SOMETIMES, in the world of sports, being out of the loop can mean an athlete is forgotten. On the other hand, it can set up a great comeback, as with floor general Dimitri Maconda.
Returning to the Angola national team after last playing in the 2023 World Cup, the Netherlands-born point guard came back with vengeance at the recent 2027 World Cup Africa Qualifiers, and his solid showing earned him a contract with famed super club Petro de Luanda.
After spending time in the European circuit, where he developed his game with the Dutch U18 national team and earned his stripes in domestic and continental competition, the 24-year-old has chosen to pursue a career in his ancestral homeland.
Becoming part of the Petro family
Maconda greeted the move to his new playing home with excitement. He felt earlier discussions with the club’s management and the prospect of playing in next year’s BAL were enough to put pen to paper and commit his future to Petro.
“What attracted me was their plans and the confidence they have in my game. Besides that, the BAL it’s a competitive league right now. It’s a big factor for why I signed for Petro de Luanda,” said Maconda.
When asked about expectations at the club, he answered confidently, saying he doesn’t feel pressure, citing his playing experience in Europe and with Palancas Negras, the Angolan national team, as preparation for what’s in store for him at Petro.
“For me, I am not feeling any pressure. I am ready for this. I think I will bring a lot of experience too because I have played in Europe my whole life… It’s a different type of basketball,” said Maconda. “When I play with the national team, I understand how they play in Angola because of the way we practice and how we compete.
“It’s going to be a good thing for me. I will bring the playing style of Europe and Africa. Yeah, and we will be successful if we work hard. We have to believe and stay together at all times.
Luckily for Maconda, he already knows Petro players, including Gerson Gonçalves, Gerson Domingos, and Clesio Castro, his teammates on the Angola national team, which can help him settle in his new environment.
“Yes, we have already talked a little about the situation over there. For me, it’s a new situation, and I am gonna have to get used to it at first,” said Maconda. “I had spoken to Clesio already; I knew him because we played together in Portugal and Gerson Lukeny.”
Maconda seems positive about the move, highlighting the chemistry he built with his new Petro teammates at the recent FIBA World Cup Qualifying Window in August.
“We already have pretty good chemistry with Clesio and Gerson Lukeny. We already showed in the last window that we work well together on the court. I know how to find them, and they know how to find me,” said Maconda. “I think with them beside me it’s going to be easy.”
There is also an element of sentiment as to why Maconda chose to bring his talents to Angola.
“I feel for me it’s a full circle because my parents are from Angola. They were born and raised there, but they had to move because of the civil war in Angola. Now moving there because of my job and the love I have for the game,” said Maconda. “It’s a good opportunity for my family and me because I still have some family over there.
“I have never lived there, so I really want to experience it. I am really excited about that.”
Return to the national team
Before joining Petro, Maconda had just returned to the Angola setup for the fourth window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Africa Qualifiers in August in Dakar, Senegal, where the Palancas Negras finished with a 2-1 record after wins over the Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire, but suffered a loss to Senegal in between their victories.
Maconda, who last played for Angola at the 2023 World Cup, said it is always a privilege to wear Angola’s colours.
“It feels good because I have not played for the team in three years. It’s always a dream to play for the national team, and anytime I look at the team list and I don’t see my name, it hurts,” said Maconda. “I always want to help the team, so this time when I saw my name, it felt good. I got the opportunity to show my game and help the team. It felt good.
“I just want to help the team for the other window. To get over the line and qualify again for the World Cup.”
Interestingly, Angola went into this last window undersized, with Bruno Fernando, Silvio Sousa and Kevin Kokila absent from Spanish coach Pep Canals’ squad, and given the lack of depth in the paint, it would have been surprising if they struggled against Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire; instead, the Angolans found another gear.
They battled to the final buzzer in the 84-82 loss against Senegal. In one of his best games for Angola, Maconda delivered a 13-point, five-assist performance in the momentum-swinging win over Côte d’Ivoire.
Maconda attributed their strong showing to their “identity”.
“I think our identity in Angola is always to play hard. We are not scared of any team, even if they have Euroleague or NBA players. We didn’t have any players at that level, so we knew we had to give 100%. The way we practised for one month long, we just knew we were ready for this battle,” said Maconda. “Props must go to the big men that were there… Yeah, we were undersized, but we played hard. They fought for rebounds, they ran, played hard on defence. They did a good job.”
Missing out on the 2025 AfroBasket
While returning to the national team is exciting for Maconda, he had to deal with the disappointment of missing out on the 2025 AfroBasket, which Angola won on home soil.
When asked about missing out on Angola lifting a 12th AfroBasket title, he explained that it hurt. But he did not wallow in disappointment; he put his energy into cheering on the selected players who helped restore Angola to its rightful place as a continental powerhouse.
“I am happy to be where I am right now. I want to leave the past in the past. I was disappointed to not see my name for the AfroBasket team. It would have been a beautiful experience, especially playing at home,” said Maconda. “I supported the team, and I am happy that they won it (the AfroBasket). It was a legendary thing to do, especially for our generation, because we have won a lot of AfroBaskets in the past. But this championship team has NBA players, EuroLeague players and players who play at the top level.”
Playing for Oranje Leeuwen (Orange Cubs)
Before switching allegiance to Angola, Maconda had played internationally for the Dutch national youth teams, where he played in a measured way.
“The way I learned to play basketball over there helped me a lot. It’s different to how they play in Africa,” said Maconda. “In Africa they play a lot more quicker. While in Holland, you’ve got to take your time and try to read the game in a different way, so I have tried to combine the qualities and it has made me a different player.”
Maconda arrives in a new playing environment, carrying experiences from Europe and having learnt the African style. He must adapt as he aims to fulfil his career ambitions and connect with the land of his forefathers.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest feature stories and previews of events on the African continent.
