Basketball Africa League - The Big Tip Off

Juruni to add firepower to the Oilers ahead of BAL

Continuity is key for the Oilers

FOR Ugandan club, City Oilers, qualifying for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) seemed like a feat they could only dream of rather than realise. That was until last year.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, at the Elite 16 Road to BAL qualifiers (a round where they have twice fallen short), the Oilers finally put their past qualifying disappointments aside and lived up to their potential by making it to the third edition of one of Africa’s premier basketball competitions this year.

While there is a lot to cheer about on the success of the nine-time Ugandan National Basketball League champions, the team’s long-serving coach Mandy Juruni reflected on his team’s previous qualifying campaigns, which ended in disappointment, and he felt that had built up to this achievement.

“This has been a learning curve for us. In our first attempt (in 2019) in Rwanda, we got knocked out in the semi-finals by the host club, the Patriots. We also lost the third-place qualifying game against Ferroviario de Maputo,” said the decorated Juruni earlier in the year. “The second time (in 2021), we wanted to qualify, but we could not travel to South Africa due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“These were learning experiences for us as a group, and we cannot trade them away. We can only get better, and now when we head to the BAL, we want to go there and compete and not just make the numbers. We want to be a competitive unit.”

Preparations for the BAL (taking place in Dakar 11-21 March, Cairo 26 April-6 May and Kigali 21-27 May) have already begun for the Oilers, who beat Burundi’s Urunani in a third-place play-off game in Johannesburg to qualify for this year’s tournament.

“We have already started with our preparations. Right now, we are in the phase of organising our roster together. We are also putting plans in place to get us ready for the tournament,” said one of Uganda’s most successful club coaches.

**Oilers will look to retain the services of Germaine Roebuck Jr ahead of the BAL.**

In terms of the playing personnel, 40-year-old Juruni hopes to retain the services of American players Germain Roebuck Jr and Falando Cortez Jones. Roebuck Jr, who started the journey with the Oilers in preliminary qualifiers in Tanzania last year, and Cortez Jones were key points contributors to the Ugandan club’s cause.

Guard Roebuck Jr’s 21 points and 11 rebounds against Urunani in the third-place qualifier ensured that the Ugandan club qualified for their maiden BAL tournament. Guard/forward Cortez Jones had a memorable 40-point game in a semi-final loss to the Cape Town Tigers.

“They (Roebuck Jr and Cortez Jones) are a big part of our team and process. We are happy with what they did for us in the first and second rounds of the Road to BAL,” said Juruni. “What will be important for our team is to maintain the continuity put in place in the last round. We have built a team where players know each other, the system and the coach. So, we don’t want to change everything because we are going to the BAL.

“I think having continuity, improving as a team and certain positions is key for us.”

Apart from retaining the core of his squad and the two American star players, Juruni has also identified some positions that may need attention ahead of the BAL competition.

“We want to improve the team and have a roster that can compete at that level. We know we lacked a little bit of size at the forward position. At the five as well, we may need to add another big man,” said Juruni. “We need to improve on our scoring as well. Two players carried the load in South Africa, and at some point three. We need to be a team that has scoring options. We should not find ourselves in a situation where our top players play forty minutes of basketball.

“Like what Jones went through for us to compete against Cape Town. We need to improve our bench, and make sure there is enough firepower for us to compete at that level.”

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With the BAL tournament just around the corner, the Oilers have also planned for the team to get much-needed match fitness.

“We plan to have a camp in Egypt. There are some friendly games in the pipeline. We are also trying to organise a regional tournament to get our locally-based players ready. And at the moment they are doing individual work, but next month we will come together for our camp,” concluded Juruni.

Juruni and the Oilers seem to have covered their bases ahead of Africa’s blue-ribbon club competition. As they continue their preparation for the BAL they will remind themselves what it took to get to this stage. When first jump ball of the league launches the Oilers will know they have finally arrived.

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Selepe is living out his basketball dreams

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Tigers eyeing a return to the BAL

THE latter part of 2021 saw combo guard Lebesa Selepe face a crossroads as a man and basketball player. It was also a time of revelation for him.

Soweto-born Selepe, a part-time player at the time, was facing turmoil at his previous workplace in the financial sector, and his relationship with Jozi Nuggets owner and coach, Andile Hlophe had gone south.

The 31-year-old revealed that things began to unravel for him during his transition to the Cape Town Tigers. It was in that period of unravelling that the doors of opportunity would also open for Selepe. The Cape Town club were keen on his services ahead of last year’s Elite 16 tournament of the Road To BAL and fortunately for him, his trial was successful.

“Former coach Relton Booysen hit me up to find out if I was available for a workout with the team (Tigers). At the time, I was on suspension at work and about to be dismissed. So, I had time,” said Selepe at the Mandeville Sports Complex last Friday. “At the workout, team owner Rah (Raphael Edwards) liked what he saw. I also clicked with most of the players in the team.”

**Lebesa Selepe has realised some his dreams since he turned pro. Pictures: The Big Tip Off**

When questioned about the prospect of losing a regular income and his state of mind at the time, Selepe says he had experienced far worse. Also, the words once spoken by his mom during a time of adversity have always given him the perspective he needed when he was facing such predicaments.

“I’d like to take you to the worst grief I have ever felt. It was when my father passed on. My mom said something profound to me. ‘Yes, we are mourning, and it’s a dark time, but we have to keep moving. We have to make funeral arrangements, so if you want to cry, do it at the funeral parlour. Cry while getting things done,'” said the former South African international player. “So when it came to the job, mentally and emotionally, I knew it was a hard hit. I had lost my livelihood but now another chance to do what I loved had also presented itself.”

