Dongue's return a major boost for Mozambique

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Mozambique have lost Deolinda Ngulela but the return of Leia Dongue enhances their chances of competing for a place at FIBA Women's AfroBasket podium place again.

Two years ago, after the FIBA Women's AfroBasket in Cameroon, Ngulela - one of the finest point guards on the continent of Africa - retired from her more than a 15-year national team playing career.

At the time, Dongue was nowhere to be seen. It was an episode that generated heated debates with some local observers calling her a traitor to the nation because they refused to accept her injury report.

"It's a great feeling to be back with my national team. Any player would feel pride in representing her country and I am no different. [fans can expect] Hard work as I have always done with the national team and also a better player." - Dongue

As Mozambique returned from Yaounde with a sixth-place under the belt, which marked some of their modest appearances in recent years at FIBA Africa's women's flagship event, few couldn't foresee the future of the team without Dongue.

She had become Mozambique's most impactful player over the course of the past few years, and the team paid the price for struggling to find a replacement. And as a result, critics attributed Mozambique’s disappointing display in Yaounde mainly because of Dongue’s absence.

Although some more optimistic voices hailed the arrivals of newcomers Ingvild Mucauro and Vilma Covane, no-one could really say whether or not Dongue should be reconsidered for a national team call.

I have always felt that Dongue would be back at some point.

It's been almost three years since Dongue - often regarded as one of the best African players based in Africa - last featured for her country.

Although Mozambique lost all their three Group Phase games at the FIBA World Championship for Women 2014 in Turkey, Dongue left her game speaking for itself.

Now, she is back and more confident than ever.

As Mozambique hosts the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 Zone 6 qualifiers this week (7-12 March) against South Africa and Zimbabwe, Ngulela will be sharing her international experience from the sidelines as an assistant to head coach Bernardo Matsimbe while Dongue is expected to lead the team on the court.

“It’s a great feeling to be back with my national team,” the 25-year-old told local TV Channel TVM Mozambique. "Any player would feel pride in representing her country and I am no different. [fans can expect] Hard work as I have always done with the national team and also a better player.

"The new faces will make our team a lot stronger," she explained. 

New head coach Matsimbe backed Dongue's comments. 

"It's a fact that the team was already strong, and with her inclusion, we became even stronger," he said.

Bronze medallist as hosts of FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2013, Mozambique emerge as favourites in the qualifiers, but with Dongue on board, their chances of fighting for a medal at this year's African Championship in Mali became more realistic than ever.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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