CPV - Trovoada has faith in battling Cape Verde

LUANDA (FIBA Africa Championship) - Cape Verde coach Emanuel 'Mane' Trovoada believes his side's team spirit will stand them in good stead in their bid to reach next year's Olympic Games.

Trovoada's team claimed bronze in the recent FIBA Africa Championship, and will next contest a pre-Olympic tournament to earn a place in Beijing.

They may have their work cut out against taller, heavier and more technically gifted sides, but that is not something that is worrying the coach.

He told PA Sport: "With the spirit we have got within the squad, we are ready to face European or American giants.

"I can just say that my players always fight until the end of every game. This is the way we are.

"But we still have got some time to plan our strategy for the pre-Olympic tournament."

Cape Verde shocked many as they humbled more experienced teams such as Morocco (in the group stages), Nigeria (in the quarter-finals) and Egypt (in the bronze medal game) to clinch their best-ever classification at the FIBA Africa Championship.

The best position Cape Verde had previously achieved was ninth in 1999.

"Our responsibilities have raised dramatically," the Angola-born coach said.

"We surprised everyone and are living this brilliant moment of our careers."

But far from resting on his laurels after guiding his team to the bronze, Trovoada is already looking at how his side can improve ahead of their next challenge.

"At least three or four will retire after this event," he said.

With a significant number of its population living abroad, Trovoada could turn his attentions overseas and pick more players such as Marques Houtman - a
United States-born Cape Verde descendant.

"All players with Cape Verde roots are more than welcome," he said.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Ryan Gomes - also a Cape Verde descendant - could be one of the solutions for Trovoada.

The coach said: "He [Gomes] has indicated his availability to join us before, but due to some professional reasons he could not make it.

"The first time he showed interest to play for us he could not, because he had just entered the NBA and had some commitments.

"This time he did not come because of his transfer process [to Minnesota Timberwolves from Boston Celtics], and he just got married. But we will have him in the near future."

Cape Verde knocked Nigeria out of the FIBA Africa Championship at the quarter-final stage with a 62-53 triumph, thanks to a 19-point haul from playmaker
Houtman.

Few predicted Cape Verde would oust the Nigerians, but their exploits did not surprise Trovoada.

He said: "The only thing I asked my players was to dream, and to make their dreams real. And they did it.

"We prepared ourselves for everything. [Houtman] has done well in that game [against Nigeria] as other players did on different occasions."

Houtman has just completed his contract with Portuguese outfit Porto, and has already had offers from elsewhere.

"Due to his astonishing playing style some clubs approached him, which is good for him and for Cape Verde," said Trovoada.

Cape Verde ended with a 4-2 record at the FIBA Africa Championship, with two defeats against African champions Angola - first 100-44 in the group stage and
then 93-60 in the semi-finals.

And before focusing fully on the Olympic qualification, Cape Verde are going to take time to enjoy their feat.

"All we want now is to return to Cape Verde and have a party with our supporters, even though we just ended third," Trovoada concluded.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA