SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Mario Palma has just reminded everyone why he is the most successful coach in the African basketball history.

Despite joining Club Africain last December - midway through the Tunisian League - the veteran coach guided the Tunis-based club to the national title on Saturday.

Club Africain opened the best-of-three Finals series against Etoile Sportive du Sahel (ESS) with a 73-69 overtime loss, but Palma's men managed a spectacular comeback with two straight wins - in Games 2 (64-56) and 3 (59-56) - to complete a back to back triumph.

In fairness, his success wasn't a surprise. After all, the man knows African basketball better than most.

Although the 65-year-old coach who is currently at the helm of Portugal's senior men's national side and has enjoyed some success with Jordan - they claimed their first-ever podium finish after coming in third at 2009 FIBA Asian Championship - it's in Africa that the Angolan-Portuguese has accomplished most of his tremendous success.

Palma led Jordan to a third-place finish at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship

Born in Guinea-Bissau to Portuguese parents, Palma has lived more than 40 years in Angola, where he began his African basketball odyssey.

At the helm of Angola's senior men's national team, he led them to four straight AfroBaskets - FIBA Africa’s top competition - in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Early in his career, Palma helped the Southern African country to two continental junior championships.

At club level, Palma sparked Angolan giants Primeiro D'Agosto to African Champions Cup (ACC) titles in 2002 and 2004. But when he and his national army-funded club sought their third crown in December 2011, ESS - a team D'Agosto had beaten by 20 points in the Group Phase - proved too strong as they stunned the Angolans 82-60 in Sale, Moroccos.

But, four years later, Palma travelled to ESS home to return the favour as Club Africain retained the national title.

Over the weekend, I asked Palma to explain how Club Africain managed a comeback in the Finals.

"I must say that Etoile Sportive du Sahel was one of the best teams in Tunisia this season. They have some of the best players - including Makram Ben Romdhane - and they were convinced they would win the league.

We won the title because we were better prepared. My players gave everything they had, and more importantly, we never gave up. - Palma

Historically, no other coach has accomplished so much success in African basketball. So I wonder whether Palma had a specific strategy to succeed in Africa.

"I am 65 years of age now and have lived more than 40 years in Angola," he pointed out.

I am more African than Portuguese, and Angola is my country. That’s the reason I have no difficulties to adapt to the continent of Africa and its basketball. I know Africa very well. - Palma

"The Tunisian league is highly competitive. I believe it is one of the strongest leagues in Africa. Teams never give up playing until the last second, and crowds live the game intensively."

With the national title, Club Africain earned a place in the FIBA Africa Zone 1 qualifier for the 2016 ACC, which is expected to take place in November/December.

Palma, who will return to Portugal for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers in August, doesn't rule out a return to compete for his third ACC title.

"If the club wants me to continue, we are going to need to talk. The African Champions Cup is really, really competitive. We'll see," Palma noted.

Whatever the future holds between Palma and Club Africain, I take my hat off to coach Palma.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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