Selepe used his opportunity to immerse himself wholly in basketball. With the Tigers, he had become a professional player, and another opportunity opened up for him in media.

“I have always wanted to be involved in all aspects of basketball… to be a commentator, and to coach. There was no time for me to sit and wallow about losing my job because things were beginning to happen. I had the opportunity to play in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which was a dream come true for me. I had to move forward and put it behind me,” said the former Vaal University of Technology student and player.

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Before becoming a full-time player with the Tigers, Selepe thought the gig with the Cape-based club would be short-term as he still had a sentimental attachment to the Nuggets. Instead, it became a journey where he would achieve some career milestones as a player.

“When I left the Nuggets, I thought it would be a temporary move. I did not think the Tigers and I would have a long-term relationship or I would play in the BAL for them. I thought they only wanted me for the Elite 16,” said the former Jeppe Boys High student. “In my mind I thought I would return to the Nuggets, but my relationship with coach Andile hit a dip. We are on talking terms now, but at that time, I did not think I could still play for him. It’s part of the reason I’m no longer at the Nuggets.”

The chapter on the Nuggets has since closed, and the Tigers and Selepe experienced their first BAL tournament this year, where they bowed out at the quarter-final stage. Despite the surreal experience of being at the continental tournament, Selepe felt when he got his minutes at the BAL, he played below expectation.

“The BAL is one of the biggest stages I have played on in my career. Each day I prepared myself, training and hitting the weight room. Even when I talked about it, I still could not believe I was going to be on the biggest stage in Africa. I played at the 2017 AfroBasket, which was my first major competition, and four years later, it’s the BAL,” said Selepe. “The emotions were a lot, which impacted how I played as I was not in my element. I was part of a new team and going to a big stage. Those things affected me.

“I also did not play much, and when I did play, I was bit frustrated. But I will say this, it was a great position to be in, and I cannot wait to be there again.”

The Tigers would exit their first BAL tournament after a quarter-final loss to eventual champions US Monastir. Selepe’s assessment of their debut season was that they took their eye off the ball early on in the games.

“Against Monastir, we repeated the mistake we made against Petro and Zamalek in the group stage. We went to sleep and got punished and we played outside of our system. So it’s something we have improved on (playing within the system). We have also worked on limiting our turnovers, taking bad shots, and stopping the opposition runs,” said Selepe. “I know it sounds cliché, but in basketball, you must concentrate for forty minutes. It was not the case against Monastir. It was a twelve-point game in the third quarter and fifteen point game at the end of the same quarter. In the fourth, you could see early on that we were going to lose the ball game.

“We were down by thirty, and things got ugly real quick because we played outside the system. What we learnt in recent games against the NBA Academy and Petro is that playing within the system can lead to a game being decided by a few things. A free throw, a rebound or a bucket. So it’s just those minor details.”

The Tigers and Selepe will not have to wait long for their shot at making a return to the BAL next year. With the Elite 16 Division East Road To BAL qualifier soon to take place (22 to 27 November), the Cape club who will host the tournament in Johannesburg is raring to go.

The South African club are in Group A alongside Burundian club, Urunani, the NBA Academy and the Kenya Ports Authority. Looking at the group, the Tigers, who have loft ambitions will face stiff competition from all three teams.

“We want to finish the Elite 16 without a defeat. It is something we have spoken about, trying to finish the year undefeated. Unfortunately that did not happen. We lost to Petro and the NBA Academy and those are losses we can take,” said Selepe. “Looking at our group, we know anything can happen on this continent, and any team can beat you. That is why we must lock in so that we can send a message. A loud one! We don’t only want to qualify for the BAL. We want to win the BAL.

“That will show in how we play. We feel we are 23 points better than our opposition but we now have to show it when the lights are on.”

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Florsheim Ngwenya: The right fit for the Tigers’ BAL ambition

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The Tigers look forward to Petro challenge

WHY the name Florsheim? Reflecting on the question, Cape Town Tigers coach Florsheim Ngwenya at first did not have a definite answer as to why his late father named him after the classic American shoe.

“You are going to have to ask my father that question. I don’t know,” said Ngwenya, who gave a light-hearted chuckle during his post-practice interview with The Big Tip Off at Mandeville last Friday. “You won’t get an answer now as he is no more.”

When pressed for an answer, Ngwenya, who goes by Florsh, then gave the question some thought. He recalled his father’s sense of fashion.

“He was a fashion icon. The man loved clothes and shoes. Especially the Florsheims. He had about six or seven pairs of those shoes. So I kind of understand why he gave me the name,” said Ngwenya, who took on the Tigers coaching job in early August. He also led them to a second national club title later that month.

Image two — **Florsheim Ngwenya, in white, believes the Tigers are a more united team. Pictures: The BTO**

On game days, Ngwenya himself is a sharp dresser, as witnessed at the national championships, where he wore fine cut shirts and pants during the three day tournament. But as he prepares his team for the Elite 16 tournament (22-27 November), Ngwenya is probably making little fuss about his sense of style as he has the pressing issue of guiding the Cape side to a second Basketball Africa League (BAL) appearance.

So far, Ngwenya likes the way his team is taking shape ahead of the Elite 16 tournament that will take place in Johannesburg. He also appreciates the opportunity to again be on the side-lines and giving out instructions to players. The fact that it is at the international level put Ngwenya on a nostalgic train.

