[02 OCT 10] CRUSADER NEWS

Crusaders Take Shape

By Adam Manning

New Crusaders head coach Roger Payne expects his side to ‘make some noise’ in EBL Division One this season as he looks for his new-look squad to improve on the third from bottom league finish last season.

The only players to remain from last year are forward Simon Payne and shooting guard Kane Hudson, and Payne has wasted no time in signing six new players. An American influx is expected over the coming days to complete Payne’s revolution.

The most notable coup for the club has been the singing of versatile ‘rebounding machine’ Damilola Fakunle from coach Payne’s former club Edmonton Storm.

If Fakunle’s Crusaders debut is anything to go by then fans are in for a real treat - he top scored with 38 points against Warwickshire in the Festival of Basketball at Warwick University back in June.

He is joined by an experienced Worcester Wolves duo: guard Roy Owen and forward Siman Stewart. Point guard Michael Gale from Germany and London-based players Louis Young and Lee Cascoe make up the current eight-man squad. 

"We have a lot of work to do” admitted Payne, who is looking for consistent player availability in order to build upon last year’s low league finish. “But the guys are working hard and buying into the system.  There are no easy games and we must treat every game as a cup final.”

Keep checking crusaders.co.uk when we’ll be putting up profiles of each new player before the season tips off on 10^th October at home to Nottingham Hoods (4.00pm).

  Main Menu | News | Crusaders Take Shape  02 OCT 2010