Thabo Sefolosha loses in Swiss basketball federation elections / News - Basketnews.com

Former NBA player Thabo Sefolosha ran for president of the Swiss federation, but he was defeated.

Credit: Bob Levey/Getty Images Credit Bob Levey/Getty Images

Despite announcing his retirement from basketball in 2021, two years later, Thabo Sefolosha inked a deal with Swiss side Vevey Riviera Basket, returning to the club where he first played professionally. His term lasted until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Thabo Sefolosha

Position:SGAge:39Height:201 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:Vevey, SwitzerlandProfileNewsStatistics

Sefolosha, 39, has had a solid NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, in addition to playing for Fenerbahe, Elan Chalon, and Angelico Biella.

While still active, his intention was to succeed the resigning president of the Swiss federation, Giancarlo Sergi. However, delegates from regional associations (40) and elite clubs (20) elected Andrea Sivieroduring an Extraordinary General Assembly.

Sefolosha obtained 18 votes and Andrea Siviero 36. The two other candidates, Alexandre Marangoni, former president of Friborg Olympic, and Salem Fedal, supporter of BBC Nyon, each received one vote.

"Congratulations to him," commented Sefolosha. "There is obviously an element of disappointment, I put a lot of effort into this election. I wanted to get involved in basketball and youth in Switzerland but that's it, too bad. I think I have better to offer than my image."

In 2006, Sefolosha became the first player from Switzerland to play in the NBA, where he stayed until 2020. In 2013, he was labelled the best Swiss basketball player of all-time by Swiss newspaper Freiburger Nachrichten.

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