Golnoor's focus is on the revival of grassroots basketball and the development of women's sports
Mohammad Amini, chairman of the board of Golnoor Club, speaking to reporters on the eve of the centennial of Isfahan basketball, emphasized that with continued support, the future of basketball is bright, saying: “We must create conditions so that Isfahan basketball reaches a level in terms of financial and cultural structure where young players can grow and the province’s teams can succeed.”
He added: “Isfahan basketball is currently in a situation where we have only one prominent player in the national team, and even he is struggling to be in the lineup; therefore, reviving grassroots basketball and creating a professional platform for improving the sport must be on the agenda.” The chairman of the board of Golnoor Club continued: “We started grassroots basketball in Isfahan in 1395 (2016–17), and today we see talented players being introduced to the national league and the super league. It is a long and challenging path, but our effort is focused on reviving Isfahan basketball by concentrating on local players.”
In another part of his remarks, he noted: “A humane and equal outlook in sports is very important to us, and our full support for women’s and men’s teams and providing equal opportunities to participate in the league are among our serious programs.” Golnoor Club considers itself committed to cultural and environmental values as well as sports.
Player development is a continuous process
Amini elaborated on the situation of basketball in Isfahan and Iran and said: “We entered basketball to create a suitable and professional environment for the growth of Isfahani players and to help revive this sport in the province; in this regard, we started our activities in grassroots categories in 1395 (2016–17), and today we have reached a point where we can introduce players capable of playing in the first division and the super league.”
Noting that player development is a continuous process that must continue from grassroots to professional teams, he added: “In the under-16 category, only one out of every twelve players can reach the professional level, and this statistic shows that working in grassroots categories requires precise planning and patience.”
The importance of focusing on grassroots basketball
Emphasizing that Golnoor Isfahan Cultural and Sports Club is active in basketball across all age groups, he reminded: “The men’s basketball team of Golnoor Club participated in the Premier League for the first time last year and finished fifth last season, and the club, as a financial sponsor of the Isfahan Basketball Federation, supports the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Isfahan basketball and has a program to honor the veterans of Naqsh-e Jahan basketball.”
Amini also spoke about the financial and cultural issues of investing in sports: “Many industries and individuals refrain from entering professional sports due to fear of administrative and financial problems, and the reason is the negative perception of team ownership that has formed among the industries of the province.” The CEO of Golnoor Isfahan continued, emphasizing that the development of basketball depends on investing in grassroots teams and providing equal opportunities for athletes in this sport: “As the centennial of Isfahan basketball approaches, Golnoor Club seeks to play an effective role in promoting Iranian basketball by supporting the basketball federation.”
Basketball House is supported
He also referred to Golnoor programs to support women’s sports and noted: “This year, the Isfahan women’s youth team is being supported under the title of Basketball House so that they can have a successful year. This initiative is in line with the development of women’s sports and creating equal opportunities for talents.”
Hosting a basketball tournament with the participation of renowned teams
Emad Cheloungar, CEO of Golnoor Isfahan Cultural and Sports Club, also spoke at this meeting, referring to the successes of Golnoor Club in the children and youth categories, and stated: “By inviting experienced coaches, we have a special program for nurturing the future talents of basketball in the country.”
He acknowledged: “Holding a basketball tournament with the participation of renowned teams in this sport on the occasion of the centennial of Isfahan basketball is another program of this club in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Isfahan basketball.” Cheloungar announced: “Golnoor Club considers itself committed to environmental and cultural values and, by choosing the caracal symbol, strives to promote the message of environmental protection.”
Sustainable development must start from the roots
Hamid Reza Shams, head coach of Golnoor Isfahan basketball team, also continued: “Unlike some teams that do not have a localism philosophy, we believe that sustainable development must start from the roots and grassroots.” He noted: “Unfortunately, this year teams such as Zob Ahan and Sepahan have not participated in the league, and Golnoor remains the only flagbearer of Isfahan basketball, and it is necessary for everyone to join hands to use the city capacities to improve basketball conditions. This team, as the only representative of the province in the country’s club basketball Premier League, enters the competitions with a completely local roster. Our team is completely local, and despite the difficulties, we have nine Isfahani players in the lineup.”