Basketball: Politics off agenda as Iran play US

Sometimes it really is just a game.

That certainly appears to be the case today when the quirk of the draw throws up a clash between political foes United States and Iran as the opening contest at the world U19 basketball championships.

While it's tempting to portray the match as a contest between the West's Great Satan and a card carrying member of George W. Bush's axis of evil, politics aren't really a factor. Name calling will likely be at a minimum. Anyone expecting anything more than a bunch of talented kids playing ball in a gym will be disappointed.

Arsalan Kazemi Naeini was practically bashful at a captains call yesterday, realising the question would be asked but reluctant to entertain it.

The shooting guard has been divorced from the fallout following the controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he has barely set foot in his home in Esfahan for 1 year.

It was good to be out of the country during the unrest though his thoughts were still with his family and friends, all of whom were safe and well, Naeini said.

The only place he and his team want to make an impression is on the court.

Judged MVP at the West Asian Games two years ago, American offers started trickling in and after much deliberation he decided to finish his high schooling in North Carolina. Next year he will play NCAA ball for Rice University.

Naeini was familiar with some of the highly rated American players he would face this morning.

"I know a few of them, they will be very tough."

The Asian champions are lumped in group B with Egypt and France so should still progress from the preliminary stage.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA