Basil Zempilas opens up about confronting interview with Ben Cousins

·

Sports broadcaster Basil Zempilas opened up with SEN on Thursday, discussing his interview with Ben Cousins for a new documentary, airing on Sunday night for Channel 7.

In a groundbreaking sports interview, Basil talks with the former West Coast Eagles captain, who breaks his silence for the first time in 10 years.

Cousins is set to address a number of topics, including whether he is still using drugs. But Zempilas believes the premiership player has a number of battles on his hands, on top of his addiction with drugs.

“I think probably the biggest takeaway from this, Ben’s battle continues. His life is a battle, it’s a battle every day,” Zempilas told SEN.

“What he wants now is some normality, but it is a battle for him to find that normality as he is still fighting that battle with addiction. The biggest difference I think now with Ben Cousins 10 years later, he knows what he needs to do, he knows what he needs to leave behind and he puts his hand up and takes the blame for where he is now, I don’t think he always did that.

Ben Cousins at Richmond training. Photo: Trevor Collens. Photo: News Corp Australia

“I think there were other people he had to blame or fingers to point in other directions, there’s none of that anymore. He knows that he is where he is because of what he did to himself. Trying to climb out of that… that remains a battle.”

Zempilas hopes this insightful interview will open the eyes of the public to Ben Cousins confronting position, hoping it could help those with their own battles.

“I remind people that Ben wanted to tell the story. It’s not sugar coated, it hits you between the eyes,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who suffer with drug addiction, but Jane and John Smith might be drug addicts but we don’t tell their story as we don’t know who they are. We know who Ben Cousins is.

“If the stories of addiction and the perils behind the lows of it can be illustrated by Ben, then so be it. If nothing else, there’s some valuable takeaway for Aussie families who might be going through something like this.”

Basil Zempilas is a Greek Australian television and radio presenter and sports commentator based in Perth, Western Australia.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Sewn with love: How Maria Tsentidou’s Pontian roots led to a unique wedding

When Efthimios Avgetidis asked Maria Tsentidou to marry her, Maria decided to sew a traditional Pontian wedding gown to wear.

Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Victoria holds Annual General Meeting

The Federation of Greek Elderly Citizen Clubs of Melbourne & Victoria held its Annual General Meeting on November 8.

Baba’s Place in Marrickville wins Good Food Guide Trailblazer Award

Baba’s Place in Marrickville, Sydney's inner west, has won the 'Bill Granger Trailblazer Award' at the Good Food Guide 2025 Awards.

Peter Yiannoudes: Remembering a visionary Cypriot Australian

The passing of Panagiotis (Peter) Yiannoudes marks the fulfilment of the Last Oracle of Apollo's high priestess.

Woman found guilty of murdering her partner’s dad Kon Kritikos

Danielle Lee Birchall has been found guilty of murder after she "savagely" beat her partner's 87-year-old father Kon Kritikos to death.

You May Also Like

5 nations demand better EU sharing of migration load

The interior ministers of the five Mediterranean countries on the front line of mass migration to Europe want their EU partners to share the burden more equitably.

Greece records no coronavirus deaths for second consecutive day

Greece has recorded no new coronavirus deaths for the second consecutive day. The country's death toll stands steady at 151.

Zenta Kronitis details how she went from ICU nurse to liver transplant recipient

After being told she only had a few days left to live, Zenta Kronitis received the call that would give her a second chance at life.