Druids Chairman Represents Great Britain
Cefn Druids FC Chairman, Des Williams made his international debut for Great Britain at the 2022 FIMBA Maxi Basketball European Championships in Malaga.
The International Maxibasketball Federation (FIMBA) oversees tournaments for basketball players of 35 years old and over in age group categories divided by five years. The event was held in Malaga with over 3000 players taking part from 19 teams across Europe. Williams and his GB team faced teams from Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Serbia, Georgia, Hungary and representative teams from Argentina, Mexico, Columbia, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Williams, who played in the USA at University and the Summer League and in the UK at National League level, started his training in September last year and managed to keep it a secret until his selection in February this year when it meant that he missed several Druids games in the latter part of the season with training sessions being held over weekends in Nottingham and Manchester.
“I retired in 1995 and took up coaching, never believing that I would ever play again” said Williams.
“Last year, out of the blue I received an invitation to train and try out for the team. I’m not going to lie, I found it really tough having gained six stone on my previous playing weight, but I made the grade” added Williams.
Wrexham based Williams, who was also the sole representative from Wales in the GB team, will soon return to Druids duty and oversee the rebuilding of Neil Ashton’s squad and life in Tier Two.
