The Irish Senior International Wheelchair Basketball team have left for Latvia as favorites to win Division C of the European Championships. The team, which has been training for the tournament since last September, represent Ireland’s best ever chance of coming top of the league and progressing to the prestigious Division B. Wheelchair basketball is the largest and most organised of wheelchair sports in Ireland.
Mark Rohan, from Ballinahown, Athlone, is on the team and is very much looking forward to the tournament. Mark, who also competes internationally at wheelchair tennis, captained the basketball team in 2007 and says he is very confident of his team’s chances of making Division B. Speaking at Dublin Airport, he said, “We have been working towards this goal since the team was selected in September. I know we can do it.”
The team of twelve includes a number of Paralympians and is made up of players who were born with a disability and others who acquired it. The team will travel with four staff, and are led by experienced head coach and French Canadian, Alain Trembley. Trembley has a history of success with the team, positioning them as sixth in Europe during the 2007 Championships.