“It’s been interesting. It takes me back to when I used to coach the national team. Guys from different parts of the country and from overseas came together for one mission,” said the former South African national team coach. “The only difference now is that it’s at club level. We have made a few changes to the team. We have added two new guys. Dhieu Deing and Raphiael Putney have come on board. They have brought their game and personalities into the mix, and it’s been going well. The camaraderie in the team is pretty good. There is a bit more of a brotherhood compared to what I observed as an outsider last year. Everyone has been putting in the work.”

On a positive note the Tigers have played four exhibition games and won all of them. They defeated the University of Johannesburg, MBB, Mozambican club Maxaquene and the NBA Academy. On Saturday, they will again take on the NBA Academy and then welcome (18-28 October) two-time FIBA African Club Championship winners and Angolan giants Petro Atletico.

“There is always an improvement in each practice and game that we play. Of course there is always room to get better. For me, I see an improvement in the brotherhood. The guys understand what it takes to win at this level. They have experienced this level of basketball and know how difficult it is to win international games,” said the veteran coach. “So there is a lot more hard work that needs to be put in. We have to worked hard in our practices and in games because there are short and long term goals that we have set for ourselves. So far we have checked a couple of boxes.”

**Florsheim Ngwenya is happy to be coaching at the international level again.**

The Tigers are aware of the challenge posed by Petro. After all the Cape side lost to the Angolans in their debut season of the BAL. Ngwenya also welcomes the duel against the Southern African club, as it will provide a yardstick with which to measure themselves.

“They are a tough team. They were semi-finalists in the first edition of the BAL, and this year, they made it to the final. We are going to face a strong team. Petro have a great history, and on the court, they are a relentless team,” said Ngwenya, who noted the roster upgrade made by the Tricolors at the guard position. “They have signed Solo Diabate, who won titles with Zamalek and US Monastir. That is going to be a tough test and one we look forward to.”

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The Tigers are yet to bounce a ball in the Elite 16 tournament, but Ngwenya has high hope of winning the BAL tournament with this Tigers group.

“We want to win this whole thing. To do that, we have to go through the best, and they (Petro) will give us a nice challenge,” said Ngwenya, who has won multiple Basketball National League (BNL) titles with the Magic.

In the upcoming Elite 16 the Tigers, Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira and South Sudan’s Cobra await five other teams. Ngwenya acknowledged it will not be an easy ride for the Tigers, but hopes playing in South Africa will benefit the Cape side.

“Clubs from different countries will be coming to South Africa. What is nice is that we are playing in Johannesburg. So we will have home court advantage, and hopefully fans will come in numbers to support us,” said Ngwenya.

Ngwenya fits the bill in terms of international experience, and championship pedigree. He also shares the Tigers’ dream of continental dominance. Come November the camaraderie he says has been built will be tested by clubs with similar ambition.

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Joel Almeida helping FAP plot their way to Kigali

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JOEL Almeida may have advanced in age, yet the desire to still want to compete and win beats in his heart. The Cape Verde-born payer, who has been a pro for 12 years, attributes his longevity in the game to simply taking care of himself.

“It’s been a blessing to play basketball for this long at the national team and club level. I have been fortunate to play the game for as long as I have,” said the 36-year-old guard and forward. “The work I put in the offseason and during the season to take care of my body is important. I am always in the gym getting my body prepared and watching what I put in it. Finally, I remain focused. I believe if you put in the work you will be rewarded.”

Almeida added: “Taking care of your body is key because it’s the biggest tool one needs to perform on the basketball court. Keeping your body in a pristine condition will allow you to play for many years. There is also the aspect of maturity and experience. Those two elements can make a player lethal.”

The veteran guard is eager for success on two fronts. Firstly, Almeida, who signed with Cameroon club Forces Armees et Police (FAP) for the second edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), wants to achieve success on the continent.

**Joel Almeida is still hungry for success at 36-years-old. Pictures: Supplied**

Lastly, the national team of Cape Verde has the opportunity to qualify for next year’s FIBA World Cup in Japan and the Philippines. Almeida, who is part of the island nation’s campaign to try to punch in their ticket for the global event, believes it is an achievable dream.

On the World Cup qualifiers, Almeida says the island nation has the playing personnel and the capability to make it to Asia next year.

“It’s been an amazing journey. I feel this group of Cape Verde players have a lot to give. Those are my brothers in arms. We finally have a team that has the country’s best players, and we want to move forward,” said Almeida.
Cape Verde, semi-finalists in last year’s AfroBasket in Rwanda, are in fourth spot in their World Cup qualifying Group A, and they are a single point behind group leaders Nigeria.
While Almeida has high ambition for the Cape Verdean team, he knows that there is another round of matches to be played for them to win in their group. That’s not all; there is the hurdle of the second round of continental qualifiers that they would have to navigate past.

“We have something to build on when we resume the qualifiers in July. It would be huge for us if we qualified for the next stage of the qualifiers. That is where our focus is, and I strongly believe Cape Verde is going to be there. We are going to fight to get there,” said the former Brockport State player.

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For now, Almeida does not have to worry pertaining his national team. His focus is on helping the FAP club with their BAL campaign in Cairo.

In their second appearance in the BAL, FAP hope to do better than their quarter-final appearance last year in Rwanda. Can Almeida, who joined the club in the preliminary qualifiers last year, be one of the cogs that takes the team further?

“Being the veteran in the team, I want to help put them in the best position. I am familiar with continental basketball and the players. So I have to pass on the experience and knowledge I gained throughout my career for the team to succeed,” said Almeida, who has won cup competitions at the club level in Portugal and Georgia. “Our main goal is to be in Kigali. We have to keep our eye on that prize. This journey is a step-by-step process. So we have to focus on the next game and get the win. I believe when we step on the court, we can compete against anyone because we have a great team.”
The Nile Conference club had a fine start to the competition with a win (77-60) over the Democratic Republic of Congo club, Espoir Fukash.

