybe we have to promote it more so that the fans know that there’s a game on,” he said.
Rowsom’s opposite number, Al Sadd coach Dejan Tomic - who helped his side to the Qatar National League title last month - echoed the sentiments of Rowson.
“Qatar have done well in the last 10 years. I am speaking about basketball,” Tomic said.
“Everyone knows that Qatar play top events (in basketball). It is excellent way to promote the country,” he added.
“I am impressed with them (Qatar’s love for sport). I noticed that Qatar Olympic Committee doing a great job on all sports. You can see in banners and hoardings in the streets and the shopping malls. I know it is a good thing and a good decision - I am talking in general – to promote the country through sport,” Tomic said.
THE PENINSULA
