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27 September, 2014
05 October
Sonia-Guadalupe-30-05-2014
30/05/2014
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ANG - Hard work pays off for Guadalupe

BENGUELA (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Sonia Guadalupe is among the top players eager to see her name included in the preliminary squad of Angola's national team for the FIBA World Championship for Women.

In the next few weeks, head coach Anibal Moreira will announce the group of players he will be working with for FIBA's flagship event taking place in the Turkish cities of Ankara and Istanbul (27 September-5 October).

Angola have been drawn in Istanbul's Group D along with the USA, China and Serbia.

Guadalupe, who has not missed an international tournament for Angola since she first represented the country at AfroBasket Women 2007, feels she is ready to keep her international record.

She was an inexperienced 23-year-old when first getting a taste of a senior level world competition at the 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women (OQTW) in Madrid, Spain.

One of the highest moments of her national team career was the Final of AfroBasket Women 2011 against Senegal in which she had a game-high 23 points and six rebounds as Angola clinched its first continental championship.

In that competition, Guadalupe was named to the All-Tournament Team along with team-mate Nacissela Mauricio, Djenebou Sissoko of Mali and the Senegalese duo of Aya Traore and Diodo Mame Diouf.

Over the past three years, a lot has changed in Guadalupe's life. She has gained continental notability, became mother last year, signed for Primeiro D'Agosto from archrival Inter Clube de Luanda and feels life is treating her well.

As the 28-year-old helps her D'Agosto club try to dethrone defending champions Inter Clube de Luanda at the on-going 2014 Campeonato Nacional Feminino de Basquete (Angolan National Championship), she talked to FIBA.com and explained the significance of Angola making its debut at the World Championship for Women, looked at Angola's Group D opponents andreflected on being a mother/player, while also sharing her thoughts on the future of the game in her country.

This is what the 1.88m forward had to say.

On Angola at Turkey 2014
"Qualifying for Turkey 2014 after making our Olympic debut a couple of years ago is a remarkable feat for women's basketball in Angola, especially as some seemed to be losing faith in the development of our game.

"It has taken years for my generation to reach the top of basketball in Africa, but the wait was worth it, and when we retire we'll be able to tell younger players how hard work pays off.

"Of course it is an honour to play in front of a world audience, and I hope to be part of the group that will take the name of Angola among the best teams in the world.

"The USA are the best on the planet, and the prospect of facing them again is encouraging. We knew this in London, and I still believe it is very difficult for us to beat a team like that, but we can play better basketball now.

"Prior to the London Olympics, we played China a few friendly games in China. We had very balanced games, but they always ended up winning in the final minutes. We could not improve it in London either. I believe we have a group of players capable of doing better against China this year in Turkey.

"I don't know much about the Serbian national team, but having finished fourth at EuroBasket Women 2013 suggests they are a good team. We'll see how it goes. We will get ready for them."

On the future of the game in Angola
"Women's basketball is gradually improving in Angola. Over the last few years, the national championship was mainly focused in four teams from the capital Luanda. As of the 2013-14 season, there are already seven teams, some coming from the provinces.

"Although the national team might not be much different from the team that won AfroBasket Women 2013, I believe the future of the game in Angola is bright. I keep watching youth tournaments throughout the country, and it amazes me to see teenage girls as tall as 1.90m embracing the fundamental of the game.

"Yes, the national team players can make a living playing basketball in Angola, and in the near future I feel it will be a norm for most players in the our national championship."

On being a mother and a player
"Before becoming a mother, my athleticism was impressive, every play came naturally, but since I gave birth to my daughter I feel I have to work twice as hard to be at the same level as my teammates. As a mother you understand the real meaning of sacrifice, which is an advantage for an athlete.

On the national championship
"
We have big chances of winning the national championship because, in the past, we only lost to Inter Clube through small details."

FIBA