Showing posts with label Cote d'Ivoire. Show all posts

CIV Sports Minister to National Team: ''Cup or Nothing!''

As preparations for the 2013 AfroBasket intensifies and the date draws closer, the demand on the various competing team to come up tops is also increasing by the day. This year's competition to be hosted at the Palais des Sportes in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire promises to be a very exciting one. African basketball powerhouses such as Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia and Nigeria will all be present with some of them inviting foreign based players to enhance and increase their teams chances, the biggest star possibly being Cameroonian NBA player, LucRichard Mbah a Moute now with the Sacramento Kings.
Minister Alain Lobognon
Amidst all this, the Ivorian minister for Promotion of Youth, Sports and Recreation, Alain Lobognon has issued a ultimatum to their national team; The Elephants that read:
''AFROBASKET 2013 - ELEPHANTS BASKETBALL, THE CUP OR NOTHING! 
This message is to the Elephants basketball players currently preparing in Spain. According to information reaching me, the guys are not ready yet (I'm waiting for better news). I do not expect anything other than the win during the Afrobasket2013 that will be played on our land from 20th to 31st August 2013. My message remains... The Cup or the confiscation of passports. So know that you have been warned. Just be sure to win... Good evening!

(NB: Do not say that you will try to win.)''
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CIV U19 Coach Optimistic About His Team's Chances at World Championship



Tea and his team during a time out in Accra
The Ivorian national U19 basketball coach, Olivier Tea believes his team will perform well in the FIBA U19 World Championship despite the various challenges they face. He mentioned this in an interview after their game in Accra against Braves last week. Even though CIV are in Group D with international basketball powerhouses; China, Russia and USA, he believes his team and coaching staff has put in enough work to make an impact at the tounament. Tea replaced Blaise Amalabian at the helm of the young Elephants immediately after they finished runners-up at last summer's U18 Afrobasket held in Maputo.

The other African country participating in this year's event is Senegal, who are in Group C with Australia, Brazil and serbia.


 
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CIV U19 Beats Ghana's Best Team


Aviation Social Centre - A sparse crowd at the game venue watched on as Ghana's best basketball club side lost to the Ivorian national U19 side headed to the FIBA U19 World Championship in Czech Republic scheduled between 27th June - 7th July. The Ivorian team were in town for two days to get their visas for their contigent from the Czech embassy in Accra.

The game which started out quite physical ended with a 65-54 score line in favor of the Ivorian team. Braves seemed to have a hold on the game in the first half. However, the Ivorians' patience in execution on offense caused the not so well organized Braves defense a lot of problems often leading to open jumpers. The world Champioship bound team showed impressive skills in breaking Braves' full court presses, an ability that is a must have when venturing into a tournament with the likes of the USA and many countries that have superior basketball skill and knowledge. The Ivorians preparedness plus the lack of organization in Braves' game and a bad shooting day for Dodzie appropriately sums up the events of the day.

Many in the basketball community have shared opinions to the effect that this lose should be considered a wake up call to all involved in basketball in Ghana. Many expressed worry about the fact that our level of basketball is still quite low, condsidering our best team (who have not lost only two games in 10 years) got beat by a U19 side. Others were also of the opinion that Braves played very well, only that the Ivorians were a better team and that the lose should only be used as a motivation to work harder to improve our overall game.

 
Cote d'Ivoire FIBA U19 WC 2013 ghana basketball
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