Riders’ US stars finally allowed to return to UK
VISA DELAYS HAD PREVENTED CRANDALL AND JACKSON COMING BACK
LEICESTER Riders’ American duo Geno Crandall and Zach Jackson have finally been allowed to fly back to UK – just in time for the team’s opening match of the BBL season tomorrow night.
Head coach Rob Paternostro has breathed a sigh of relief after the US American guards’ work permits were finally released.
There have been delays with the issuing of visas for many BBL and WBBL players because of Covid restrictions and changes.
But Paternostro was left particularly frustrated because both Crandall, the BBL Player of the Year last season, and Jackson, who played for Riders in the first half of last season, are returning BBL players who have previously been through the visa system.
Riders secured the intervention of Jon Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, to speed up the process.
Both players are now expected to be available for Riders’ opening qualifying pool match in the BBL Cup tomorrow night (8pm) against the Bristol Flyers and on Sunday (4pm) against the Surrey Scorchers, with both games at the Morningside Arena.
Paternostro said: “It has been a very challenging pre-season and to say I am a little frustrated is an understatement.
“I don’t really have a good feel where we are at, bar the conditioning of individual players, so we are going to have to learn that through the Cup qualifying.
“It has been frustrating, there is no doubt about it.
“The good news is both Geno and Zach have been here before and know the ropes.
“I don’t have to worry too much about them adjusting to the style of play in the BBL.
“But we have a lot of work to do to figure out the roles of various guys and our best combinations.
“That takes time every year, so we will be just starting a little bit further back this season.
“There is no getting away from the need to do the repetitions and trying various combinations – both offensively and defensively. “It has given a chance to have a good look at the other new guys and I like what I see. “Marc Loving showed what he was capable of in the Sheffield match last Friday night, once he had a week’s training here under his belt. “Throwing him in the deep end in Holland when he had just flown in and did not even know the other guys’ names was a little unfair. “These guys are professionals so they will come in fit and raring to go, but it always takes time to get the timings right – especially on offence.
“I have been impressed with Loving more each day and he has all the tools to be a very effective player in this league. “Meanwhile, we will see what we can get out of this weekend and then really wind up the intensity over the next few weeks.”