FRA - New Diaw opens for captain Boris

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STRASBOURG (FIBA World Championship) - France's new basketball captain Boris Diaw admits it took some persuasion for him to accept his new role as he prepares for his debut as skipper against Senegal on Friday evening.

The Phoenix Suns forward was officially appointed the French national team skipper for the FIBA World Championship on Thursday, ahead of the more experienced Laurent Foirest and Cyril Julian.

He will replace Antoine Rigaudeau, who retired after France's bronze medal at the 2005 Eurobasket in Serbia & Montenegro.

Diaw admitted coach Claude Bergeaud's desire to see him wear the armband came as a surprise as he did not initially feel he had the right qualities to be a leader.

But he is ready to make things work.

Diaw said: "I don't consider myself as a leader, I am not the type of guy who screams during matches, that's why at the start, I did not feel it was justified for me to be given such a role.

"I was not sure if I would have what it takes to impose myself. I think a lot of other players could have taken up that role, some players who have already won titles and have already been captain with their clubs.

"But Claude showed me another way of considering that mission and I will adapt that role to my personality.

"I will have responsibilities but it won't change much in the end.

"I don't intend to set up a monarchy. Every one will contribute and communicate in order to make things run smoothly."

Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who was Bergeaud's top choice to wear the armband in Japan next month but turned down the chance to captain France again, is convinced Diaw is an ideal choice.

"It's good for him to get more responsibilities within the team," said the point guard, who won the NBA title in 2003 and 2005.

"He will also gain a bigger influence on the team. I think he will be part of the national team for a while so it's good he gets used to the captainship."

Parker led France during the 2004 Eurobasket where they finished in fourth spot and missed out on qualification for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"For me being a captain is being like Didier Deschamps, you must be at the top all the time and take charge of everything, and I don't feel I am like Deschamps at all," added Parker, smiling, as he referred to France's 1998 football World Cup-winning skipper.

"It worked well last year with Antoine and I think Boris is quite like him. I prefer being a leader on the court rather than outside too."

After facing Senegal, Les Bleus, who defeated Switzerland 84-56 in a friendly at the start of the week, will also take on Lithuania and China before travelling to Berlin, Athens and China to play in three more preparation tournaments.

"The objective here in Strasbourg is to continue our preparation," Diaw added.

"We will rotate the team, progress and winning would obviously be the icing on the cake."

Isabelle Rondeau
PA Sport, Strasbourg