CONAKRY (Guinea) - Mambourou Mara recalls staying at home, sitting by the window, staring at the empty streets in Conakry and wondering when he could be able to compete again.

The Guinean teenager spent the most part of summer at home following a shutdown of sports activities in the West African nation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mara's solace came from hitting the court for training sessions with every opportunity to play basketball coming with a dreamlike feeling.

"It wasn't easy not being able to play regularly. When you're used to waking up and going to the court to play and at some point it stops, it’s like a part of you that’s gone," Mara told FIBA.basketball

"I used to do a few exercises at home and on weekends I got involved in a few games.

"I was fortunate to have my fitness coach Sebastian around at some point and I trained frequently. For me it helped me stay fit and I felt somewhat liberated."

Mara's fervour for basketball isn't just a fluke, it is a way of life. The Conakry native is from a sports driven family.

Both his father and mother played professional football while his two older brothers have suited up for Guinea's basketball teams.

His oldest brother Djomba Mara was part of Guinea's roster that played that qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 while 19-year-old Rogerio Mara dazzled for his nation contributing 11.6 points and 1.4 rebounds at the FIBA U18 African Championship in 2018.

His older sister also plays basketball locally for an outfit in Conakry.

Buoyed by his brothers' successes, the power forward who was juggling between football and basketball traded the pitches for a court.

In 2014, the 1.94m (6ft 4in) youngster resolved to focus on developing his basketball skills and it was a year later that he decided to invest himself in the sport.

"Do you know what it means growing up with two older brothers and a sister who plays basketball?" Mara questioned giggling before adding, "They have been an essential part why I play basketball."

"In 2014, I used to go to school and when classes were over, I'd just hang around our home in Conakry playing around with other kids."

"One day my father suggested that I should play basketball with my brothers. He bought all what I needed and Djomba took me to an academy where I started learning to play.

"In 2015, the situation became different because I saw how well my brothers were getting and I met a lot of coaches who motivated me and with every game I became better."

 
Four years later, Mara had morphed into a good player who was leading Guinea at the FIBA U16 African Championship in Cape Verde.

The teenager from Conakry and his mates were denied a coveted spot on the podium by Nigeria in a nail-biting matchup that saw them bow 54-54 in the Third-Place Game.

The Cape Verde experience came with some disappointments but Mara will rather retain the positives from it.

"I'M JUST VERY HAPPY THAT I CAN PLAY AGAIN. WE’RE HAPPY TO BE IN THIS SKILLS CHALLENGE AGAINST SOME REALLY GOOD SIDES."- Mara

"It was a good experience for us especially as it was the first time we were playing at such a level. Unfortunately we couldn't get a medal.

"But we learned a lot playing in Cape Verde. We understood that if we ever had to succeed, we cannot give up and it helped me manage pressure better.

"Psychologically, I think I became a different person and maybe that's why when I play I just want to give in all.

"All I wanted was to get better and that's how I started playing with older players, accustoming myself to the demands of modern basketball as well as improving my craft."

Forged by a maiden continental experience, Mara is now poised on making his compatriots proud as he suits up once again for Guinea at the maiden FIBA U17 Skills Challenge 2020 .

Guinea pitted in Group B are up against Australia, Portugal and Spain with the teenage sensation relishing another opportunity to display his grit.

After spending several months away from the courts, Mara is thankful he can play basketball again and rival the world's best.

"I’m just very happy that I can play again. We're happy to be in this Skills Challenge against some really good sides.

"The last weeks preceding this competition, I was able to train well and obviously I'm very happy being able to play in this competition

"It's the first time that we're able to play in a world event in this category and we can make history by performing well."

"We all remember what happened in Cape Verde and we tell ourselves this is a great opportunity to fix things," Mara stated.

"Even if we can't win, it wouldn't be such a terrible thing. Like a lot of the guys on the team, I'm just thankful that I can play basketball again after the all sadness that COVID-19 brought," he concluded.

 FIBA