Glasgow Rocks have revealed that three of their players have been subjected to horrendous racial abuse.
Players David Mpondo, Julius van Sauers and Marc Kwedi were forced to move property following a string of complaints that include being threatened, refereed to as ‘monkeys’ and their car being attacked, with tyres slashed and a windscreen smashed with a hammer.
Neighbours also made calls to police, claiming they had prostitutes on their property.
The Emirates club, of whom Rutherglen star Gareth Murray is player-coach, last week issued a statement following the abuse.
It read: “Glasgow and Scotland are wonderful places to live and grow. It is, however, a place that is not immune from racism.
“We are deeply saddened to report that the organisation and our players have encountered this first hand this year, when David Mpondo, Julius van Sauers and Marc Kwedi were the victim of racist abuse within weeks of joining the club at the start of the season.
“They were threatened, referred to as ‘monkeys’, made to feel watched and unwelcome and were harassed with neighbours’ calls to the police, claiming they had prostitutes on their property.
“The incidents eventually spiralled into their car being attacked and their tyres being slashed, along with the windscreen being smashed by a hammer.
“As it was a police incident the club have held off speaking about this.
“Unfortunately we do not have any hard evidence of who attacked the car, therefore there is little that can be done in terms of prosecution.
“However, we feel like the least we can do is draw attention to the incidents that have occurred.
“Racism is not something that is a distant problem. It is in Glasgow, it is in Scotland, and it is and can be everywhere.
“We are happy to report that the players have since been moved to another property where they have encountered no further disturbances.
“It goes without saying how deeply saddened we are that this was their first experience of Glasgow.”
Meanwhile, Rocks lost 97-78 to British Basketball League table toppers Leicester Riders on Sunday, leaving them bottom of the table.
Four Rocks players, including Murray, contributed with double-figure points, but the in-form Rider were too strong.
Rocks had hoped to bounce back from Friday’s 77-61 defeat to Sheffield side DBL Sharks, but instead slumped to another defeat.
Their last win came against Sharks on January 17.
Rocks are next in action on Sunday as they travel to Cheshire Phoenix, who sit ninth in the table, four points ahead of the Glasgow side.
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