Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/352862
47 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 JULY 2014 SPORTTODAY BASKETBALL FOOTBALL U18 Girls National Team defeat Gibraltar to reach final of the 2014 FIBA Europe (Div C) European Championships MALTESE basketball reached a new peak yesterday when the U18 Girls National Team reached the Final of the FIBA Europe (Div C) European Championships 2014, being held at Andorra. This is the fourth final for Malta from the six championships held this year by FIBA Europe for dif- ferent categories, after in the past month, the Under 16 Girls, the Under 16 Boys and the Senior Men national teams all played in the Final in their respective cat- egory. Under the guidance of Coach Sandro Farrugia, the girls found little trouble to pass by Gibral- tar in the semifinal, winning the game 57-22 after leading from start to finish. Christina Curmi led the team with 11 points and 8 rebounds, and Iona Agius added 10 points. Coach Farrugia utilised all 12 players available to him, and 11 ended up on the scoresheet. Today at 5:00pm, Malta will play for gold against Cyprus Floriana signs two more players TO continue in its efforts to strengthen the team for next sea- son Floriana Basketball Club is pleased to announce that Malta National team player Nigel Sul- tana has joined the club for the coming seasons. Considered by many one of the best talents of his generation, Nigel will not only strengthen the squad for the up- coming season, but is also an es- sential player for the long-term future of the club. Nigel, who spent the last seasons playing with Depiro BC, was also part of the Maltese National team which obtained a historic silver medal at the Small Nations Cham- pionships held in Gibraltar in July 2014. Also Floriana Basketball Club has reached an agreement with Luxol Basketball Club for the transfer of Marco Mercieca. Marco, who spent his entire senior career with Luxol, has won several honours with Luxol including the Louis Borg Cup in the last campaign. In the last years he was also ap- pointed club captain. Marco will surely bring a wealth of experience within a relatively young Floriana squad. Carlo Tavecchio caught up in racism row after 'banana eaters' comment CARLO Tavecchio, the favourite to become the next Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president, has been caught up in a racism storm after referring to African players as "banana eaters". The inf lux of foreign players has been a hot topic since the national team crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage and 71-year-old Tavecchio suggested Italy should replicate England's stringent re- quirements for non-EU players. "In England, they identify the players coming in and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play," Tavecchio said at the sum- mer assembly of Italy's amateur leagues (LND). "Here instead we get 'Opti Pobà', who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first team player with Lazio. "That's how it is here. In England, you need to demonstrate what you have on your CV and your pedi- gree." Questioned by reporters about the comments afterwards, Tavec- chio claimed that he could not remember what he had said in his own speech. "I can't remember if I said the word 'banana' but I was referring to the CV and professionalism re- quired by English football for play- ers who come from Africa or other countries." he explained. "If anyone has interpreted my speech as offensive, I offer my apologies." Tavecchio, the head of the LND, is expected to beat former AC Mi- lan and Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini to the top job in the Aug. 11 vote. The pair are both current- ly vice-presidents of the FIGC. The battle for control of Italian soccer's governing body comes af- ter the resignation of former presi- dent Giancarlo Abete, who stepped down immediately after Italy's embarrassing early exit from the World Cup. Carlo Tavecchio