Great Britain’s men’s squad decided for Euros

The British wheelchair basketball squad is preparing for the European Championships with the Continental Clash, which begins on Monday (10 June). 10 Jun 2013

Abdi Jama captained Great Britain's men's team at the 2013 IWBF European Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Frankfurt, Germany.

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By Nate Williams | For the IPC

“With the best teams in Europe taking part, there will be no easy games but we believe we have chosen a very strong team who can compete at the highest level.”

Great Britain’s men’s wheelchair basketball team will try defend their 2011 European Championship title later this month with a squad that extends from six-time Paralympian Simon Munn to 18-year-old Harry Brown.

Head coach Haj Bhania will lead the team to Frankfurt, Germany for the IWBF European Championships, which run from 28 June-7 July.

Bhania will make his coaching debut at the Championships and has selected five new faces to add to the London 2012 squad that finished one place short of a medal last summer.

In addition to Brown, who, at just 16 helped the team to European gold in Israel two years ago, the team has been bolstered by the return of 2008 Paralympic bronze medallists Joe Bestwick and Simon Brown.

Abdi Jama, another 2008 Paralympic bronze medallist who takes over from the retired Jon Pollock, will captain the squad. Top scorer Terry Bywater and fast playmaker Ade Orogbemi also feature in the team.

Newcomers Martin Edwards and Kyle Marsh complete the squad and make their senior European debut.

Great Britain opens their European Championship campaign against host nation Germany on 28 June when the tournament tips off at 20:15 local time.

Bhania said: “With an extremely strong squad of players performing to a high level over the past few months, we found ourselves in the great – but difficult – situation of having to make a tough selection.

“With the best teams in Europe taking part, there will be no easy games but we believe we have chosen a very strong team who can compete at the highest level.”

The defending European Champions will prepare for the tournament by competing in the Continental Clash against Canada, Spain and Germany at the University of Worcester Arena, which begins on Monday (10 June).

Here’s the complete Frankfurt 2013 roster for Great Britain’s men’s team:

Abdi Jama (30, Liverpool)

Matt Byrne (38, Nottingham)

Simon Brown (27, Kingsbury, London)

Kyle Marsh (23, Wolverhampton)

Harry Brown (18, Halifax)

Ade Orogbemi (35, Liverpool)

Ian Sagar (31, Barnsley)

Simon Munn (45, Peacehaven, East Sussex)

Gaz Choudhry (27, Ealing, London)

Terry Bywater (30, Redcar, Middlesborough)

Joe Bestwick (28, Nottingham)