Hoopsters strike to show solidarity with A2 players
The players on the national basketball team announced yesterday they are beginning a strike in solidarity with the players in the Greek second division – the A2. The players are demanding that the A2 teams be granted professional status and be fully insured as their A1 colleagues are. «All this time, we have been waiting for the competent authorities, and particularly the [Hellenic Basketball] Federation (EOK), to offer solutions to the huge problems that players are facing. Instead there was an inhuman attack on A2 players; an attack that was unfortunately planned by the federation itself,» said the players, referring to the failed meeting that the union of Greek players (PSAK) had held with EOK and the alleged threats against those taking strike action. «We refuse to serve the federation from now on, unless it withdraws its threats for a lockout and the blackmail of A2 players, addresses all our demands until their complete solution and changes its attitude toward players,» reads the national team players’ statement. They also pledged never to abandon their A2 colleagues. The national team does not have anymore competitive fixtures ahead this year as it has already qualified directly for next summer’s European Basketball Championship. The players’ strike has already affected the Greek Cup, which should have been into its fourth round by now but has not begun due to the strike.
