Basketball Africa League: Latest news, signings, preparations
CAIRO/LAGOS/LUANDA/TUNIS - A quick search at some of the teams qualified for the Regular Season of the inaugural Basketball African League (BAL), and it becomes clear that they remain hopeful to compete before the end of the year.
The 12-team competition has been postponed since March following the coronavirus pandemic.
Amid some uncertainty, BAL and teams' officials, shareholders have been holding regular meetings to find a way out of the current situation.
Cameroon’s outfit FAP will have to wait before hitting the court for the maiden Basketball Africa League.
— Njie Enow: Mr Razzmatazz (@NjieEnow) March 4, 2020
The BAL has postponed the league’s start following health concerns linked to the Coronavirus in Senegal.
Basketball is good but life is better! @JordanRezendes2 pic.twitter.com/yFuJi1YzYQ
Recent reports indicate that the newly-launched competition's play system could be reformulated, although Kigali remains the definite location for the Final Round.
BAL's original plan divided the 12 teams into two conferences of six teams each with representatives of Egypt, Angola, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia granted the opportunity to host regular-season games.
Yet, despite some uncertainty, BAL teams remain relatively active.
In Lagos, for example, Rivers Hoopers head coach, Ogoh Odaudu remains confident of a good outing for his side despite the effects of the coronavirus pandemic which left team redundant following the imposed lockdown and consequent suspension of sporting activities in Nigeria.
Ogoh Odaudu coached Nigeria at 2019 FIBA AfroCan
Odaudu, who has led Rivers Hoopers to several championships in Nigeria and beyond stated that they are waiting eagerly for a lift of the suspension on sporting activities to return to full training.
"At the moment, my players have had to settle for individual fitness training," Odaudu said. "Our fitness coach assigned a training schedule to the players which is recorded on video for us to assess. Our goal is to ensure that the players are physically fit so that we can go straight to ball work when the suspension on sporting activities is lifted.
"There's a lot to be done to get them together when the opportunity arise. Before the lockdown, we had contacted Kaylon Tappin, Billy Baptist, Ahmed Hamdy Mohamed and Uchenna Iroegbu.
"Subject to change, they might have moved on to play for other teams but let's see how it goes."
In Egypt, the 2019 Super League champions Zamalek, who earned the right to represent the country at BAL this year, are currently facing a new reality.
Zamalek were crowned 2019 Egypt's SuperLeague champions
With the Egyptian Championship due to resume later this month, Zamalek won't be able to defend their title after being eliminated (3-0) in the semifinals against Al Etihad.
In the process, Zamalek signed Tarek Slim as their new head coach, replacing Essam Abd el Hamid.
Zamalek's current roster is yet to be complete.
According to the club, they are working on boosting the roster with some Egyptian players currently playing in Europe and trying to sign four good international players for the BAL.
"It [BAL] is something precious to us. We are proud to be the first and the only team in Africa who played the European Championship years ago and the first Egyptian team to play in the BAL. As a pioneer club in Egyptian basketball we are proud to write a new chapter in our club's history, and we look forward to winning this Championship [BAL], especially as we will be under the world spotlight," said the Cairo-based club.
Meanwhile, in Angola, reigning champions Petro Atletico de Luanda have kept more than half of last year's roster, although the future of the coaching staff is yet to be determined.
Last week, the 2015 African champions hired two Angolan renowned coaches in Manuel Silva and Anibal Moreira to join the club's new projects.
Manuel Silva e Anibal Moreira juntam-se à equipa de treinadores do basquetebol do Petro de Atletico de Luanda. A direcção do clube está por confirmar o nome do treinador principal. #AngolaBasquetebol #Basquetebol #Basketball #Angola #Luanda #Africa #FIBA #BAL #PetrodeLuanda pic.twitter.com/UEajN5PiPq
— Angola Basketball (Basquetebol em Angola) (@AngolanBasket) August 4, 2020
The 2019-2020 Angolan League was canceled in March with Petro Atletico de Luanda granted the right to represent the country at 2021 BAL's season.
In Tunisia, Union Sportive Monastir made a tremendous statement this past week, winning back-to-back League titles after beating arch rivals Etoile Sportive Rades 2-0 in the best-of-three Finals.
FIBA