African Basketball News & Events • Noticias & Eventos del Baloncesto Africano

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African Basketball News &  Events • Noticias & Eventos del Baloncesto Africano

Egyptian big kid seeks Minnesota success

The door is now open for Egyptian Assem Ahmed Marei to make the step up from being a prospect to an established player.

His high-level performance at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia raised fans’ and scouts’ eyebrows, especially on the other side of the Atlantic at Minnesota State University where he has been practicing since arriving in the town of Mankato earlier this month.
 
Although no decision has been taken on his eligibility to play this season for the NCAA Division II team, there are many reasons to believe that he is going to be successful in the US.

For now, this 2.09m (6ft 10in) power forward just wants start playing and show that the Minnesota State Mavericks made the right choice in recruiting him, as he told me.

Does it sound arrogant? No, I don’t think so. It is determination.

In fact, no doubts should be raised about Assem’s potential.

Born in Cairo in June 1992, he learned the beauty of basketball at home, as his father, Ahmed Marei - a former Egypt international-turned engineer and basketball coach - taught him the first tricks of the game.

Assem, as he prefers to be called, confirmed his ability to play the game at successful Egyptian club Zamalek. He then helped Egypt win the U18 African title in 2010 in Rwanda and last year made his appearance on the world stage in Latvia before deciding that his dream of stardom did not end there.

His stats and his personality speak louder than anything else.
 
He is well aware that hard work and motivation to improve should be his utmost priority.
 
After exchanging a few e-mails with Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Bill Bayno, Assem was referred to Minnesota State University head coach Matthew Margenthaler.

The 19-year-old Egyptian “talented big-kid, by US standards” as Margenthaler called him led his country at the FIBA U19 World Championship with averages of 18.5 points and 12.2 rebounds. He dominated the boards throughout the tournament.
 
He ranked second in rebounding behind tournament MVP and top-scorer Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas. Assem also finished as the tournament's third leading scorer behind Croatian Boris Barac.

In a game against new world champions Lithuania, he had game highs of 23 points and 19 rebounds. Eleven of those boards were on the offensive end. He dominated the painted area at both ends of the court.

Assem left the court with the feeling of an accomplished mission despite the 78-59 defeat.

Two days earlier, when everything indicated that Egypt was going to make it to the Quarter-Finals as they led by 10 against Croatia, Assem fouled out with five minutes to play. Things got bleak for Egypt as Croatia made the most of his absence and came from behind for an 83-81 win.

Egypt finished with just one win, but the Pharaohs’ refusal to lose was so impressive, that opponents certainly were made to remember Assem, Omar Mohamed and the rest of the team’s determination.

A month later, after his memorable display in Latvia, Assem showed no signs of tiredness as he represented his country at the Afrobasket 2011 in Madagascar.

As the youngest player on the senior squad, he played a total of 45 minutes over five games, averaging 2.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.

 Shifting from the North African weather to chilly Minnesota is not a problem for Assem.

“I came for a better education [in business] and to improve my basketball skills and possibly make it to the NBA,” he said.

“I had a lot of offers in Latvia and I decided to come to Minnesota State University because of their academic, sport program and interest in me. I am adapting well.”
 
The prospect of helping Egypt restore their international prestige is something Assem has on his mind.

The country last won an African title back in 1983 and three consecutive bronze medals came in 1999, 2001 and 2003. A podium place has eluded them for the past four editions of the Afrobasket.
 
“I want to give my contribution to my country whenever it is necessary, and, like my father, play in an Olympic tournament some day,” Assem continued.
 


Pat Monaghan, an assistant coach at Minnesota State University, shared his impressions of Assem.

“We expect him to make a big impact because of his ability around the basket," he said.

“He is practicing with us, and he is adapting well."

If family genes are passed on in sports, then surely Assem will represent Egypt at the Olympics sometime in his career just like his father did at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Julio Chitunda from FIBA

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African Basketball News &  Events • Noticias & Eventos del Baloncesto Africano

That Gonzaga Guy is good !

Guy Edi is making his international bow with Ivory Coast right now and judging from his performance against Rwanda on Wednesday at the Afrobasket in Madagascar, he has a very bright future.

Just 22, the Agboville-born player possesses a wide array of offensive skills.

He may just end up being an Olympian, either next year in London or in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

A 1.96m small forward at Gonzaga University in the United States, Edi led the Ivorians in a wonderful comeback against Rwanda on Wednesday that put the team in the Quarter-Finals.

