BC “Prometey” is not planning to apply to the High league. It is said in the open letter to the Basketball Federation of Ukraine. In it, “Prometey” conveys its position regarding the situation around participation of BC “Prometey” team in the Championship of Ukraine among Division “A” (Superleague) men’s teams in the 2023-2024 season.
The letter of BC “Prometey” to the Basketball Federstion of Ukraine
Regarding the situation around participation of BC “Prometey” team in the Championship of Ukraine among Division “A” (Superleague) men’s teams in the 2023-2024 season.
First of all, we would like to thank all the supporters and fans of Ukrainian basketball and, most importantly, to the players of the National basketball team of Ukraine, who, in their letter, supported BC “Prometey” and its rights for participation in the 2023-2024 season Superleague.
In this hard time for the country, we do not want to contend with the Basketball Federation of Ukraine, but we cannot help but react to the response of the FBU president Mykhailo Brodskyi to the letter of the Ukrainian national team players.
Mykhailo Yuriyovych, in your answer you refer to the contract signed on March 15, 2023 between the Public Union "Basketball Federation of Ukraine" in the person of General Secretary Volodymyr Drabikovskyi, the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League in the person of Board members Kaspars Cipruss, Kristaps Janicenoks, Keio Kygi and Henri Auzmaa and Basketball club"Prometey", which was sent and registered to FIBA Europe.
After the signing the agreement, on April 22, 2023 in his interview to Tribuna.com, the General Secretary of the FBU Volodymyr Drabikovskyi stated that BC “Prometey” would participate in the Superleague in the 2023-2024 season.
The link to the interview: https://ua.tribuna.com/uk/basketball/1000000061808-vladimir-drabikovskij-prometej-budet-igrat-v-sleduyushhe/?utm_sourse=copy.
According to clause 2.5 of this Agreement, the Basketball Federation committed to:
- within three days from the moment of signing this Agreement by the Parties, grant permission and take other actions (if necessary) regarding the participation of the Club's team in the PAF Estonian Latvian Basketball League during the 2023-2024 season, as well as inform FIBA;
- ensure the registration of the Club's players in accordance with FIBA regulatory documents; Basketball Federation of Ukraine (international transfer of players);
According to clause 2.1 of the Agreement, basketball club “Prometey” committed to:
- unconditionally let the players of the National teams of Ukraine go in case of receiving a summons from the FBU in accordance with the terms of the summons;
- ensure proper participation of the team in the Ukrainian Basketball Championship among Division "A" (Super League) men's teams during the 2023-2024 seasons;
- ensure the proper participation of 3 teams (boys) in the All-Ukrainian Youth Basketball League in the 2023-2024 season and additionally one team (girls) in the 2024-2025 season;
- ensure the participation of Ukrainian players in each game of the Club in the PAF Estonian Latvian Basketball League, namely the presence of at least four Ukrainian players in the technical application of the team for each game.
Besides that, the day before the signing this Agreement, exactly on the initiative of the FBU and personally Mykhailo Brodskyi the clause 2.2 was included, which provides for the following:
Any players of the Club team who are registered for the season of the PAF Estonian Latvian Basketball League cannot be in the roster of the Club's team participating in the Championship of Ukraine during the same season.
Therefore, your statement at the end of the response to the letter of Ukrainian national team players, that you once again raised the issue of BC "Prometey" participation in the Superleague championship only if the National team players return to play in the Ukrainian championship, is completely incomprehensible to us.
In addition, we inform the basketball community of Ukraine that BC "Prometey" sent a letter to the FBU that it is ready to support the National team of Ukraine and donate 3 million hryvnias in sponsorship.
In this difficult time, during the war we all need to be united; we really want to support FBU and entire Ukrainian basketball, save BC "Prometey" as a part of Ukrainian basketball and ask to reconsider the decision regarding the club's participation in the Ukrainian Basketball Championship among Division A (Superleague) men's teams in the 2023-2024 season, taking into account the provisions of the contract concluded with the FBU.
Perhaps, the decision to exclude the club from the Superleague was made by the Executive Committee members due to non-aquaintance of the terms of the Agreement that was signed.
If so, our club is ready to publish the contract, signed by all parties, for the entire basketball community.
P.S. BC "Prometey" informs that it is not planning to apply to the High League, as it has a coaching and playing staff formed even before last season, which will compete with dignity for the title of Ukrainian champion. Many of our players are Ukrainian National team players of different age groups or candidates for the National team, and, for their further growth, they have all rights and must play in the strongest Ukrainian basketball league.
