Mali’s Sy: ''We are focused on making the Second Round of the African Qualifiers''
BRISSAC-QUINCE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Mali's Mamadou Sy has a lot on his mind ahead of the June-July window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers
BRISSAC-QUINCE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) – Mali's Mamadou Sy has a lot on his mind ahead of the June-July window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers in Group B.
Although Mali is seating in third place behind Nigeria and Uganda, Sy remains optimistic that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them to make it to the next round of the African Qualifiers.
The 6ft 6in (1.99m) forward admits that their performance in the second window wasn't good enough.
''We were at home and we expected to do better. The team was built with a lot of new players, and we only had five days to prepare for the games and get to know each other. The plan was to take one game out at a time and try to win each of them. Five days was short for a new team that had never played a game together before but hopefully the three games we played in the first-leg will help us in the next window.''
''TO SEE EVERYONE JUMPING ON THE COURT REMINDED US WHY WE LOVE THIS GAME. WEARING THE NATIONAL COLOURS ON THAT DAY WAS AN HONOR. MALI IS A BIG PART OF ME. I WAS BORN IN FRANCE BUT MY PARENTS RAISE ME WITH THE MALIAN CULTURE.'' - Sy
Sy, who currently plies his trade in France where he was born recalls that the shock defeat Mali suffered in their first game simply swept them off their feet.
''Rwanda came with a game plan and stock to it through the whole game. They played well. We had a hard time to find solutions offensively. They kept the game close and put the pressure on us. That's why we did some mistakes that cost us the game,'' he told FIBA.basketball.
''It was hard taking that defeat. I felt bad because as a competitor you always want to win. It does not put us in the best position to go to the next window and it was at home, in Mali in front of our fans and family who came to support and make some noise in the arena.''
However, the pains and disappointment of the defeat against Rwanda was erased with the victory over Uganda.
The 32-year-old who was making his comeback in the team since FIBA AfroBasket 2011 held in Madagascar expressed his excitement after the win.
''It was unbelievable. It was a tough and a must win game. To get the win on the buzzer was a great feeling. To see everyone jumping on the court reminded us why we love this game. Wearing the national colours on that day was an honor. Mali is a big part of me. I was born in France but my parents raise me with the Malian culture. My roots are there, part of my family live there, I have been there a lot. When I wear the colours, I play for all the Malian in the World,'' he explained.
On what Mali can do differently in the June-July window, Sy says it would be best for them to just continue to work as what happened in the February window is part of the process to do better in June-July.
''I LIKE THE NEW FORMAT AS IT ALLOWS US TO PLAY THE QUALIFIERS WITHOUT MISSING GAMES WITH OUR CLUBS IN EUROPE. IT’S EASY TO COMBINE BOTH.'' - Sy
He admitted that Mali is poised to take things step by step.
''First we are focused on making the second round, we still have our destiny in our hands and we will do anything to achieve this first goal in June-July. We have a chance like a lot of other teams to reach the Final Phase in China. One thing I know, is that we will give it our all to put Mali in the basketball World Cup Map,'' the native of Paris revealed.
Asked if Mali would need new players to help in the Qualifiers campaign, Sy says :“I’m sure there are some very good players that can help. The staff will talk to them and decide what they want to do.”
On his impressions on the new format of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, he simply said: ''I like the new format as it allows us to play the Qualifiers without missing games with our clubs in Europe. It’s easy to combine both.''
The Brissac Loire Aubance NM1 player concludes by describing his season so far as going on good.
''We are in a good position to make the playoffs with a few games left in the regular season.''
FIBA