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From overcoming language barriers to changing positions on the court, former Hong Kong basketball player Dale Lee Ka-yu is ready to take the leap by donning a Great Britain jersey for the first time this summer.
After 19 seasons playing in the local A1 division league, most notably Winlin and South China, and a few more years as a coach, the Hong Konger moved to the UK and started a new life in Nottingham, only to discover that the sport in which he had found his favorite player Waiting for him – 9,589 kilometers from home.
The 45-year-old is set to represent Team GB at the European Maxi Basketball Championship in June, but said the pace and physical nature of the game in England had taken him some time to get used to.
“A local friend told me about GB Maxi Basketball, and it just so happened that this year’s selection was being held in my neighborhood,” Lee said. “I signed up because I wanted to experience basketball in England.
“It’s a test for me after 30 years of playing sports. I want to know what my skill level and stamina are.” [among Europeans of similar age]”
GB MaxiBasketball is a performance program for elite athletes aged 35 and over, supported by the national basketball governing bodies of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
From an initial tryout of about 70 players, the 6-foot-1-inch Lee made it through the next two rounds to earn a spot on the top 12 team for the tournament in Pesaro, Italy.
“English is not my first language and in Hong Kong I’m used to playing around the paint, but here I play on the perimeter and also play point guard,” he said.
“The players here are probably 10 times as strong as the players back home and they are much more physical, especially when they play on the defensive side.
“And while in Hong Kong there was more of an emphasis on a ‘run-and-gun’ style and perimeter shooting, here we’re more focused on running sets and attacking the rim.”
Lee said some of his new teammates had previously played for the national team and could still dunk with ease, but his experience as both a player and a coach in Hong Kong meant he was a quality player. He said he was glad it helped him find a spot among the crowd.
“I have learned a lot over the years, especially from our days working together. [former South China coach] “Mensur Bajramovic taught me a lot about different basketball systems and enriched my knowledge on the court,” he said.
“Qualifying the spot is ironclad proof of what I have learned over the past 30 years. As long as Hong Kong athletes have the ability to compete and have the courage to try, it is the first step to success. .”
“The moment I received the call-up, I was speechless. I never thought I would be able to participate, so I think it was quite an accomplishment.”
After a successful career that saw him win six league titles and a further nine Senior Shield titles, Lee currently works as a teaching assistant in a secondary school PE department. A father of two, he is also a Level 2 referee and basketball coach in England.
The 12th FIMBA European Championship will be held from June 21 to 30, but instead of bringing his family with him, Lee has other plans for his family to experience the competition in Europe.
“Due to low funds, the Maxi players will have to pay for the trip, but we plan to take them to Paris to watch a basketball game during the Olympics in August,” he said. Ta.
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