"It's not just players who have emigrated, but coaches too.

Ittihad, Jaish, Wathbah and Karamah will play in the Syrian League semifinals. "The head of Syria's Basketball Federation, Daniel Zoalkefl, said the national league has "lost more than 120 players" who have joined the exodus from their war-battered country.Jotting down the names of the 12 players attending practice, Zoalkefl said the sport also faces other challenges. Syrian National Team 2020 (video) - 6 months ago Iran Starts FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on High Note (video) - 6 months ago Syria delivered comfortable win over Bahrain in Amman (video) - 6 months ago The back-up generator was broken, so coaches were forced to wind up training early. "The conflict's eruption six years ago led to the suspension of Syria's national league, which was replaced by provincial leagues until 2015 when the national competition was restored.On the court, power forward Anthony Bakar fired the ball back and forth with his teammates before dunking it, helped by his imposing 6-foot-5 height. There were no spectators for the evening training session, just a handful of managers and league officials.Just before practice ended, the power cut. Syria national basketball team represents Syria in international basketball competitions. Jaish overcame Wahda 84:55 convincingly. "It had negative consequences on the league's strength. "There's a sort of semi-siege. Jaish rallied past Wahda 84:66 to secure the sweep.

With the constant power cuts that plague Syria, he has to find fuel for the generators to ensure Al-Fayhaa - the Syrian capital's most famous gym - can even keep the lights on.The gym itself is run down and its air conditioners have been out of order for months, so training sessions are usually held at night when the mercury eases to more bearable levels.Government warplanes can be heard overhead on their way to or from raids on opposition-held areas near the capital.The thud of shells fired by rebels onto nearby neighbourhoods echo through the gym during practice. Ittihad, Jaish and Wathbah swept their respective quarterfinal series. Europe: North America ... Asia » Syria » basketball National Team : Syrian Men National Team 2020. Sign in. Things aren't easy, but we've gotten used to it. "The situation was very tough at the beginning of the crisis. Since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, Khoury's team has seen its ranks dwindle and its options for training venues shrink. But today it puts a lump in our throats." I miss the crowds and the packed halls," he said. For those who stayed, it's hard to get out to a field to train because of the security situation," said Hadi Darwish, who became head coach in December.Going to training camps abroad is virtually impossible. "Our challenge is to build something, to build a national team that is ready to compete and represent the country in the best way possible," said Nenad Krdzic, a Serbian coach. "Some players have gone abroad and many others to do military service, so it's natural for players to stay on until they're older," said the small forward. There are many countries that won't let us in, and visas are difficult to obtain and take lots of time," said Darwish. The Syria women's national basketball team is the nationally controlled basketball team representing Syria at world basketball competitions for women, administered by the Syrian Basketball Federation. He played last season at Pentelis. Kamarah had to survive the decider to advance. "I miss my friends. Khalil Khoury dribbles a basketball deftly down the dilapidated gym where he and the rest of the Syrian national team train, passing it through his legs before a silky-smooth lay-up. "My teammate Michael Madanly is about 20 years older than me," he told AFP during a break from practice at Al-Fayhaa sports center in Damascus. "But it affects physical fitness, and it will show when we play with young teams. The regular season winners claimed a 75:65 road win in the Game 1. Wathbah knocked down Thawra 98:75 to rally into the next round. The second game is scheduled for July 25.

Khalil Khoury dribbles a basketball deftly down the dilapidated gym where he and the rest of the Syrian national team train, passing it through his legs before a silky-smooth lay-up.Since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, Khoury's team has seen its ranks dwindle and its options for training venues shrink.But it still practices and competes, including in the prestigious FIBA Asia Cup championship to be held on August 8-20 in neighboring Lebanon.Among the league's biggest challenges has been retaining talent, with players emigrating, doing their military service, or being injured or killed in the conflict.One tell-tale sign of the struggle is the unusually large age gap within the current lineup.