FIBA Basketball
ANG - Alberto Carvalho embraces Angola challenge
LUANDA (FIBA World Championship) - New winds in Angolan basketball have taken Alberto Carvalho to the top job in the country. Having returned home after a few years managing Portuguese teams and immediately lifting the national league trophy with Petro de Luanda, the 49-year-old Alberto Carvalho was the ideal man to replace former national team boss Mario Palma. Alberto Carvalho could hardly ask for a better opportunity to make his mark in international basketball
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LUANDA (FIBA World Championship) - New winds in Angolan basketball have taken Alberto Carvalho to the top job in the country.
Having returned home after a few years managing Portuguese teams and immediately lifting the national league trophy with Petro de Luanda, the 49-year-old Alberto Carvalho was the ideal man to replace former national team boss Mario Palma. Alberto Carvalho could hardly ask for a better opportunity to make his mark in international basketball.
He will lead the African giants at the FIBA World Championship in Japan. The Angolans will be in Group B with Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Panama and tournament hosts Japan.
An injury-riddled Angola failed to win a game at the 2004 Olympics but they will fancy their chances of finishing in the top four with FIBA Americas minnows Panama and hosts Japan in the pool.
"I have got around 24 years of basketball coaching, and I think this is a considerable background to lead Angola in a tournament of this dimension," Alberto Carvalho said to PA Sport. "In our minds, we have the idea that we have to win games at the tournament."
The Angolan Federation have high expectations under Alberto Carvalho.
"We'll search to fight and win, at least, two or three games," he said. "We have the team to do it and we're living new winds. This is what keeps us very confident for the future."
The Angolan squad has a different look to it.
Veterans Angelo Vitoriano and Gerson Monteiro helped Angola win the African Championship in 2005 but haven't been named for the new challenges. They have been replaced by new faces. One long-time star who is still around is guard Miguel Lutonda.
"I think we can do better than we have done in the past," Alberto Carvalho said. "We have new, talented players. I'm convinced that this squad is in good condition to face any other team in our group. Our players are not as well known as most of our opponents, which may be an advantage for us."
The return of the veteran Vitor Carvalho and the call-ups of new players like Simao Santos, Fernando Albano, Luis Mario, Dilson Camacho, Divaldo Bunga and Emanuel Neto are the main reasons for Alberto Carvalho's optimism.
"We have chosen the players we thought they can make our goals reality," the coach said. "I have included some new faces in the squad for the simple reason that new talents have emerged in Angolan Basketball. Gerson Monteiro has been my player at Petro Atletico and he hasn't been as well as he was in the past. That's the only reason he has not been named. It was a tough decision to take, but I had to defend the team's interest."
Alberto Carvalho will be assisted by former Angolan international Jose Carlos Guimaraes and Artur Barros.
"All we can promise is that we are going to do our best. Otherwise, we would refuse to take over," Alberto Carvalho said.
Just as past occasions, Angola will prepare for the Far East even by taking part in warm-up tournaments abroad. This time, they will travel to the United States and Spain to prepare.
"It's very easy when a coach has all conditions to work in a well-organised team," he said. "It happened to me with Petro Atletico and also on the national team. Everything will depend on our performances."
For many basketball fans around the world, Mario Palma is the main face of the Angolan basketball. Alberto Carvalho played under him and is a huge admirer.
"Mario Palma has done enormous work for Angolan Basketball," he said. "As a player, I was African champion after being led by him in 1980. It was a fact that marked my own career. A short time after, I had to quit the game because of knee injury.
"For him, I have to be thank for all the knowledge he's given me. But, I also must refer other head coaches like Vitorino Cunha who gave Angola some international prestige."
Alberto Carvalho says he is busy gathering as much information as he can on this summer's Group B opponents.
"I've been searching and investigating some details about our opponents and what I can tell you is that some of them are stronger than us but they will have to work to beat us."
Africa will be represented by three teams in a FIBA World Championship for the first time.
"Without any doubt, I believe Nigeria, Senegal and Angola will give pride to the African people in this World Cup because there is too much quality in our players. There are several African players performing in the best leagues."
Palma has not gotten out of coaching. He has only changed teams.
Palma revealed exclusively to PA Sport that from September, will head Jordan's national team with the clear goal "to qualify the country for the next Olympics".
As for Alberto Carvalho, he knows not many of Angola's opponents will be expecting a big things from his team. Most of the attention so far has been reserved for Germany and Spain, who have NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, respectively.
