American to coach RI basketball team

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Basketball Association announced Saturday it would hire an American coach for its men's team, which is scheduled to participate in the 19th SEA Games here next year.

Sutiyoso, executive chairman of the basketball body, said an English-speaking coach was needed after his players complained about communication problems with their current Russian coach, Nikolai Arkhipov.

However, Sutiyoso said he has yet to consider Arkhipov's resignation, pending an evaluation meeting that follows the SEA Basketball Association championship now underway in Surabaya, East Java until Friday. (amd)