The silver medal winners two years ago in Libya and participants at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey trailed Rwanda for most of the game and needed a super performance in the last quarter to clinch an 80-72 victory.

At the break, Rwanda were in front 44-33 but Ivory Coast stepped up in the last quarter and went on a 7-0 run to claim a 65-62 advantage.

Edi buried a three-ball and hit a shot inside the arc while Mo Kone converted two precious free-throw opportunities in the spurt.

Rwanda, who were led by Kenneth Gasana's 30 points and four rebounds, managed to pull level three more times at 65-65, 67-67 and 69-69, but Ivory Coast ended up stretching their advantage with an 11-3 run to seal their presence in the last eight.

Edi drilled three shots from long range and ended up with a game-high 34 points.

The small forward who plays at the Gonzaga University in the United States hit all his seven attempts inside the arc.

He was, in a word, unstoppable.

After the game, Edi told FIBA.com his teammates had "encouraged" him "to keep shooting at the right time, that is what I did."

"We had a great comeback in the game," Edi said.

"As we became more focused, we were desperate to win that game."

Now what appears to be a classic confrontation at the Afrobasket is on the cards because in the Quarter-Finals, Ivory Coast will play Senegal.

The Senegalese, who beat defending champions Angola in the Preliminary Round, advanced after whipping Madagascar 92-75 on Wednesday night.

Senegal will start as favorites.

"We know Senegal very well as we have played a couple of friendly games against them," Edi said.

"We know their strengths and weaknesses.

"They have defeated Angola, but now it's a different stage.

"Whoever loses goes home.

"I don't think any team wants to go home early."

Edi, 22, has made quite an impact in his first Afrobasket.

He had 19 points in the team's opening victory over South Africa and now there is the 34-point explosion against Rwanda to tell the folks back in the USA about.

"This is my first African competition," he said.

"I have to say we are here to win, no disrespect to other teams, but we have a goal to accomplish."

Ivory Coast were put on notice early at the Afrobasket that nothing was going to be given to them.

They fell 82-75 to Egypt in their second outing and then 76-70 to heavyweights Cameroon.

The triumph over Rwanda, Edi is hoping, has put the team back on track.

It's not just the win against Rwanda that has put Edi in a good mood.

He says the tournament hosts Madagascar have done a wonderful job making sure the players have everything they need.

"The tournament is well organized," he said.

"We must give credit to Madagascar.

"Everything is done perfectly."

As for his aims, Edi has many.

When the Afrobasket is over, he will turn his attention back to the Zags - a college team in the American state of Washington that many a famous player has turned out for over the years.

John Stockton, who is in the Naismith Hall of Fame and played for the United States Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, competed at Gonzaga as well as France national team big man Ronny Turiaf.

"My personal goal is to make it to the (NCAA) Final Four with my team," Edi said.

"This would be very exciting for all of us at Gonzaga."

The winners of the Afrobasket will qualify for the London Games.

"The Olympic Games is a dream of any athlete," Edi said.

"For we Ivorians, and with our country living that (political) instability, to make it to London 2012 would be a perfect present to our fans."




by Jeff Taylor from FIBA

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African Basketball News &  Events • Noticias & Eventos del Baloncesto Africano

Big-time hoops comes to Madagascar

Afrobasket 2011 - Basketball may not be the first game that comes to mind when sports is the topic of conversation on the African island nation of Madagascar.

But this summer, it certainly is.

The country is staging the Afrobasket from 17 to 28 August.

The Championship was supposed to be held in Ivory Coast but political instability in the country forced organisers to move the event and in April, Madagascar was confirmed as hosts.

While countries with rich traditions will show up at the Afrobasket like defending champions Angola, the team that will no doubt receive most of the support by spectators is Madagascar – a nation that has made just two previous appearances in the competition.

They will be hosts, but make no mistake that Madagascar will be underdogs.

They have won just two times and lost 10 in their Afrobasket history.

The two triumphs came on their debut appearance in 1972, when the Championship was held in Senegal.

That Madagascar team romped to a 95-68 victory over Mali and also hammered Nigeria, 105-73.

More recently, at the Afrobasket 2003 in Senegal, Madagascar went 0-6.

The man hoping to lead the islanders to new heights in basketball goes by the name of Angel Manzano Polo, a Spaniard who was only recently put in charge by the Madagascar Basketball Federation.

“I came to Madagascar as a tourist and I met a local basketball legend who invited me to give a lecture here,” the 46-year-old Manzano said to FIBA.com.

