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

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

Angola and Botswana battle for U18 African Championships places

By the end of this week, either Angola or Botswana's national teams will secure places for this summer's U18 African Championships for Men and Women, as the regional qualification tournament is underway in the Mozambican capital of Maputo.

The four national teams, the only contenders, are taking part in the African qualification zone VI tournament that started Sunday.

The men’s U18 event will take place in August in Mozambique, while the host country and dates for the women’s are still to be determined.

Whatever the results between Angola and Botswana, in both categories, only one national team will qualify to either African U18 tournament.

These national teams have not beaten their opponents on the floor. In fact, they did what others did not.

They showed up for the African qualification zone VI tournament in Maputo, while seven other national teams (Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, and South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) withdrew.

This story sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately this scenario is becoming regular in African basketball.

Last month, only two out of eight U18 national teams for men and women took part in the African qualification zone IV tournament in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This time, although Mozambique is taking part in the tournament, only Angola and Botswana are competing to qualify.

The host nation is taking the tournament as a preparation as they are already qualified for both U18 African Championships.

Mozambique's men and women both finished third at the 2010 U18 African Championships, which gave them direct qualification for this year’s event.

Either Botswana or Angola will join women’s defending champions Egypt, runners-up Nigeria, bronze medallists Mozambique, fourth-place Mali and zone IV winner Democratic Republic of Congo in the field for the U18 African Championship for Women.

Meanwhile, either Botswana or Angola's men's side will join the defending champions from Egypt, runners-up Tunisia, bronze medallists Mozambique and zone IV winner Democratic Republic of Congo in the men's event.

Botswana and Angola's national teams enjoy different continental status in most basketball categories.

While Angola are the highest-placed African men’s national team in the FIBA Ranking, Botswana struggles to join the continent elite.

Despite the differences, these two countries have in common the desire to give young players a chance to develop their basketball skills and attending this African qualification tournament shows it well.

However, as some African countries seem to be slowing their engagement to basketball, Mozambique, who are 48th in FIBA's Combined Ranking, cannot stop committing to the game.

Their women's national team finished fifth at last year’s Afrobasket, but they accepted to represent Africa at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women, replacing bronze medallists Senegal. Fourth-placed Nigeria also turned down the chance of playing for a chance to qualify for the London Olympics.

Fascinated by basketball or not, Mozambique will host this year's U18 African Championship for Men.

All these commitments raised my curiosity, and I decided to find out more.

Francisco Mabjaia, chairman of Mozambique's Basketball Federation, told me why his country does what some African nations turn down.

“The reason we are widely committed to basketball is because Mozambicans love basketball and we can not let our countrymen and women down,” he said.

“Basketball is the second most popular sport in our country, after football."

With all this passion for basketball, I wonder whether this is a message to encourage neighbouring countries to follow in Mozambique’s footsteps.

The reality though is that Mozambique just wants to develop its basketball players’ potential as much as possible.

The country is taking part in the tournament to give its national teams’ players competitiveness and experience.

“Each country has its own reasons, and we are not making judgements on it,” Mabjaia explained.

Hosting a tournament is a challenging task, but Mabjaia refused to show disappointment with the withdrawal of other national teams as they notified them beforehand.

“We have not arranged any logistics or accommodations for them. So there is no financial loss in this regard," he pointed out.

“Quite often we propose friendly tournaments to our neighbouring countries in order to boost our young players’ prospects, unfortunately it is often unsuccessful.

“We are committed to do anything to strength this African region’s potential.”


 

Until July most U18 African national teams for Men and Women are expected to compete for places at the 2012 U18 African Championship.

African Qualification zone is distributed according to regional location. There are still five other Africa Qualification zones to compete before the U18 Africa Championship in both categories later in the year.

Nevertheless, I am not sure how many national teams will show up to compete in upcoming events, which makes for a bleak scenario for African hopeful players.

