Basketball in Africa

Stand-in coach for the Lions of Senegal and Detroit Pistons Africa Scout, Myke Scholl has given his verdict on the proposed interest of the Angolan Basketball Federation to bid for the FIBA World Championship for Men soon.

South Africa-base Scholl says basketball is like a religion in Angola backed with excellent organisation and support from both the government and the people.

Speaking with FIBA Africa in an exclusive chat at the lounge or Hotel Alvalde Monday on the organisational structure the Angolan basketball federation and government deplored towards the hosting of the 24th FIBA Africa Championship which enters its knock-out stage Tuesday, the former coach of the South African senior Men team said with such level of followership the game enjoyed in Angola he has no doubt that they can conveniently hosted the World Championship.

He gave kudos to the decentralisation of the venues which according to him brought out the best from the fans that thronged the stadiums daily to cheer the teams in each of the four venues (Benguela, Huambo, Lubango and Cabinda).

“The fans are very enthusiastic about the game in Angola and that is one important area of the game that the world governing body, FIBA should look at when deciding on the choice of host for its championship.

“Other Africa Basketball Federations should take a cue from Angola on how best to run a virile basketball, by ensuring that they do not only have a league but one that is very vibrant which can attract its top players from trooping abroad, the leagues should be run professionally.

Scholl who was bitter that the Senegalese team was bundled out of the championship they were runner-up in 2005 on the door step of the Senegal Basketball Federation whom he said failed in their responsibilities to start preparation early by writing for the release of its top players on time for major championship.

He absolved the players of any complicity but rather blamed it on the group-C it found itself which he described as the toughest in the championship.

The former ESPN basketball club of Johannesburg, South Africa head coach to the 2006 FIBA Africa Champions Club Cup Competition held in Lagos, Nigeria rated Angola as the best team in Africa with Nigeria as second.