Veteran Hong Kong basketball star Li heading to European Championships with Great Britain team
- Dale Li thought his playing days were behind him when he relocated to Nottingham, now he’s preparing to suit up against best in Europe
- Maxibasketball competition is for players 35 and over, and will take place in Italy in June
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From overcoming the language barrier to changing position on the court, former Hong Kong basketball player Dale Li Ka-yiu is ready to make the leap and don the Great Britain jersey for the first time this summer.
After playing in the local A1 Division league for 19 seasons, most notably for Winling and South China, and then spending a couple more as a coach, the Hongkonger moved to the United Kingdom to start a new life in Nottingham, only to find his favourite sport waiting for him – 9,589 kilometres away from home.
The 45-year-old will represent Team GB at the Maxibasketball European Championships in June, and said the pace and physical nature of the game in the UK had taken some getting used to.
“A local friend told me about GB Maxibasketball, and they happened to host this year’s selection in my neighbourhood,” Li said. “I wanted to experience basketball in the UK so I signed up for it.
“It’s a test for me after playing the sport for 30 years, I’d like to know where my skill level and stamina stand [among Europeans of similar age].”
GB Maxibasketball, which is supported by every home nation basketball governing body in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, is a performance programme for elite players aged 35-plus years.
From the first tryout of around 70 players, the 6ft 1in Li survived the next two rounds to earn a spot on the 12-strong squad for the competition in Pesaro, Italy.
“English is not my first language, and I am used to playing around the paint in Hong Kong, but here I play on the perimeter and am even the point guard,” he said.
“A player’s strength here is probably 10 times that of those back home, the physicality is much higher, especially when playing on the defensive end.
“And while Hong Kong focused more on the ‘run-and-gun’ style and perimeter shooting, we rely more on running sets and attacking the rim here.”
Li said some of his new teammates had previously represented the country, and could still dunk with ease, but he was glad his experience both as a player and a coach in Hong Kong had helped him find a spot among a pool of quality players.
“I learned a lot over the years, especially from the days working alongside [former South China coach] Mensur Bajramovic, who taught me a lot about different basketball systems and enriched my knowledge on the court,” he said.
“Making the cut is iron proof of what I have learned over the last three decades, Hong Kong players have the ability to go aboard, it’s the first step to success as long as they dare to try.
“I was beyond words the moment I received the call-up, I didn’t really expect to make it, so it’s quite an achievement I guess.”
Having enjoyed a decorated career with six leagues and nine more Senior Shield titles, Li is now working as a teaching assistant in the PE department at a secondary school. The father of two is also a level two referee and is taking coaching courses with Basketball England.
The 12th FIMBA European Championship run from June 21 to 30, but Li is not bringing his family with him and has other plans to let them experience the game in Europe.
“Maxi players need to pay their expenses for the trips because there’s little funding, but I’ll be taking them to Paris to watch some basketball games during the Olympics in August,” he said.
