YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - When you've played at five FIBA AfroBasket events, two FIBA Basketball World Cups, and at the Olympics, there's a wealth of experience you garner and there's a sense of fulfilment that it usually ushers.

Often, basketball players with such pedigree on the continental scene seem less bothered about extending that record but that's not the case with Leonel Ditutala Paulo. He wants more.

At 34 and donning the toga as one of Angola's most experienced players still in action, Paulo's passion for basketball is undented as he has now cast his gaze on qualification for this year's AfroBasket as well as a sixth appearance on the continental scene.

"THE IMMEDIATE TARGET IS TO QUALIFY FOR THE AFROBASKET IN RWANDA. I HOPE THAT MY EXPERIENCE CAN HELP US ATTAIN OUR GOAL."Leonel Paolo

Setting up amidst a revamped and more youthful Angolan side, the small forward is bringing close to two decades of high-level basketball to the table as he hopes to power his nation to a 21 AfroBasket stint.

 "I've seen it all in my career and to date I still have the same passion for the sport," Paulo said in a chat with FIBA.basketball.

"Every day when I wake up, I have a new determination and a new reason to continue working hard and to continue playing. I tell myself that I have a new reason to get better and as long I'm healthy, I'll continue playing.

"The opponents are different, the challenges are new and for the team at the moment, the immediate target is to qualify for the AfroBasket in Rwanda. I know how important this is and I hope that my experience from playing in these events can help us attain our goal" Paolo  added.

"Angola is top basketball nation and nobody loves when we lose games back in the country."

A two-time African champion in 2009 and 2013, Paulo is part of a treasured Angolan generation of players who appeared in four consecutive AfroBasket finals from 2009 to 2015 finishing second in 2011 and 2015.

The 2008 Olympian is still furious over a 66-51 defeat against Senegal in the First Round of the Qualifiers last November, but admits that their opponents Senegal, Mozambique, and Kenya are very good teams who can pose a problem to the side.

"These are very good teams who play great basketball, Paulo  added.

"Senegal has been consistent recently and they have a top squad, Mozambique as well and Kenya can't be taken for granted.

"When you're playing against these sort of sides, you have to stay focused and avoid mistakes.

"As always, the main aim is to play well and make our fans happy but even if things become tough, we should be able to qualify for the AfroBasket. That's the goal for the entire team right now."

The Angolan side has become more laced with youthful exuberance and Paulo admits that it could take some time before the team plays flamboyantly as they've accustomed their fans to.

The 1.98m (6ft 6in) is grateful that the younger generation can lean on him and former AfroBasket MVP Carlos Morais who's dazzled at seven editions of the African championship since 2005, winning the tournament an incredible four times.

"We have a young team but it's good that we have someone like Carlos who has played in seven AfroBasket," Paulo stated.

"Both of us we've played a combined 12 AfroBaskets and so there's a lot of experience that we have picked up along the years. Carlos and I are the veterans and we're trying to make sure that we can inspire these youngsters.

 
"We talk to the players about the attitude they need to adopt for their careers and their positioning on the court. How they have to behave when we're leading or when we're being led. A lot of these things even if you're very talented, you can't know unless you've been in the game for long.

"I love the feeling within the squad right now. The young players want to learn and it thus makes it easy for us," he explained.

Angola begin the last window of qualifiers for this year's AfroBasket with a game against Mozambique on February 19 before taking on Kenya a day after and they conclude the qualifiers with a scintillating matchup against Senegal on February 21.

If the Angolans are to make a significant statement in the competition, Paulo thinks playing high-intensity basketball should be the key.

"During the last round of qualifiers, we started the games slowly," Paulo stressed.

"Against Senegal, we were led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter. That was just a terrible way to start the game.

"We need to start the games at a greater pace. We have to prevent our opponents from developing their play and being comfortable. If we can do that, it'll be hard not to see us qualify for the AfroBasket in Rwanda," he concluded.

FIBA