Julio Chitunda from FIBA

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

Egyptian Basketball - Past, Present and Future

By the time the 2013 AfroBasket starts in Ivory Coast, it will have been 10 years since Egypt last won a medal at senior level of the African Championship for Men. However, their junior teams are giving the country hope of bringing that drought to an end.

The Pharaohs last won a bronze at the 2003 AfroBasket as host nation.

Since then, Egypt has achieved no better result than a fourth-place finish at the 2007 AfroBasket held in Angola.

They came in 10th in neighbouring Libya at the 2009 AfroBasket, before plunging to 11th at last year’s continental championship in Madagascar, their lowest finish in the country's basketball history.

This may seem a dreadful prospect for the second most victorious country - after Angola - in the history of the FIBA Africa Championship, with five gold medals, five silver and six bronze.

Undoubtedly it is not the most recommended impression of a team with Egypt’s basketball legacy.

However, Egypt is experiencing two different phases in its basketball history.

While the men's senior national team keeps struggling, their youths can’t stop thriving.

Egypt’s future is rather optimistic, if we consider the recent achievements of the country’s juniors.

In recent years, Egypt has dominated African youth tournaments.

In 2008, they won the FIBA Africa U18 Africa championship for Men - as hosts - after a thrilling 85-84 victory over archrivals Angola in Alexandria.

Later this year, Egypt will travel to Mozambique as defending champions at the U18 AfroBasket.

In 2009, they won the FIBA Africa U16 Championship for Men in Mozambique, before successfully defending their title last year at home.

Egypt crushed their opponents with big winning margins, beating Tunisia 117-67 in the Championship Game.

The defending champions booked their place in the Final by destroying Angola 106-41 in the Semi-Final.

Prior to that result, Egypt had smashed Mozambique (108-54), Algeria (94-57), South Africa (101-57) and Congo (128-33).

Mali finished third while Angola finished fourth.

In the end, three Egyptian players - point guards Ehab Saleh, Omar Abdeen and power forward Wessam Melek - made it on the All-Tournament Team, with Algerian forward Ahmed Boutiba and Mozambican center Helton Ubisse completed the team.

Saleh was also named the tournament's MVP.

Egypt U16 men's national team head coach Rafik Youssef could not be more confident about his country's basketball future.

Earlier this month he gave me his impressions of Egyptian basketball.

“The senior national team is not doing as well as it used (to),” Youssef said.

“From my point of view the federation should be courageous to make changes.

“Keeping two or three senior players and give junior players a chance is the most appropriate decision they should make.

“With that change in mind, three years is time enough for Egypt to dominate basketball in Africa.

“After last year’s Africa championship we had a few weeks break, but we are working already for the (2012 FIBA U17) World Championship in Lithuania."

For now, Egyptian youths enjoy the rewards of becoming Africa's most regular representative on the world stage over the past decade.

Two years ago, they represented the continent at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship held in Hamburg, Germany.

In 2009 they represented Africa in New Zealand at the FIBA U19 World Championship and repeated that feat by qualifying to last summer’s event in Latvia.

Yet again, Egypt has qualified to this year’s 12-team FIBA U17 World Championship to be staged in Kaunas, Lithuania, from June 29 to July 8.

“We have a tough group, but we (can) only be satisfied if we make it to the next round," Youssef said.

“I think that three teams in our group will make it to Semi-Final of the World Championship."

Egypt will face Australia, China, Czech Republic, France and USA in Group A of the Preliminary Round.

The top four teams from each Preliminary Round group will advance to the Quarter-Finals.

With such international experience and the export to US colleges of talents like Assem Ahmed (Minnesota State University), Mostafa Abdel Latif (Sacred Heart University) and Omar Oraby (Rice University), I could not agree more with coach Youssef.

There is hope in the country of basketball lovers.

Egypt has hosted six African nations’ tournaments since 1962 and an endless amount of youth African tournaments.




Young Egyptians have now the task of restoring the country’s legacy.

If Egypt’s current position with the senior national team looks rather bleak, its future seems much more optimistic.

