How an Austrian globetrotter ends up in Israel

It’s finally that time again. After a break of almost two years, Austria graduated Women’s Basketball National Teamm home games. At the Wienerberg we will be competing as part of the European Championship qualification on Thursday Croatiaon Sunday you will meet them Netherlands.

Is part of the game Anja Fuchs-Robetin. At the young age of 28, she has already had enough sporting experience that others cannot manage in an entire career. She played basketball in college in Florida, in Spanish Galicia, in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Newcastle, and since January of this year in Israel.

She doesn’t have any uneasy feelings about the political situation.

Nahe Jerusalem

“When it comes to basketball itself, you don’t really notice the whole situation in the country because the environment is very professional.” The training conditions are good and the league is of a high standard anyway. She lives in the city Fallbetween Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

“In the region where I am, the situation is safe. Of course, I always stay up to date with developments there. And of course it is a delicate situation where things can unfortunately escalate. I’m always aware of that.”

Nevertheless, she feels well informed and therefore safe. Because of her Jewish roots, she also cares about the Israeli citizenship requested, it might still work this year.

For the military service Fox Robetin can no longer be drafted. “I am above the age at which one normally completes military service. For me it would also be an exclusion criterion if I had to do that,” she admits frankly.

However, the present is now called European Championship qualification in an extremely difficult group. “The chances are not particularly high. But we are a young team. We just started our national team program again, there was nothing in between for a long time, so some players dropped out.”

Best variety

The young talents have the opportunity to gain experience. Fuchs-Robetin is even speculating with a win against the Netherlands. “With the home crowd, it’s possible.” The 28-year-old already achieved 7th place at the European Championships in front of the home crowd this summer in Vienna’s Prater. However, in Trendsport 3×3.

Where is it heading now? “I think doing both is extremely cool because it feels a bit like playing a different sport.” So she plays 5-a-side for eight months of the year and 3×3 over the summer. “You somehow have different goals, different training focuses. And I find this variety extremely interesting.”

The trend is towards 3×3. “It’s fast, very cool to watch, and the locations can also be chosen in the middle of a big city. And we keep up with the best in the world.”

You’re a long way from that in 5-on-5.