BEIJING - The former coach of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club Shanghai Sharks, Bob Donewald, has accepted an offer to lead last season's runner-up team, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, the 41-year-old American said on Wednesday.

After his two-year contract with the Sharks expired last week, Donewald relinquished his job in Shanghai and speculation was rife that he would join Xinjiang for an attractive deal reportedly worth $1 million.

However, Donewald, who is also the national team coach, refused to comment on his new contract details, stressing the hope of a championship was the biggest lure to scoop him up.

"In this business, the opportunity to win a championship becomes smaller and smaller. This is the opportunity to take one more step to win the championship. I am not taking the job to finish second. I am taking it to win the championship," Donewald said after a national team training session on July 6.

"Xinjiang is a pretty competitive team. They play defense very well. They are disciplined. But I will put my stamp on them and try to win the title. I like the challenge," Donewald said.

The Flying Tigers, which lost to the Guangdong Southern Tigers in this year's finals to finish runner-up in the CBA for a third consecutive time, began to lobby Donewald soon after releasing its former coach, Jiang Xingquan.

Hailing Jiang as a "top-notch" coach, Donewald is full of respect for the 71-year-old and is keen to learn about the team from him.

"He's done a great job for the team. We will continue the way he has been working. And I hope he will be around to give some advice," Donewald said.

According to the Flying Tigers' general manager, Guo Jian, Donewald's domestic coaching experience, passion for the game and ability to inspire players were the main attributes which attracted the team. But Guo said Donewald's annual salary wouldn't be a history-making $1 million.

Meanwhile, the team has extended guard Quincy Douby's contract to keep him on next season's roster, Guo said.

Although praising the sharp-shooting Douby's contribution, Donewald emphasized the importance of the local players.

"I am a big fan of Quincy Douby. But I am a big believer that the champion team wins not only with foreign players, but also with domestic talent," Donewald said.

After hoop icon Yao Ming entered the Sharks' management as a shareholder in July 2009, his management team introduced Donewald to the squad. The American steered the team to the semifinals of the 2009-2010 CBA playoffs, after lifting the side to a 25-7 record in the regular season after it finished 6-44 the year before.

His coaching effort won him the post of national team boss last April. Under his guidance, the national squad claimed last year's Guangzhou Asian Games' gold medal and also fought its way into the last 16 at the FIBA World Championships in the summer.

China Daily

(China Daily 07/08/2011 page22)