AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

Almeida ready for return with Cape Verde

7/29/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ivan Almeida (CPV). Photo: Emmanuel Roussel/LNB

PRAIA (AfroBasket) - Cape Verde's ace Ivan Almeida has returned to his national team for AfroBasket 2015.

On Tuesday, the 1.99m guard/forward joined newly-appointed head coach Luis Magalhaes and the rest of the team who are currently holding a training camp in Praia ahead of next month's African Championship in Tunisia (19-30 August).

With his insurance coverage finally resolved the 26-year-old is ready to make his comeback for his country.


Two years ago, Almeida was unable to help his country at AfroBasket in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, due to alleged disagreements with the Federation.

Right now, things are different, and in his words, he just wants "to represent my country".

Although the islanders - under former head coach Alex Nwora - beat Nigeria in the classification games, it was the 74-73 Quarter-Final defeat to Egypt that spoiled the team's aspirations in 2013.

They were denied a place in the last four, but claimed an honourable sixth-place.

Now, it could be different, and Almeida - who has just agreed terms with Chorale Roanne in the French second tier - feels he could contribute for the "Hammer Sharks", the nickname given to Cape Verde's national team.

Coach Magalhaes got in touch, we talked a lot, and I want to play for my country. - Almeida

Almeida will have a chance to work with Magalhaes, who he looked up to during his tenure with Ovarense in the Portuguese league.

Almeida recalled: "I was in the junior team and he was the head coach of the senior team. I practiced with him only a few times, but it would be great to work with him with Cape Verde national team."

Almeida last played at AfroBasket in 2009 in Tripoli, Libya, but the prospect of participating in Africa's elite basketball tournament again holds a lot of significance for him.

"We should focus on one game at a time and try to promote the name of the country worldwide. That's one thing that I am ready to fight for.

"Obviously 2009 was a good experience for me as a player even though I didn't play as much as I would have loved to. But I have learned from the experience."

At AfroBasket 2015, Cape Verde will face Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Zimbabwe in Group D.

Cote d’Ivoire is the strongest team in the group and we are the underdogs. But we’ll compete. - Almeida

What does Almeida make of Cape Verde's preliminary squad?

"It is a strong group of players no doubt about it, but I am not sure whether everyone will be available," he pointed out.

Still, Almeida feels that a couple of players could boost their chances in the tournament, not only because of their quality as players, but also because of their previous AfroBasket experience.

"Jeff [Xavier] could become a massive addition for us, and Edy Tavares could do the job near the basket," he said.

However, neither Xavier - who led all scorers at AfroBasket 2009 and had an eye-catching performance at 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Greece - nor Tavares, a 2.21m center who has signed for the Atlanta Hawks, have reported to the team yet.

Asked to pick a candidate to win this year's AfroBasket, Almeida did not hesitate to choose the 11-time African champions Angola.

"I still feel Angola is the strongest team in the championship, and could be one of the finalists. Even with the injuries affecting some players, they are too experienced in African basketball," he said.

By: FIBA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network