“It has been a great experience as everything started very informally.

“I agreed to work in Madagascar as my wish is to develop the game here and take it to a higher level.”

While the likes of Angola, Nigeria, Senegal and Cameroon will have the pre-tournament aim of capturing the title to qualify for the London Games, Madagascar are more concerned about playing well and getting a win or two.

“We'll play well in order to win games, and I believe this can quite possibly happen,” Manzano said.

One look at the Madagascar team will suggest that it’s going to be a tall order for them every time out.

Many African nations have produced big, dominating low-post players in their history but Madagascar is not one of them.

“Malagasy people are traditionally short and my team is not much different," Manzano said.

The team will be made up primarily of players who compete in Madagascar.

“Our top players play official competition games for only two weeks per year,” the coach said.

“Players are not professionals.

"They have their own jobs.

"They play for the national team because they love basketball and their country.

“The vast majority of the players I am working with are home-based players.”

While the odds are stacked against them, there is nevertheless a mixture of hope and ambition in the federation.

There is also a lot of excitement being generated among the fans.

The 2011 Afrobasket is the most important tournament ever held in the country.

Manzano, who has worked in Spain with Fuenlabrada and with Real Madrid's second team in the past, is optimistic and excited, too.

But he is also cautious.

“We have to be realistic and not let our expectations get too high,” he said.

“We will play Nigeria, Mali and Mozambique.

"They are all very good teams.”

As for the team's preparations, Madagascar are  expected to travel to the Seychelles capital of Victoria in early August for the Indian Ocean Island Games.

In Victoria, they will take on The Comoros, Réunion and Mauritius.

Then, Manzano will return with the team for the biggest event in their lives.

He’d like nothing more than to remain in the country once the Afrobasket is over.

“I still have four months more on my contract,” he said, “but I would like to carry on working here.

“I want to stay longer.”


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African Basketball News &  Events • Noticias & Eventos del Baloncesto Africano

FIBA Africa Zone 3 constitutes body

FIBA-Africa Zone-3 has constituted its executive body that will run the affairs of the zone until the next congress of the regional body in 2014.

The zone headed by a Nigerian, Muktar Adamu Khaleh, has Coffi Tonon Pierre of Republic of Benin as Secretary General, Nigeria’s Segun Ikuesan as Administrative Secretary, while Joseph Gérard Amon of Cote d’Ivoire is to over-see the zone’s Technical Commission.

The Competition Commission will be under one time president of the zone, Mamadou Belem from Burkina Faso; Ghana’s Gamal Idrisu is in-charge of Junior/ Development Council, Togolise federation; Lawson Nadouvi heads the Medical Council, while Pratt Fred of Liberia takes charge of the Media Council.

Patricia Lorougnon from Cote d’Ivoire is a Co-opted member. The President of the zone, Khaleh, who was elected last July during the Congress of the Africa ruling body, FIBA-Africa in Bamako, Mali, known as ‘Malone’ is to preside over the Zone in all its activities.

Khaleh have held several positions both in Nigeria and at the continental level. In Nigeria, he is the 1st Vice-President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, where he is the chairman of the Nigeria Technical Commission and also serves as the head of Nigeria DSTV Premier League Board. He is a FIBA-Africa certified Match Commissioner.

The Zonal Secretary-General, Pierre is the Secretary-General of the Benin Basketball Federation and recently qualified as FIBA-Africa Match Commissioner, while the administrative-secretary, Ikuesan, is the Media Officer of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF and also a Correspondent for FIBA-Africa website and the world body’s, FIBA World and eurobasket.com.

Ikuesan is also a commentator with African leading pay-television, SuperSport and Media/ Communications crew member of FIBA- Africa Secretariat. Amon is a certified FIBA-World Match Commissioner and key figure in Africa basketball, Belem is the zonal former president and a FIBA- World Match Commissioner, while Idrisu is the Vice-President of Ghana Basketball Federation and one-time international referee for both continent and the world.

Dr. Nadouvi is the President of Togo Basketball Federation while Fred is the Secretary-General of Liberia Basketball Federation and Lorougnon, is a former national team player of Cote d’Ivoire and now works at the Secretariat of FIBA-Africa.




The zone made up of eight West Africa countries, Benin republic, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger Republic, Nigeria and Togo is saddled with the responsibility of developing, promoting the slamming and dunking game thus complimenting the role of FIBA-Africa.

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