With a brilliant past, a doubtful present, Egypt has a bright future.

Julio Chitunda from FIBA

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

Two of seven only compete in U18 Zone IV qualifier

If you ever wondered why some extraordinary African players compete at top basketball leagues around the world, but whose country of origin are low ranked internationally, I bring you an example of how and why it happens.
 
Firstly, a number of African players are so ambitious to fulfill a dream of playing professionally at high level that they do not fear their country's FIBA world ranking.  
 
By reaching top-flight clubs, they prove it is a matter of opportunity.
 
But most do not have the opportunity they dream of.  
 
For example, last week five Zone IV countries opted out of the qualifying for the FIBA Africa U18 for Men, due to either lack of sponsors or budget to travel to Kinshasa, where the event took place.
 
The FIBA Africa U18 for Men will be staged in Mozambique later this year.
 
Apart from Gabon that is already qualified, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, São Tomé e Príncipe, Chad and Equatorial Guinea did not take part at the qualifying tournament in DR Congo capital Kinshasa.
 
The event was due to last a week starting on 7 April.
 
Instead it will last two days.
 
RD Congo was left no chance but play the remainder Zone IV team, neighbouring Republic of Congo.
 
At the time of writing, both teams were expected to play each other in two games, and one of them would qualify to the finals of the U18 African championship.
 
This means that those missing countries will not be able to show their potential, and potentially affect young players´s hopes.
 
Until June, other African teams will play the qualifying U18 for Men, according to their zone schedule. But if teams keep withdrawing, the future of the game in the continent will be threatened.
 
And yet it will not be surprising if, in a few years time, we see some of those missing countries´players shining among top-leagues, as it happened in the recent past.
 
If we think of Bismack Biyombo and his round the world journey until he landed with his current club, the NBA Charlotte Bobcats. He played in Yemen, Spain before ending in the USA.
 
This case illustrates why good African players opt for representing other countries or simply playing abroad.
 
However, the most ambitious teams will take part at this year FIBA Africa U18 for Men in Mozambique.  
 
Of course federations may not be solo responsible for these circumstances, but when things are planned well in advance there should be no excuse to miss out a competition that enhances not only youth players’ prospective, but the promotion of the country itself.  
 
So, to find out the hidden talented, it will be necessary to wait until they represent another country or jump in a competitive league, raising the usual question. Where was he/she?
 
And the answer to this question should be, he/she sought and found the dream that many are prevented to, as it happened last week in Kinshasa.
 
Nevertheless with the race to secure a place at the FIBA Africa U18 for Men underway I asked Congolese Justine Irung, technical director of Zone IV, what is it like host a tournament with only two teams when they expected at least seven teams to take part.
 
“The level of competition is affected if there are no competitors,” she said.
 
“Only two teams competing are not good enough.
 
“In Central Africa our main difficult is lack of means for transportation.
 
"It is very hard to travel from one country to the other if one has not financial support to do it.
 
“It is not a simple process to travel, for instance, from Kinshasa [DR Congo] to Yaoundé [Cameroon]. It is too expensive.
 
“Solution is pushing for our government to support, at least, youth competition.
 
“Another solution could be some support from FIBA in order to facilitate teams to travel around our competition zones.
 
“Without sponsors, I do not see the game achieving high level of competitiveness, even though we have very athletic and good players. But if there is not a proper program in place, chances are these players will never reach their maximum potential,” the former player said.
 
Ironically, once their dream fulfilled, some neglected players return home and promote something they did not have.




For instance, Belgium international and former LA Lakers center Didier Mbenga runs a basketball college campus for young players in his native DR Congo.
 
“His programme is very helpful for our local schools and youth. He has provided equipments, basketballs and some support,” Irung said about her countryman naturalized Belgium.  
 
Perhaps the future of basketball should be handed to former players who have real passion for the game, in order to support an inspire future players.

Julio Chitunda from FIBA

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

NCAA African Madness

March Madness is not just a US collegiate basketball matter. It is an international celebration of the game, especially with the rising number of players born outside the United States who take part.

Africa is no exception. More and more African-born prospect student-athletes have chosen to pursue their sport and educational careers on the other side of the Atlantic.
 
When, in a few days time, 68 collegiate teams from different conferences start competing for a place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Final Four, a large number of Africans will be involved in the process.
 
There are currently over 400 international student-athletes competing in Division I Men’s Basketball and 80 of them are from Africa, according to the NCAA.
 
However, this figure does not include athletes who hold dual-citizenship. For example, University of Texas point guard Myck Kabongo was born in DR Congo, but he represents Canada.
 
Africans make up the third largest group of international players competing in Division 1 behind Europeans (157 student-athletes) and North America (114 non-US).
 
They are followed by Australians (34), South Americans (20) and Asians (7).
 
Five years ago (2006-07), there were 424 international student-athletes competing in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball, and 88 of those players were from Africa.
 
Africans became madly attracted to the NCAA since international programmes such as Basketball without Borders (BWB) started campaigning and promoting education and sports outside the United States.
 
Cameroonian international and Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Mbah a Moute is an example, as he joined the BWB in Johannesburg at the age of 16, before accepting an offer from the  University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) programme.
 
The recruitment process by US colleges outside the country has benefited not only the schools, but the players’ countries of origin.
 
These youths compete against the best prospect players in the world and benefit from learning with experienced head coaches, the best they can get.
 
What makes me really enthusiastic about the rising number of Africa-born players in the NCAA is the fact they are not just quantity. Instead, there is also quality among them.
 
Despite showing some limitations in his offensive game, Louisville University's Senegalese centre Gorgui Dieng is currently one of the top 10 blockers in the NCAA, with 3.2 swats per game.
 
Inspired by NBA African players such as Mbah a Moute, Bismack Biyombo, Serge Ibaka, DeSagana Diop and Christian Eyenga, the new generation of young African players find in the American universities the rare high-education and sports career that their native countries cannot offer.
 
Nigerian Ugo Okam, for instance, is pursuing his education at highly-rated Harvard University.
 
There are players from all corners of Africa, including from countries with low tradition in basketball - Ghana, Uganda and Chad are all represented in Division 1.
 
With 25 players, Nigeria is the most representative country, followed by Cameroon with 15. Senegal and Ivory Coast combine for 19 players.
 
South Africa, Chad and Sudan have three players each, followed by Egypt, Mali, Benin with two apiece, while Guinea-Conakry, Tunisia, Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda have one single representative.
 
I am not the only one advocating sport and education to youth players.
 
Ivory Coast international and Gonzaga University forward Guy Landry Edi agrees: “I believe they play in the NCAA because there is not better system in the whole world where you can play basketball at high level and follow your education at the same time. Especially Africa needs more educated people for the continent to advance. If basketball does not work or you get injured you have your education to be successful in life.”
 
New Mexico State University South African center Tshilidzi Nephawe is one of the 80 African student-athletes.
 
This is what his coach Marvin Menzies said when I asked him about the rising number of African players in the NCAA: “I think (it's) because they are talented. They bring great size and athleticism and discipline. I think all of the players that I’ve had the opportunity to recruit from Africa have also been very coachable. I think culturally they tend to be a self-disciplined and self-motivated type of player.”



 
Davidson University head coach Bob McKillop, who counts with Tunisian Youssef Mejri in his squad said: “Basketball has become a global game. The NCAA is filled with players from International backgrounds. This is also happening in the NBA as players from all continents can be found on rosters.”
 
If federations take considerably attention, some of these young players may be extremely useful at next year AfroBasket, to be staged in Ivory Coast.

Julio Chitunda from FIBA

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook, Twitter, YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[pinballer69]

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

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook, Twitter, YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[wnbaplayer]

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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[king-coach32]

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.




Julio Chitunda from FIBA

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