The Afghanistan men's national basketball team (Pashto: د افغانستان د نارینه وو د باسکېتبال ملي لوبډله ) is the men's national basketball team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan National Basketball Federation. Afghanistan joined FIBA and became a member of FIBA Asia in 1968. Afghanistan won the 2010 South Asian Games, becoming the first sports team to win gold in the nation's history.
History Early history Basketball was first played in Afghanistan in 1936. In 1966, the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee (ANOC) founded the first national basketball team after receiving challenges from India and Pakistan. Tom Gouttierre, an American Peace Corps volunteer and coach of the team at Habibia High School, became the first coach. Using detailed, confidential instructions from John Wooden, the Afghanistan team became the only other to run the famous UCLA zone press.
Although the international games were canceled, in 1969 Gouttierre returned on a Fulbright Fellowship and again became the Habibia coach, and in 1970 Bill Bradley of the New York Knicks tutored the team while visiting the country. That year China challenged the ANOC. Because of the lack of preparation time, Gouttierre decided that current and former Habibia players were the best choice for a second Afghanistan national team. Using the zone press, it defeated a much larger Chinese team in Parwan Province in the Afghanistan team's first international victory.
FIBA Asia Cup Afghanistan has failed to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup, while as well as only entering in the qualification rounds only once in 2013 when they entered in the South Asian Basketball Association Qualifying Round. Afghanistan would defeat Nepal before losing to India and failing to qualify for the Asia Cup. This is their only appearance in FIBA Asia Cup qualification rounds to date.
Asian Games Afghanistan has made two brief appearance in the Asian Games in 2006 and 2010. Both times the men's national team would struggle for success and failing to qualify outside the first round in both years respectively. The 2010 edition would be marked as the last time Afghanistan has played any competitive men's national teams games.
South Asian Games Afghanistan would see their best success in international competition in the form of the 2010 edition of the South Asian Games. They would defeat India and claim gold in what has been their only appearance in the South Asian Games to date.
Competitive record
Summer Olympics
YearPosition 1936Not a FIBA member 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 Did not enter 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 2028Total0/22000
FIBA World Cup
YearPosition 1950Not a FIBA member 1954 1959 1963 1967 1970 Did not enter 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2019 2023 2027 2031Total0/21000
FIBA Asia Cup
YearPosition 1960Not a FIBA member 1963 1965 1967 1969Did not enter 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013Did not qualify 2015Did not enter 2017 2022 20252029Total0/32000
Asian Games
1970-2002 : Did not qualify 2006 : 13th 2010 : 13th 2014-2022 : Did not qualify
South Asian Games
YearPosition 1987Not part of SAOC until 2004 1991 1995 2010??? 2019Left SAOC in 2016Total0/5000
Honours South Asian Games Gold Medal: 2010
Coaches Head Coach:* Mamo Rafiq – 2007-now
Assistant Coach: * Abdul Wasi Pazhman - 2010
Assistant Coach: * Leo Balayon - 2009
2010 team The following twelve players were named to the roster for the 2010 Asian Games.
Depth chart
See also Afghanistan women's national basketball team
External links Asia-basket - Afghanistan Men National Team Presentation on Facebook
Videos Afghanistan Basketball Team Youtube.com video
References