"Facing some European colossuses such are Spain and Germany is not easy at all," he said.
"We reckon they are the main favourites to go through, but first they have to deserve it."
By Julio Chitunda
PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA
LUANDA (FIBA World Championship) - New winds in Angolan basketball have taken Alberto Carvalho to the top job in the country.
Having returned home after a few years managing Portuguese teams and immediately lifting the national league trophy with Petro de Luanda, the 49-year-old Alberto Carvalho was the ideal man to replace former national team boss Mario Palma. Alberto Carvalho could hardly ask for a better opportunity to make his mark in international basketball.
He will lead the African giants at the FIBA World Championship in Japan. The Angolans will be in Group B with Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Panama and tournament hosts Japan.
An injury-riddled Angola failed to win a game at the 2004 Olympics but they will fancy their chances of finishing in the top four with FIBA Americas minnows Panama and hosts Japan in the pool.
"I have got around 24 years of basketball coaching, and I think this is a considerable background to lead Angola in a tournament of this dimension," Alberto Carvalho said to PA Sport. "In our minds, we have the idea that we have to win games at the tournament."
The Angolan Federation have high expectations under Alberto Carvalho.
"We'll search to fight and win, at least, two or three games," he said. "We have the team to do it and we're living new winds. This is what keeps us very confident for the future."
The Angolan squad has a different look to it.
Veterans Angelo Vitoriano and Gerson Monteiro helped Angola win the African Championship in 2005 but haven't been named for the new challenges. They have been replaced by new faces. One long-time star who is still around is guard Miguel Lutonda.
"I think we can do better than we have done in the past," Alberto Carvalho said. "We have new, talented players. I'm convinced that this squad is in good condition to face any other team in our group. Our players are not as well known as most of our opponents, which may be an advantage for us."
The return of the veteran Vitor Carvalho and the call-ups of new players like Simao Santos, Fernando Albano, Luis Mario, Dilson Camacho, Divaldo Bunga and Emanuel Neto are the main reasons for Alberto Carvalho's optimism.
"We have chosen the players we thought they can make our goals reality," the coach said. "I have included some new faces in the squad for the simple reason that new talents have emerged in Angolan Basketball. Gerson Monteiro has been my player at Petro Atletico and he hasn't been as well as he was in the past. That's the only reason he has not been named. It was a tough decision to take, but I had to defend the team's interest."
Alberto Carvalho will be assisted by former Angolan international Jose Carlos Guimaraes and Artur Barros.
"All we can promise is that we are going to do our best. Otherwise, we would refuse to take over," Alberto Carvalho said.
Just as past occasions, Angola will prepare for the Far East even by taking part in warm-up tournaments abroad. This time, they will travel to the United States and Spain to prepare.
"It's very easy when a coach has all conditions to work in a well-organised team," he said. "It happened to me with Petro Atletico and also on the national team. Everything will depend on our performances."
For many basketball fans around the world, Mario Palma is the main face of the Angolan basketball. Alberto Carvalho played under him and is a huge admirer.
"Mario Palma has done enormous work for Angolan Basketball," he said. "As a player, I was African champion after being led by him in 1980. It was a fact that marked my own career. A short time after, I had to quit the game because of knee injury.
"For him, I have to be thank for all the knowledge he's given me. But, I also must refer other head coaches like Vitorino Cunha who gave Angola some international prestige."
Alberto Carvalho says he is busy gathering as much information as he can on this summer's Group B opponents.
"I've been searching and investigating some details about our opponents and what I can tell you is that some of them are stronger than us but they will have to work to beat us."
Africa will be represented by three teams in a FIBA World Championship for the first time.
"Without any doubt, I believe Nigeria, Senegal and Angola will give pride to the African people in this World Cup because there is too much quality in our players. There are several African players performing in the best leagues."
Palma has not gotten out of coaching. He has only changed teams.
Palma revealed exclusively to PA Sport that from September, will head Jordan's national team with the clear goal "to qualify the country for the next Olympics".
As for Alberto Carvalho, he knows not many of Angola's opponents will be expecting a big things from his team. Most of the attention so far has been reserved for Germany and Spain, who have NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, respectively.
"Facing some European colossuses such are Spain and Germany is not easy at all," he said.
"We reckon they are the main favourites to go through, but first they have to deserve it."
By Julio Chitunda
PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA