SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Angola has won 11 African titles in the past 25 years and a big part of that success is owed to shooting guard Carlos Almeida.

Now, Almeida is saying goodbye to the basketball courts as he embraces politics.

Last summer, the 1.93m guard became the third African player to win seven continental titles, joining Angelo Vitoriano, and 2013 FIBA Hall of Fame inductee Jean Jacques Conceicao.

In the past few years, Almeida's international career was synonymous with Angola's success.

And it became clear when Frenchman Michel Gomez left him out of the team that competed at AfroBasket 2011.

In that tournament, the Angolans lost their first continental title since 1997, after a 67-56 loss to Tunisia in the Final, and Gomez was sacked midway through the tournament.

Almeida returned at AfroBasket 2013, playing his leadership role and the Angolans regained the Africa dominance thanks to a 57-40 win over Egypt in the Final, before he announced his retirement from the national team.

His remarkable playing career, though, ended last Thursday while playing for his club Primeiro d’Agosto who lost 96-89 to archrival Petro de Luanda in the first-leg of the Angolan Cup final.

As the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup gets closer, the Angolans are wondering what the future holds for them, and where the new Almeida will be coming from.

There is a group of talented Angolans coming up, and some might feature for their country in Spain 2014, but another charismatic player like Almeida might take time to come.

Look back at his career and it becomes evident that during his 14-year international career at senior level, very few matched his regularity on the big stage, which included three Olympic Games (2000, 2004 and 2008) as well as three World Championships appearances (2002, 2006 and 2010).

At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, Almeida averaged 10.8 points per game and converted all 12 free-throws in six games.

His countryman Antonio Carvalho, now serving as assistant coach at Petro de Luanda, holds the African record for most World Championships appearances (1990, 1994, 2002 and 2006), which might be tied by both Eduardo Mingas and Joaquim Gomes in Spain 2014.

At age of 37, Almeida is about to spend much of his time as a member of the Angolan Parliament, representing the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Angola's ruling party.

A couple of hours before his final professional game, Almeida was calm when I phoned him and asked him to share look back at career and share his thoughts.

Here are some of topics we of our chat.

On his international career
"I had great moments throughout my basketball career and I am pleased with my achievements. My only regret is not winning a World Cup.

"I must thank fans from around the world who followed my career. I hope they have enjoyed seeing me competing for my country."

On starting his club career at archrivals Petro de Luanda
"It was not an easy decision to swap from Petro de Luanda to Primeiro d'Agosto, particularly as it happened during a difficult moment for Petro as our head coach Vlademir Romero had just died."

On remarkable moments with national team
"Winning the 2008 Stankovic Cup over China on their home soil was extremely encouraging.

"Losing to Germany in three overtimes, and finish a place below them (9th) at the 2006 World Championship was a bitter ending, but historic as it was Angola's highest position in the tournament. That moment was clearly one of highest of my international career.

"Four years later it felt really good beating Germany at Turkey 2010."

On a message for young players
"They should be humble, hardworking and believe they can do it."

On his political career
"A month ago, I battled hard in the Parliament for the approval of a Sports Development Law, which aims to encourage underprivileged Angolans to practice sport activities."

On how African teams can succeed at 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup
"They need a good preparation, play one game at a time, be organised, select their best players because most national teams do, and compete throughout the game."

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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