In that game on Sunday night, Almeida led his team to victory scoring 23 points and also recorded four steals against the Congolese club. The well-travelled player, who is playing for his 15th club, welcomes his team’s good start. But a player of his status and experience knows the challenges that lie ahead.

“It’s always great to start the tournament on a good note. It was a great win for us collectively. We are motivated, but we have to keep ourselves on an even keel. We now have to focus on the next opponent,” said Almeida, who reflected on his performance against Fukash. “It’s all a team effort. I scored those points because my teammates found me. So it was a collective effort. Every game will have a different story, and another player will step up for the team. That is why we are here. We are a team and a family.”

FAP had two days of rest ahead of their Wednesday night clash against South African club Cape Town Tigers, who are 0-2 in the competition. Almeida says he was impressed with what he saw from the Tigers in their opening game against Angola’s Petro Atletico.

“Uh, Cape Tigers. Great team. I have nothing but great things to say about them. They are up and coming and played against good teams to get here. They gave a good account of themselves against Petro. It’s just that some things did not go their way in that match, but you can see they have the talent. They have some great individual players,” said Almeida. “So we have to stay focused and do our best against them to come away with a victory.”

When Almeida and his teammates step onto the court against the wounded Tigers, there will be little room for niceties. A win over the South African club will go a long way in ensuring they get a last eight spot for the Kigali leg of the BAL.

* Time 11pm (GMT +2), Wednesday, 13 April
* Fixture: Cape Town Tigers (South Africa) v FAP (Cameroon)

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Kabongo brings world class experience to the Tigers

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ALMOST a decade ago, a young Myck Kabongo received a piece of advice that would serve him well to this day. The wise counsel would come from San Antonio Spurs legend, the Big Fundamental Tim Duncan.

While Kabongo welcomed the advice from one of the greatest power forwards to have played the game, the setting where Duncan delivered his words of wisdom was unusual.

Before going into the details of what the message of now-retired Duncan to him was, Kabongo reflected on his experience of a lifetime with the dynastic Spurs.

As an undrafted rookie from the University of Texas, Kabongo, born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, had a short stint with the Texas-based franchise during the 2013 NBA season.

**Myck Kabongo has been a calming figure in the Tigers offence. Pictures: The BTO**

Kabongo made the most of his opportunity to learn from the inspirational and often a master of one-liners during interviews, Gregg Popovich (Spurs coach). The Spurs set-up still had Duncan and fellow All-Stars and accomplished players Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

“I was lucky to go to the San Antonio Spurs in my rookie year. I learnt how to be a professional because I was surrounded by hall of fame players. Not a lot of people can say that they learnt from Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. That was the biggest thing for me as a rookie,” said the Cape Town Tigers player via Zoom on Saturday. “There is a saying that you can see what it looks like to be a professional, but there is a professional’s profession. I got to see that at the Spurs. I learnt from the best.”

Kabongo says being under the tutelage of Olympic gold medal-winning coach Popovich improved his game significantly.

“I have always had a good basketball IQ, but coach Pop took it to another level. The way he made me read and understand the game is second to none,” said Kabongo, who complimented Popovich’s character. “He is a great human being. He is a selfless individual and that reflects in how the Spurs play basketball. If you watch them play, you will notice how unselfish they are on the court. That also filters down to other players. He has a different and great presence and energy about him.”

Also being in the presence of French point guard Parker and Argentine combo guard Ginobili enhanced Kabongo’s ability as a guard. Despite the language barrier with Ginobili, whom Kabongo rates highly, he learnt by observing the Argentine.

“Manu Ginobili is the best player I have played against one-on-one. He is impossible to guard, and I had to adjust against him because he is such a herky-jerky player. He was not talkative, because he was not that fluent in English. So, I had to learn by watching how he played the game and how was able to adjust the pace,” said the DRC national team player, who bonded better with Parker as they spoke the same language.

“TP and I had a relationship because we spoke French. We bonded because of that. He was a superstar, and here he was, taking the time to talk to me.”

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The Spurs player whose words would be impactful to Kabongo were those of legendary power forward Duncan. They were simple words, and they could have come from any Joe from the street, but this was Tim Duncan, a decorated and respected player in the NBA, and the advice he gave carried a lot of weight for Kabongo.

“Timmy was the best. He’d pull me to the side and give me advice every time. The best advice he gave me was, as long I worked hard and treated people the right way, I would have a long career,” said the former NBA G-League player. “Can you imagine? There I was, Tim Duncan next to me in the shower and he says, ‘as long as you work hard and treat people the right way, you will have a long career, kid’. Those words stuck with me, I’ll never forget those words. I cherish moments like those.”

Kabongo, who is in his ninth year as a pro and considered a veteran, is part of the Cape Town Tigers team trying to put South African basketball on the map.

The upstart Tigers are in Cairo for the second season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and open their campaign against Nile Conference opponents and Angolan giants Petro Atletico on Sunday night.

Kabongo, who played in the inaugural BAL season last year for Ferroviario de Maputo, says they will not have an easy ride as all their opponents in the Cairo leg of the league will present a similar challenge.

“Ah, man! Every game here will be tough. You have to understand that all these teams in this competition have won in their countries or are zonal champions. So, there are no easy games in a league like this,” said Kabongo. “We have to understand that we have to stick to our game plan. Petro are a strong team. They have guys who have been playing together for seven-eight years at the club or the (Angolan) national team. We have been playing with each other for a couple of months. So to be successful, we have to stick to our plan and what the coaches say.”

