China's under-19 national basketball team players are demanding the removal of their head coach for what they claim is intolerable abuse, Guangzhou Daily reports.
The young players have appealed to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), saying they cannot stand head coach Fan Bin's scold and insult over the past three years, and want the CBA to replace him, according to a joint letter to the sport's governing body.
A total of 13 players, including the renowned Guo Ailun and Zhu Xuhang, endorsed the letter with their signatures and scarlet fingerprints. They asked a restaurant servant to write the letter when they gathered there for dinner.
Fan Bin is currently in China while his young playing team undergoes training in the United States under the leadership of assistant coach Hu Weidong.
Fan was appointed as the head coach for China's U-19 national basketball team in 2008 after being discharged from coaching Bayi women's basketball team.