Tiger Watcher
Years ago
Just thought I'd see if anyone had any news of the saviour of the Big V and the SEABL dominator (back in 2009) that was meant to suit up 2 weeks ago and has yet to be sighted on the court.
It was a lot of fan fair from Bulleen so I can only assume injury must have struck prior to his first game?
Happy Days
Years ago
What i cant understand is there is some issue with paperwork in the US even though hes been playing out here for years.
Apparently BA stuffed up a lot of the Visa paperwork with imports this year, what a surprise.
Getting to the point where its not worth worrying about it.
Will he even qualify (if Bulleen (championship favorites remind you) make the finals)?
Would be a ridiculous turn of events if the league allows special consideration for such a mistake by the club.
Happy Days
Years ago
Has he got a job as i doubt Bulleen would be paying him seeing he is not playing.
Who said it was the fault of the club? Have Bulleen said "we stuffed up and we are to blame for the delay"?
The question is would Bulleen say they stuffed it up?
The thing with the visa paperwork is if you make a spelling mistake or fill something in wrong it will sit on someones desk for a week or 2 then get spat back at the applicant.
Then you start from scratch all over again, seen it happen 3 times with 1 import and it took 8 weeks to get it sorted out.
Given only 7 games is needed for finals qualification I am sure he will be fine.
I think there is 24 games this season. A player needs to take the court in no less than 40% of the home and away games. Therefore he needs to play 10 games to qualify.
Lets hope he does and that he is not missing payments due to a spelling error.
Anon
Years ago
News has it that he overstayed on his VISA the last time he was in the country (not currently) and is therefore set to be deported and he did not comply with all regulations within the country.
The next question would be, would Bulleen look to get another import to replace Strong?
fubr
Years ago
I think you will find Bulleen will work with Lester to help get it sorted out
That's not good.
If that's true there is nothing they can do, immigration are VERY strict and by the book on this.
Could also mean he isnt allowed back for a set time either.
Steve PnR
Years ago
Lester was incorrectly handled at Knox and they were unable to correctly put their papers in regarding 'Sporting VISA'. Therefore when Lester went from Knox SEABL to Bulleen Big V, he then went to change his VISA from 'Sporting' to 'Working'.
As Knox had incorrectly/never put in his papers, he was in Australia illegally. Hence once Bulleen wanted to sign him, government was then all over it that he was in the country.
There's also a story here on the subject: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/bulleen-boomers-recruit-lester-strong-faces-deportation-with-no-end-to-visa-problems-in-sight/story-fngnvmqa-1226919203327
Steve @ The Pick and Roll
Sorry Steve - you cannot apply for a working visa if you are already in the country as opposed to a sporting visa.
Secondly, you cannot play BigV champ on a working visa if you have already played here on a sporting visa.
This does not sound like a Knox issue as they had him on the correct visa.
Cherry picker
Years ago
Slight correction a player can come into Australia on a Working Holiday Visa after having previously been here on a Playing Visa.
Mike rose played for Tigers on playing visa and then came to Australia last year on a Working holiday Visa with Bulleen.
So it is possible the problem lay with Knox, but irrespective it is disappointing that a guy like Lester who did a lot for Knox and for basketball may be gone from our shores? He spent a number of years at Knox and wanted permanent residency and allegedly Knox officials said they would assist but didn't and now our sport has lost a good ambassador.
Agree with the loss of an asset here in Oz, but you don't leave your permanent residency in the hands of an association you are leaving.
Visa - you cannot get a working visa if you are already in the country. Both the Stingrays and the devils have had to fly players to NZ to gain working visa's.
Bulleen look to be disappointing on and off the court.
Very sad
Years ago
Very sad state of affairs for the player. Hearing that the recently departed operations manager's incompetence has resulted in this debacle. Hopefully someone can sort it out soon.
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