Upon his arrival to the Tigers during the second game of Elite 16 of the BAL qualifiers in Johannesburg last year, Kabongo made an immediate impact as a floor general.

Kabongo’s ability to up and slow the tempo is a plus for the Tigers camp during their BAL sojourn.

“I’m in my ninth year as a professional. I have experience and have played in some tough places. So, it’s difficult for me to get rattled. I have worked my a** for moments like this, so I don’t feel scared going into a game. I go in confident and settled because I put in the work when no one was watching,” said the well-travelled Kabongo. “As a point guard, I have to make the game easier for my teammates. I also have to make sure they are having fun. When the team has fun, you usually finish on the winning side. That is what I want to do. I want to win!”

Kabongo is not short on confidence, and hopefully, that has rubbed off on his Tigers teammates who cannot afford to freeze on the continental stage.

* Time: Sunday, 10 April at 11pm (GMT+2)

* Fixture: Cape Tigers (South Africa) vs Petro Atletico (Angola)

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Majok talks BAL ambition and life after the game

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WHEN it comes to life after basketball, Ater Majok is already clear on which path he will follow when the curtain falls and he takes a final bow from the game.

The US Monastir centre says he wants to engage more in philanthropic endeavours on the African continent. He has already targeted the kind of projects he wants to be involved in.

“I have a passion for helping out at orphanages and building homes on the continent. It’s where my heart lies and where my focus is,” said Sudan-born Majok, who spoke to The Big Tip Off via Zoom.

Although his name is synonymous with basketball, Majok stated he will have very little to do with the game once his playing days are over.

“You will not see me in the basketball sector very often. Maybe now and then, I’ll do something related to basketball, but once I put that ball down and hang up my shoes, it will be rare that I’m seen on the court,” said 34-year-old Majok, emphasising his goal-orientated nature. “I am a person who sets goals for himself. Once that is done, I close that chapter and move on to the next one. I am nearing the end of my career. So, I feel like I am satisfied and I have given everything. I am happy with where I am. There is no point in looking back to ask yourself what could have been.”

**Ater Majok has prepared himself for life after the game. Pictures: Basketball Africa League**

Majok, who once lived in Australia as a refugee, stressed that his desire to give back was born after a harrowing experience during a visit to South Sudan. He also implored other Africans who are in the same position to give their time and money to uplift the continent.

“We as Africans need to start giving back to Africa. We need to start building things by Africans for Africans. That’s where the next chapter of my life will start,” said Majok, who reflected on his visit to South Sudan. “It was in 2016 when I went back home to South Sudan. I saw a couple of orphaned kids, and witnessed one who had passed away on the street. What shocked me is that people were walking past his body with no one wanting to help. It hurt me and I felt it was unacceptable. From that point on, I told myself I must make a difference. I have a name, a voice and resources. I also know the relevant people to speak to. We have to help the next generation of Ater Majoks, Loul Dengs, presidents, ministers or teachers to reach their dreams.”

Majok added: “We need to start looking after these kids. If you look at our kids, even in the diaspora, we are losing them. We need to start taking care of them. If we don’t, there will be a lost African generation.”

The next chapter of Majok’s life is still taking shape, and whilst one eye is focused on the future, the other is firmly placed on the present. The big man is still playing the game at a high level, which he showed in his team’s opening game of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Sahara conference. He is also on a redemption seeking mission following last year’s painful final loss to Egyptian club, Zamalek.

Majok, a former UConn Huskies player, has returned for the second season of the BAL in Dakar, Senegal, and again in the colours of last year’s finalists, US Monastir of Tunisia.

The North African club opened their campaign with a hard-fought 77-71 victory over opponents, Ferroviario da Beira of Mozambique. Majok was a dominant figure for Monastir at both ends of the court on Sunday.

At six-foot-ten, Majok was a defensive anchor for Monastir as he produced four blocks against Beira. In offence, he was a handful for the Mozambican club as he powered his way to 19 points and crashed 12 boards to earn the player of the game award.

While it was not the most polished of performances, Majok says the team will get into its stride when the time arrives.

“Beira played really and hard. There were moments in the game where they also outplayed us,” said Majok. “I must emphasise that our goal is not to peak too early. We want to peak at the right time. Sunday’s game was only the beginning for us. It was not good enough, but we got the win. We have to work hard. So when the time comes, we are at our best.”

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Despite receiving the player of the match accolade, Majok gave credit to his teammates and stated that his focus was on winning the opening game.

“I did not think about the stats. I did not even realise that I had a double-double. For me, it was about getting the victory. Even if I scored 19 points and get 12 rebounds. I give credit to my teammates because of their actions on the court, it freed me up and allowed me to score, and the defensive plays that they executed gave me the opportunity to get rebounds. So it’s not only about myself, credit must also go to the team,” said Majok, who has had a decorated playing career.

Monastir may have started on the right footing with the W over Beira, and as Majok admitted, they took some time to settle into their style of play in their opening game.

The reason could be the team based at the Tunisian coast have different personnel this year. Monastir had to replace international stars Makrem Romdhane and Omar Abada, who both played a crucial role in the team making it to the final in the inaugural tournament. Despite this challenge, Majok took a positive view of the situation.

“We are definitely going to miss the guys that are not here, but we have a good unit. These guys are going to play hard. We are a blue-collar calibre group of players. We are going to out-work and out-hustle every team,” said the veteran Majok. “Everything will be about hard work and trying to prove a point. We are a young team with alot to prove.”

Ivory Coast guard Souleyman Diabate, who won the inaugural BAL season with Zamalek, and American-born Michael Dixon, are the new faces added to the Monastir set up and they were impactful against Beira at different stages of the game.

“I was with my national team when the two signed on for Monastir. I think the coach (Miodrag Perisic) and management did a fine job welcoming and making them feel part of the team,” said Majok, who competes internationally for Lebanon. “Most of us were with our national teams, so Sunday’s game was our first time together.”

In the second instalment of the BAL, Majok is as ambitious as he was ahead of last year’s BAL. He rates his team’s prospects and feels the Tunisian Championnat A side is good enough to win the tournament.

“The goal is not only to reach the final. We want to come in first place. The journey will not be the same. We will have ups and downs. This time we will try a different way of doing things,” said the two-time Championnat A winner. Majok also reflected on what he learned from last year’s final loss against Zamalek.

“I felt like I let my team down and I could have done more in that final. I felt like I should have been carried out on a stretcher because I gave everything. There is nothing else I can say. I’ll have to do my talking on the court,” concluded Majok.

Majok has a second shot at fulfilling his and the team’s ambition at the BAL tournament. He now has the best teacher: experience. Coupled with the latter is his undying desire and competitive edge that could ignite Monastir and make them hard to beat.

*Tuesday’s fixture: US Monastir (Tunisia) vs SLAC (Guinea) at 17:30 (GMT)

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Ground-breaking Liz Mills eyes BAL glory for AS Sale

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THROUGHOUT her time on the African continent, Australia-born Liz Mills has successfully rocked long established traditions in the coaching sphere.

Mills, who has spent over a decade coaching in Africa, has made significant inroads while coaching mostly men’s teams. In the process she achieved major milestones, including as Kenya Morans coach and now in her new role as coach of Moroccan club A.S. Sale.

The former Morans coach, who spoke to The Big Tip Off via Zoom on Monday, became the first woman to qualify and lead a men’s national team to international competition last year. While Mills and Kenya have since gone their separate ways, she reflected on what was a fulfilling time for her.

“It was an exciting, rewarding but also challenging journey. A year ago, I was with the Morans, a team that had not seen the AfroBasket for 28 years. When we qualified, it was a historic moment. Not just for myself as a woman, but for Kenya as a whole. Being able to help them achieve a goal they set in 2019 and leading them to the tournament was rewarding,” said Mills, who felt the eyes of the world on her during the tournament in Rwanda.

Second Picture — **Former Morans coach Liz Mills in discussion with Nigeria coach Mike Brown. Pictures: FIBA**

“I also understood the significance of the occasion. That weighed heavily on me, understanding that I am representing female coaches in the way I carried myself, and how the team performed. It felt like I was always under scrutiny. It was constantly on my mind. I wanted to represent female coaches to the best of my ability. I wanted to make them proud when they saw me leading the way with Kenya.”

Mills would eventually lead the Morans to the playoff round at the AfroBasket, but her time with the East African team came to a surprising end early this year. Both parties have since moved on. While she regards the chapter on the Kenya national team as closed, she still has interest in coaching national teams.

“I knew straight after the AfroBasket I had achieved everything I had wanted with Kenya. I was happy with the time I spent there and to have been a part of their journey, but it was time for me to move on. I’m not shutting the door on working with any team. For the second window of the world cup qualifiers I am available, but my time with Kenya is over. We were going in different directions,” said the A.S. Sale coach, who will become the first woman to lead a team to the Basketball Africa League competition, which tips off on March 5.

It’s not the first time Mills has had contact with the Moroccan Division Excellence club. She initially got in touch with Sale, ahead of the inaugural BAL tournament, but nothing concrete materialised.

“I had reached to Sale two years ago. We tried to work out a way for me to come and coach there. Unfortunately, things did not work either from their side or mine. I was supposed to coach them for the first BAL tournament last year. In the end, it just did not work out,” said the Mills, the first female head coach of Sale.

“Coaching Sale is ground-breaking. There has never been a woman head coach at a North African men’s team at the national or club level. Also, when Sale heads to the BAL, I will be the first woman to lead a men’s team to that tournament. So, I am breaking the barriers as I go along.”

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Apart from achieving career landmarks, joining the 2017 African club champions is a level up for Mills. She feels the team has good management, and their reputation on the continent speaks volumes.

“I wanted a new challenge and to coach a more experienced team, who are also more professional in their approach. A club like A.S. Sale is a prestigious, successful and historic club in Africa. I have also worked a lot in sub-Saharan Africa, so crossing over to the north to engage with a different style of play is something I needed to do as a coach,” said Mills, who will lead Sale to their second BAL appearance.

The former Patriots Basketball Club (Rwanda) assistant coach was also impressed with the talent pool available to Sale for this year’s campaign.

“Any opportunity to work with players of this calibre, be it at the national league or BAL, would be a good experience for myself as a coach. We have great veteran players and a good core of young players coming up, which is exciting for me,” said Mills, whose team imported three lethal scoring weapons and have BAL experience.

The addition of American combo guard Terrell Stoglin, shooting guard Abdoulaye Harouna of Niger and Spanish power forward Alvaro Masa make for an impressive arsenal. Taking the final slot is Kenyan small forward Albert Odero. Sale also have some good local stand out players like veterans Zakaria El Mabashi (guard) and Najah Abderrahim (forward), who Mills holds in high regard.

“We have Zakaria who is a legend on the continent. He is the Eduardo Mingas of Moroccan basketball. He is a sharp shooter. At 42 he has done well to take care of his body. He will do a great job for us coming off the bench. There is also Najah. I think he was the MVP of club championships in 2017. He is also one of the best power forwards in Africa,” said Mills. “The club had already brought in their imports before I got here. I am pleased with them. Terrell, Abdoulaye and Alvaro were the leading scores in the BAL. So we have some firepower. I coached Albert during my time with the Morans. There is a nice mix of offensive talent and defensive stoppers.”

