MLI – Mondeville’s Coudray seizes Mali opportunity with both hands

MONDEVILLE (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Herve Coudray has a very demanding job as the coach of USO Mondeville in France’s top flight.

This season, he steered the club to a fourth-place finish in the regular season.

The 45-year-old coach will face a different sort of challenge this summer after being offered the chance to coach Mali at the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.

"I didn’t hesitate a moment,” Coudray said.

“When an opportunity to take part in a World Championship materializes, you don’t even ask the question.

“The only thing that could hold me back is that I am an employee of a club (Mondeville).”

As it turns out, he got the blessing of USOM president Daniel Dufour.

The French outfit may end up benefitting from Coudray’s summer job.

“I'm going to keep an eye on other players and possibly bring Malian women to the training center of the (Mondeville) club," Coudray said.

Coudray has signed a two-year contract to coach Mali.

He’ll lead the national team this summer, and at next year’s African Championship for Women.

At the FIBA World Championship for Women, which tips off on September 23, Mali will take on Korea, Brazil and Spain in Group C.

Those Preliminary Round games will be played in Brno.

"The goal is to win a game,” Coudray said.

“That is something an African team has never managed to do (at a World Championship).”

Coudray has succeeded Jose Ruiz as Mali coach.

Ruiz guided the team to the gold medal at the 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Women, a result that qualified the team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

FIBA