CPV - Provisional 17-man squad for AfroBasket

PRAIA (AfroBasket 2007) - Cape Verde coach Manuel Trovoada has included three new faces in his provisional 17-man squad for August's AfroBasket 2007 in Angola.

Tony Barros from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Antonio Moreira of Bryan College have been brought in from the United States along with 20-year-old forward Aldevino Monteiro from Sport Lisbon, Benfica.

The Angola-born coach told PA Sport: "These new players add more aggression, height and offensive quality to our game."

Preparations for AfroBasket are due to start on July 9 in the island's capital of Praia, although Trovoada will be without several key players.

He said: "I am still observing two or three players who could join this group. Jeff Xavier [from Providence University in US], has an ankle injury.

"We are planning to have him just for the tournament if he recovers."

Portugal-based Ivan Almeida is another doubt.

"Ivan Almeida went for a few workouts at some universities in the United States, and he is likely to stay there," said the coach.

Cape Verde have been drawn in Group A, alongside hosts Angola, Rwanda and Morocco. They will play their preliminary round at Benguela City - Trovoada's birthplace.

"I will be back to my roots and we know that there is a massive Cape-Verdian community there. So we'll have some support for sure."

On his side's prospects against eight-times champions Angola and the other Group A rivals, Trovoada said: "We are a short team, but very fast on the counter-attack and with good shooting quality. These are our main weapons.

"Our priority and main goal is defeating Morocco. It is not impossible, and then defeating Rwanda and getting through to the next round.

"We want to do better than the ninth position we achieved in our last appearance in AfroBasket 1999.

"We have been warned that Morocco have a very good guard and we'll do everything to stop him."

Angola have clinched the African title each time they have staged the tournament - 1989 and 1999 - but Trovoada insists his side will not be intimidated.

"Angola play at home, but we do not fear them, we respect them," he said.

"I think Angola will have difficulties due to the transformation that is happening to the team.

"Abdel [Boukar Moussa] is injured, Miguel Lutonda [the second oldest player of the Angola squad at 35] has played too many games this year. These two facts could make a difference for the Angolans.

"But the thing is, they play at home and this might be an advantage for them.

"Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Egypt and Egypt are teams able to give Angolans some headaches.

"If Amadou Gallo [Senegal Basketball director and Dallas Maverick scout] is able to gather all Senegalese players performing in NBA and Europe, they have the chance to win."

Cape Verde squad: Marques Houtmam (FC Porto, Portugal); Odair Sanches (ABC Praia, Cape Verde); Lucas (Amibasket Praia, Cape Verde); Waldir Soares (Pantera Negra Sal, Cape Verde); Mario Correia (Maia Basket, Portugal); Mario Jorge Neves (Belenenses, Portugal); Tony Barros (Umass Boston, USA); Adilson Monteiro (ABC Praia, Cape Verde); Fidel Mendonca (Olivais de Coimbra, Portugal); Aldevino Monteiro (Benfica, Portugal); Antonio Moreira (Bryan College, USA); Victor Hugo Fortes (ABC Praia, Cape Verde); Rodrigo Mascarenhas (FC Porto, Portugal); Antonio Monteiro (MOU, Cape Verde); Alcindo Nascimento (Academica Sao Vicente, Cape Verde); Agildo Cabral (Pantera Negra Sal, Cape Verde); Aquiles Semedo (ABC Praia, Cape Verde).

Julio Chitunda
FIBA