JBF still considering options for player naturalization

An undated photo of Jordanian national team center, Dar Tucker. The naturalized US native is currently suffering from a knee injury that will require him to undergo surgery
An undated photo of Jordanian national team center, Dar Tucker. The naturalized US native is currently suffering from a knee injury that will require him to undergo surgery. (Photo: FIBA)
AMMAN — Jordan Basketball Federation (JBF) Secretary General Nabeel Abu Ata said “options are still open” regarding the identity of the naturalized foreign player who will represent the Kingdom at upcoming international events. اضافة اعلان

The Kingdom’s naturalized center, Dar Tucker, is currently suffering from a knee injury that will require surgical intervention, preventing him from playing at the last window of the Asian qualifiers.

“Physicians are currently assessing Dar’s Tucker’s injury, who remains our top pick should we find ourselves unable to naturalize a replacement,” Abu Ata said, adding: “The alternative, Justin Dentmon, is not our preference for the time being, considering the excess of local playmakers and scorers; positions occupied by several players, most notably: Freddy Ibrahim, Mahmoud Abdin, Amine Abu Hawas, Sami Bzaigh, Malek Kanaan, Mousa Al-Awadi, Ibrahim Hamati and Mitri Bousheh.”

“Changes to the national team’s style of play, in the presence of its technical team — led by Marwan Matouq and coaches Mohammad Hamdan and Wesam Al-Sous — have led us to consider the naturalization of another player who can occupy the positions of power forward and center,” Abu Ata explained.

The federation official noted that there are several options for the naturalization of players from the US, Europe and Canada, as well as an Arab-American player, adding that the issue of Tucker’s alternative will be settled at the end of this week.

“We are facing two challenges in selecting a player to naturalize. We must first make sure that he is available to play at any time, especially during the final window of the qualifiers and Asia Cup finals in June and August.  The second challenge is related to official procedures pertaining to the naturalization process, which may take a long a time, which is why we are working simultaneously on all fronts between the two stages,” Abu Ata elaborated.

He added that the federation will take care of all the paperwork and naturalization protocols. “We cannot control matters of registration, but we will do what we can and send the application to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)”.

Abu Ata underscored that if the federation fails to naturalize a new player, Dar Tucker will remain the first choice for the Asian tournament.

The JBF has set forth the selection criteria for the naturalized player in line with the technical team’s vision. “…The player has to be a strong scorer to carry the team and make a strong addition in his position, in addition to serving the national team’s new offense identity,” Abu Ata said, noting that the athlete in question must also be able to keep up with naturalized players on the South Korean and Japanese teams or any others Jordan may face in the Asia Cup finals in Indonesia.


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