FIBA Basketball
ANG - Carvalho making an impact - Gomes
LUANDA (FIBA World Championship) - Angola forward Joaquim Gomes admits the national team is still getting used to the coaching philosophies of Alberto Carvalho ahead of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. Carvalho recently replaced Mario Palma, who enjoyed a lot of success in charge of the national side. Palma was not happy with Angola's offer to continue and the two sides went different ways, with the coach heading for the Middle East to lead Jordan's national team
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LUANDA (FIBA World Championship) - Angola forward Joaquim Gomes admits the national team is still getting used to the coaching philosophies of Alberto Carvalho ahead of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.
Carvalho recently replaced Mario Palma, who enjoyed a lot of success in charge of the national side. Palma was not happy with Angola's offer to continue and the two sides went different ways, with the coach heading for the Middle East to lead Jordan's national team.
"I thought he [Palma] was going to be the head coach," Gomes said to PA Sport. "He had been winning and was doing a great job, everybody expected him to come back so it was a surprise. It took a while for us to get used to it in our minds that we have a new coach. But I think he's capable leading the team to the World Championship."
Carvalho took over after guiding Petro de Luanda to the Angolan league title in his first season back home after returning from years in Portugal.
"It's a different thing for us," Gomes said. "There are new rules and new strategies. We're all getting along well though. We're very enthusiastic to work with him and he's enthusiastic to work with us. And he's been giving us a lot of confidence."
When asked about the biggest difference between Carvalho and Palma, Gomes said: "Every coach is different. I think it's too early to talk about it. We've only been working together for two weeks. It's not the right time. I will just let him to do his work."
The Angolans have been working on conditioning and going through plays in their first two weeks of preparations in the nation's capital Luanda. They leave for Serbia & Montenegro on Monday to prepare for their second phase of preparations, while warm-up games are planned for next week, including a game against Germany in Mallorca. Angola and Germany will meet in Japan as well as both teams are drawn into Group B along with Spain, Panama, New Zealand and hosts Japan.
"We are going to be the underdogs. But I don't mind coming in as underdogs because everyone will underestimate you," Gomes said. Gomes is one of the only Angolan players who earn their basketball salaries outside the country. He spent last season with Eiffel Towers Den Bosch, and that has its advantages and disadvantages, Gomes said.
"It's kind of a 50-50 situation," he said. "On the good side, we know each other and play with each other really well. But the worst thing is that we don't have a lot of international league experience. International games can often take more than games at home."
Gomes believes Nigeria and Senegal will have an advantage over Angola in Japan. Angola rolled to the African title last year, beating Senegal in the final, but Gomes said: "They have a lot of players playing in Europe. Plus they have something we don't have - size. It's going to be a great advantage for them. I think with Senegal's size and height that they can compete with anybody.
"If you look at us, we don't really have size. We rely on skill. We play well against good teams, but we usually have problems with size."
David Hein
PA Sport Exclusivley for FIBA
LUANDA (FIBA World Championship) - Angola forward Joaquim Gomes admits the national team is still getting used to the coaching philosophies of Alberto Carvalho ahead of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.
Carvalho recently replaced Mario Palma, who enjoyed a lot of success in charge of the national side. Palma was not happy with Angola's offer to continue and the two sides went different ways, with the coach heading for the Middle East to lead Jordan's national team.
"I thought he [Palma] was going to be the head coach," Gomes said to PA Sport. "He had been winning and was doing a great job, everybody expected him to come back so it was a surprise. It took a while for us to get used to it in our minds that we have a new coach. But I think he's capable leading the team to the World Championship."
Carvalho took over after guiding Petro de Luanda to the Angolan league title in his first season back home after returning from years in Portugal.
"It's a different thing for us," Gomes said. "There are new rules and new strategies. We're all getting along well though. We're very enthusiastic to work with him and he's enthusiastic to work with us. And he's been giving us a lot of confidence."
When asked about the biggest difference between Carvalho and Palma, Gomes said: "Every coach is different. I think it's too early to talk about it. We've only been working together for two weeks. It's not the right time. I will just let him to do his work."
The Angolans have been working on conditioning and going through plays in their first two weeks of preparations in the nation's capital Luanda. They leave for Serbia & Montenegro on Monday to prepare for their second phase of preparations, while warm-up games are planned for next week, including a game against Germany in Mallorca. Angola and Germany will meet in Japan as well as both teams are drawn into Group B along with Spain, Panama, New Zealand and hosts Japan.
"We are going to be the underdogs. But I don't mind coming in as underdogs because everyone will underestimate you," Gomes said. Gomes is one of the only Angolan players who earn their basketball salaries outside the country. He spent last season with Eiffel Towers Den Bosch, and that has its advantages and disadvantages, Gomes said.
"It's kind of a 50-50 situation," he said. "On the good side, we know each other and play with each other really well. But the worst thing is that we don't have a lot of international league experience. International games can often take more than games at home."
Gomes believes Nigeria and Senegal will have an advantage over Angola in Japan. Angola rolled to the African title last year, beating Senegal in the final, but Gomes said: "They have a lot of players playing in Europe. Plus they have something we don't have - size. It's going to be a great advantage for them. I think with Senegal's size and height that they can compete with anybody.
"If you look at us, we don't really have size. We rely on skill. We play well against good teams, but we usually have problems with size."
David Hein
PA Sport Exclusivley for FIBA