Mills also spoke highly of the eight-time Division Excellence winners’ chances of seizing this year’s BAL title. “This team has a history of success at this level. We aim to win the BAL. That is our goal. We will not be satisfied unless we go out and win the BAL.”

Third Pic — **Liz Mills is confident Sale can go all the way in the BAL tournament.**

Before Sale can even think of winning the BAL tournament, they will first have to navigate their way past a tough Sahara Conference group.

Last year’s finalists U.S. Monastir (Tunisia), are favourites to win the group. Meanwhile five other teams, in the form of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) BBC, Dakar Universite Club (DUC) Basketball, Seydou Legacy Athletique Club (Guinea) and Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique) are dark horses and will look to stand in the way of Sale.

Mills says their group presents a stiff challenge and that whichever team progresses will be better equipped to withstand the knockout stages.

“I think we are in the much harder conference. It’s a great thing because if you can get wins in this group, then the first crossover in the quarter-finals will be a bit easier. After all, the games were much harder,” said Mills, who looks forward to the battle against the Tunisians. “Monastir is the favourite. Most of the players compete for the Tunisian national team. That’s a match-up that excites us. It’s also a great measuring stick for us.”

Mills has already cemented herself in basketball lore for breaking barriers, but she is not one to be content. Her new coaching assignment has heightened her ambition. As she gets ready to steer the A.S. Sale ship, would it be far off the mark to imagine the promised land lies in wait for her?

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Lopez on a mission to put Beira structures back on track

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FERROVIARIO da Beira and their Spanish coach Luis Lopez Hernandez have enjoyed a reunion that has brought about good tidings for the club located in central Mozambique.

While the 55-year-old Spaniard’s second coming to the Beira-based club had to do with matters related to the basketball court, there was also a more sentimental reason for Lopez’s decision to return to Mozambique.

“There were a couple of things. Firstly, my family. My wife was born in Mozambique. My daughter, who is almost four, was born in Spain, and she has never been to Mozambique. So, I wanted her to connect with her family there. This is an opportunity for my wife and daughter to experience the country,” said Lopez speaking from the Canary Islands via Zoom, last Wednesday.

The second reason for Lopez, who led the Locomotivas to two national championships in 2012 and 2014, was the opportunity to work again with the current club president Valdemar Oliviera.

For some time, Beira’s playing structures had gone off the rails. Oliviera, who returned to the club’s presidency via election was on a mission to put them back on track. Returning to a familiar leadership and the challenge of a renewal project was enough to entice Lopez to get on board.

“Boaventura (Mahave), the president in 2019, called me to come back but I was in two minds at the time. Then an election happened, which Valdemar won. That made my decision easy because I had worked with him before,” said Lopez. “So the first reason to return was for my family. The other was so I could work with Valdemar again. When I signed in 2020, it gave us the chance to resume our discussion about our project, involving the senior teams and the lower structures as well.”

Lopez added that before he left Ferroviario da Beira in 2015, they were teeming with players in the male and female teams. He now looks forward to being part of reviving the Beira player pipeline.

“We had 450 players in our club. From junior boys and girls, the cadets and mini-basket. We had many children playing basketball. When I left, somehow it got lost. So when the president came back to the club, I knew he wanted to revive the structures that were present six-seven years ago,” said Lopez, who has been coaching since the age of 18.

Lopez, who has worked with teams that have representation at all levels was also impressed that some players from the junior setup had made their way to the Beira senior squad.

“Basketball is my life. When I worked in Spain, I coached clubs that have all teams. I enjoy helping players develop,” said the experienced Lopez, who led Beira to another national title last year. “When I came back (to Beira), I recognised three players in the first team, who come through the ranks. They were around 12-years-old when I arrived in 2011. Now they are in their early twenties, and I am coaching them. That is something that makes me proud.”

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While the long-term vision for Beira is still in its infancy, the Mozambican club’s senior men’s team have grown wings and qualified for the second edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Lopez oversaw Beira’s impressive qualifying run in the Zonal and Elite 16 Division East tournaments, held in South Africa between October and December. Their only blip was against Tigers in the Zonal qualifiers. Beira would avenge that defeat in the semi-final of the Elite 16 as the Mozambican club finished that leg unbeaten.

Speaking about the qualifying experience, Lopez says he had introduced some changes to how the team approached the game.

“I am happy with our team because we improved a lot. Our first official practice was in July. I could not join the team earlier because of the pandemic. So, I sent many exercise videos to prepare the team. I also received daily feedback from the assistant coaches,” said Lopez, who elaborated on the training program. “We started with a physical program in March last year. Then we moved to improve the players’ skillsets and shooting technique. When I arrived in July, we worked on our tactical approach.”

He added, “I was surprised because at how the team adapted to a new way of playing the game, especially when we started our journey in Mozambique. It’s not easy for players to change a philosophy or style that they have known all their life. In the end, we improved a lot, which we showed in Johannesburg by how we moved and shared the ball.”

Beira’s preparation for the BAL extravaganza started in earnest last week. Unfortunately, their practices have been without their coach Lopez and the team’s key import players in American point guard Will Perry and Canadian guard and forward Jermel Kennedy.

Third Picture — **Ferroviario da Beira coach Luis Lopez Hernandez wants his team to give their best at the BAL**

Lopez, who was still resolving his visa matters, expects Perry and Kennedy back for the national championships in February.

“The team started together last week, without myself and the two foreign players. We are getting ready for the national championships that start in February and finish in March. That will be our preparation (for the BAL). Hopefully Will and Jermel will be back for the nationals,” said Lopez, who expects to bolster the squad with two new players for the BAL tournament taking place in Dakar, Senegal (March 5-15), Cairo, Egypt (April 9-19) and Kigali, Rwanda (May 21-28).

“We want to sign two other players from the continent to complete our team for the BAL. One of them must be able to play at the five position. Also we need someone who can operate outside, a player for the three and four position,” said Lopez, who emphasised what his team required. “We need size. We are not a tall team. The two players we need to sign must be a five and the other a perimeter player, but tall. They must also be players that fit our style of play.”

On the expectations at the BAL tournament, Lopez approached the question with a touch of realism.

“Our goal or expectations are always the same. Every team wants to win, but there can only be one victor at the end. My only concern is that we do our best. That is our goal. We want to do our best every day and in every game,” concluded Lopez.

We have already gotten a glimpse of Beira at their best. It’s hard to find fault with their brand of basketball. With new additions to the team, they can only get better. They may not have the favourites tag, but given how Beira play, they can easily determine how far they go in the BAL tournament.

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Omondi sharpening Cobra’s fangs ahead of the BAL

Beira and Perry are a good fit for BAL quest

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Beira’s ambition intrigued Perry

FOR most basketball players who ply their trade in overseas leagues, signing long-term contracts is a rarity. In most cases bouncing from one country to another is the norm for most ballers. While the scenario could be unsettling for some players, others choose to embrace the challenge.

The latter applies to American-born point guard William Perry, who now calls Mozambique where he plays for one of the Southern African country’s most famous club, Ferroviario Da Beira, home.

Before wearing the white and green striped vest of Ferroviario, Perry played for CB Zamora (Spain), ADO Basquetbal SAD Ovarense (Portugal) and Akademiks Bulteks 99 Plovdiv (Bulgaria). After another stint in Spain playing for CD Estela Cantabria, the African continent came calling.

Perry, who hails from North Carolina says he has enjoyed traversing Europe, as it has allowed him to experience different cultures.

“I enjoyed it. I like travelling, meeting new people and doing what is best for my career. If it means I experience a little anxiety in the summertime about my next move, it’s okay. I can deal with it,” said the 28-year-old, who goes by the shortened version of his name, Will. “I would say I enjoy that aspect of living out of a suitcase. Of course it’s not as comfortable as playing for a team for five years, but I would not have it any other way.”

The former Lenoir-Rhyne University player says having the chance to be away from home to pursue his basketball dreams helped him mature as a person.

“I have learnt a lot about myself as a person. I found myself and became a man since playing overseas. To live on my own, travelling, making my own decisions and all that stuff. There are some things I had already been doing during my college days, like living by myself,” said Perry. “It was little uncomfortable when you come to a new place on your own. I learnt who I am as a man, what I like to do and don’t like and how to work with others.”

In terms of achievement, Perry says that playing in Portugal and helping Ferroviario in their mission qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) are some career highlights.

“I really joined my time in Portugal. In my second year over there, we made the final four. It was an amazing experience. I had a good season. That propelled my career,” said Perry. “It’s hard to only pick one highlight. I would say what I am doing now, trying to qualify for the BAL, to play in the Basketball Africa League would be the biggest highlight of my career.”

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Perry did have some questions before nailing his colours to the Beira mast. Is the club ambitious, and do they have the right pieces to make it to the BAL?

“My first thought was, do we have a chance to make it to the BAL? Is the club serious? Coming to Africa, you want the opportunity to play at the BAL. The moment I learnt the club was serious, I was on board,” said Perry.

Ferroviario made it to the Elite 16 of the BAL qualifiers after finishing second in the regional stages held at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus, two weeks ago. Led by the playmaking of Perry, the Mozambican’s, finished with a 2-1 record, beating Matero Magic (Zambia) and Roche-Bois Warriors (Mauritius). They would lose a nail-biter against the Cape Town Tigers.

Perry was instrumental for Ferroviario in the opening game against Matero, scoring 12 points and making 10 assists as the Mozambican club strolled to an 81-51 victory. He was impactful in the final game against the Tigers scoring 18 points in Ferroviario’s 86-85 loss.

The experience of playing in the qualifiers was an enjoyable one for Perry, as he felt he fit in well with the Beira club’s setup.

“It was a great experience, I love my team, and I like my coach. In the qualifiers, we lost one game at the end, which was disappointing. I feel we should have won,” said Perry. “We qualified, which was our goal, and we have moved forward.”

Perry picked up some lessons from the qualifiers in Johannesburg and recognised that there were points in the final game where he could have done better. With the Elite 16 looming in December, it gives Perry ample time to rectify the issues he has identified.

“I think I need to do better with the clock management. Closer to the end of the game (against Tigers), I could have done better. I made some silly mistakes, took a bad shot or two. Those are the things I need to work on to get better,” said Perry. “As a team, I think we need to lock in at the end a little more. Do the little things better for us to win. I am confident in this team. We are good and we work well together.”

Perry believes he chose the best city and team to play his basketball on the continent. The floor general says he has already warmed up to the city and can feel a togetherness. He opined that the people of Beira are behind the club and its quest to clinch a spot in the BAL tournament.

“If you ever go to Beira, you’ll see they are really supportive of the club. They are in a great city. The people love the club. They know basketball and love it. They are passionate and want to win,” said Perry. “Estamos Juntos is a great phrase to use. Hopefully, it catches on. It means we are together. Everyone, from players, coaches and fans. We are together.”

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