i would like to hear from Manute on this before i comment...

i have often thought they should be playing bball more. It seems they prefer soccer though, i have a friend from Uganda and he was the same. Plays ball now and is great, but he grew up with soccer as its much easier to play ie don't need as much equipment.

The political rethoric here hasn't stopped at Hanson, Andrews, Vanstone et al has it? Maybe we should ditch all things basketball and devote our collective genius in world fecundity levels Vs ability to feed oneself as a basis for Australian immigration policy?

Just another Random idea. Have you got of my long lost inheretance that you could send me if i post you some bucks?

been overseas for a while so i'm not exactly up to date. What brings this up? is there some kind of stigma against these ppl and is it JuSt sudanese or the wider african community in general?

Sween, those are Nigerian scams, but anyway!

MIA, there was a piece recently about Sudanese being discriminated against in the very tight rental market, and obviously Hanson piping up interstate with her ridiculous POV never helps, but other than that, I'm not aware of significant issues.

The racial issue de jour in Adelaide is of an Aboriginal gang causing trouble in some suburbs.

There was also an article about racial prejudice recently (7:30 report?) in one of the NSW/QLD country towns (it may have been Dubbo) where there was a proposal by the Federal Government to resettle five (yes, 5) Sudanese families to the area.

The local council commissioned a report into the resourcing strain on local resources caused by such a resettlement program, the result of which was that there would be no significant further burden on Council and local amenities.

Not to be detered, the Council then commissioned a mini-referendum on the proposal to local residents, supported by a very bigoted Q&A Fact Sheet, which not surprisingly came back 60/40 against the resettlement proposal. On that basis, the Council refused the Federal Government's proposal.

The one or two Sudanese families already living in Dubbo stated that they felt that they were being persecuted, and were daily being discriminated against in the area.

One or two of the Councillors were very vocally opposed to the Council's decision and alleged that it was racially based.

All in all, further proof that racial tensions are alive and well in Australia. Also happens to be in one of the areas that would vote for the likes of Hanson.

Sorry to Dubbo if it wasn't there. Can't recall exactly which city it was, but Dubbo seems to strike a chord.

I currently coach 4 Sudanese teenagers in my basketball squad, currently train with 3 other Sudanese adults and have spent many an ABL game watching basketball with their friends. The game has been great for people to be introduced to Sudanese people and Sudanese people to the wider community.

However I don't think Basketball is a sport full of bigots to start with, so the people who are spreading these perceptions of the Sudanese community won't change their opinion because a few guys are playing basketball.

There has been no issues of prejudice on the basketball court or around the club, but I know of some incidents which have occurred to the players away from basketball unfortunately.

At least its a start though double clutch and you're right, there may not be any bigots within the game itself but I think a larger problem is the assimilation factor and exposing Sudanese poeple or any other foreign people really to some aspect of Ausrtalian culture will only work in their favour.

It's harder to blindly write off a group if you have an association with them (e.g., basketball). As Rodney said, it shouldn't hurt.

Issac, There is Sudan the country and The Sudan, a North Central African region from which (not only Nigeria) scam originate. A high % of The Sudan is desert.

I am loathed to consider anything that eminated from Ms Hanson as being gospel but make the point that Sudan is nowhere near South Africa.
I do not see country of origin as being criterium for playing baketball in South Australia. Clubs atre mostly interested in numbers and can accomodate those wishing to play regardless of their skill level. Andrews wont stop them.

my post was really in response to double clutch's but in regards to what you're saying, I would like to think that when two cultures meet in a positive environment such as basketball, it should work in both parties favour. I already looked (not in depth) at a small way in which it would help the Sudanese but for locals its exposure to a different culture, different but similar values, perspectives etc. In regards to what they can do for the game, the values of the game are universal. commmitment, dedication, sportsmanship, passion and also a degree of talent. if any individual posseses these then he or she can only have a positive impact on the game but like I said, these values are universal and apply to any group.