MAPUTO (Mozambique) - Ferroviario de Maputo kept most of the squad from the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Qualifiers, although a few new additions may be needed for the BAL Final Round, the club has recently said.

Spaniard Alvaro Calvo Masa has been confirmed to fill one of four spots for international players, according to Ferroviario de Maputo spokesperson Isidro Amade.

The 37-year-old paced the Mozambican champions with team-highs 21.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game as they became one of the last three teams to advance to the BAL Final Round.  

"Alvaro is spending some time back in Spain, but he will join the team in the next few days," Amade said. "Once our coaching staff informs us of the needs of the team, we will start negotiating with some players."

Ferroviario de Maputo returned to work last week, almost seven months since the start of the national lockdown. 

Players, coaches and officials welcomed Mozambique's government decision to reopen some sport activities in the country.

Ferroviario de Maputo head coach Milagre Macome said his priority was to prepare the team physical and mentally for the BAL, which is expected to take place before the end the year.

The Mozambicans have been drawn against Zamalek (Egypt), FAP (Cameroon), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), Union Sportive Monastir (Tunisia) and Patriots Basketball (Rwanda).

“We are going to treat one game at a time and try go as far as possible in the competition," Macome said although he admitted that they will be prepared for the uphill tasks that awaits them. "Considering the power and quality of our opponents, it will be a tough competition for us.

“We had ambitions before the coronavirus lockdown, and we maintain our ambitions very much intact. We continue to believe that with hard anything is possible," he added.

FIBA