MLI – Ruiz now in men’s team hot seat

BORDEAUX (Afrobasket 2011) – It’s been nearly 40 years since Mali claimed their one and only medal at an Afrobasket.

At the Afrobasket which tipped off on Christmas Day in 1971 and finished on January 2 in the neighboring country of Senegal, Mali claimed a bronze following a 107-74 victory over the Central African Republic.

Since then, Mali have four times been just a win away from reaching the podium but come up short each time.

Prior to that success in Senegal, Mali had lost to the Central African Republic in the bronze-medal game of 1968 in Casablanca.

In bronze-medal games, Mali slipped to a 73-71 defeat to Angola in 1987 when the tournament was staged in Tunisia, and then 65-53 to Senegal in Luanda, Angola, two years later.

Egypt beat them in the bronze-medal games of both 1992 and 1999.

In a bid to return to the podium, the Malian Federation decided to turn to Jose Ruiz, a coach who helped bring success to the women’s national team.

The Spanish-born French coach led Mali to Afrobasket Women gold with a 65-58 victory over hosts Senegal four years ago to clinch a spot in the Beijing Olympics.

Two years ago, Ruiz’s side finished runners-up at the Afrobasket in Madagascar when Senegal beat them, 72-57.

Ruiz, 56, was born in Leon, Spain, and moved to France at the age of 10.

He was only offered the Mali men’s job a few months ago.

At the Afrobasket in Madagascar, Mali are drawn in Group A with Nigeria, Madagascar and Mozambique.
He’d like nothing more than to work at an Olympics again.

Should Mali win the Afrobasket, they will earn a trip to the London Games.

“London is a long way away for us,” Ruiz said to FIBA.com.

“We wish to shorten that distance, but we need to put our team together first.

“We need to work well in Madagascar, and then we can think of higher flights.

“From my point of view, we are a good outsider team.”

The teams that come in second and third will earn a trip to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Ruiz’s women’s team didn’t win a game in Beijing, but he wouldn’t trade the chance to be at those Games for anything.

“Playing at the Olympics is an unforgettable experience,” Ruiz said.

“I still keep fantastic memories of Beijing 2008.”

Success does not come easy, Ruiz says.

Mali need a big improvement on two years ago in Libya when they reached the Quarter-Finals but finished eighth.

Two years before that in Angola, Mali were 11th.

“The first thing is to create harmony with the team,” Ruiz said.

“Mali is a country of basketball, it deserves success in basketball.”

Getting started

After being put in charge, Ruiz’s first assignment was to travel to the Malian capital of Bamako, where he spent weeks monitoring national talent.

He was impressed.

“It is unbelievable how many talented players there are in that country and the national team keeps failing,” Ruiz said.

On his return to France, he chose seven aspirants - Bassekou Diallo, Salif Traore, Cherif Iibrahim Haidara, Demba Konate, Yacouba Traore, Salif Niagando and Ibrahima Dembele – to join a squad of more established players (listed below).

The seven were expected to fly to France over the weekend.

Mali's preparations were due to begin on Monday in the region of Agen and run until Sunday.

Ruiz and his squad are then supposed to travel to Paris and square off against Chad, Ivory Coast and Central African Republic.

In early August Mali will play Senegal, twice in Paris, and Belgium in Lille.

On August 12, Mali’s national travel will travel to Antananarivo for the Afrobasket.

Amara Sy has been serving as the captain but in April, he announced his retirement from the national team.

Ruiz wants him to reconsider and continue playing.

“I have met him twice, but he has not made his mind up yet,” Ruiz said.

Another key man, Sourata Cisse, has yet to confirm his presence.

Mali squad: Ludovic Chelle, Nare Keita, Mamadou Drame, Brahim Saounera, Amadou Diop, Modibo Niakate, Mamoud Diakite, Cheick Soumaoro, Sambou Traore, Mamadou Sy, Mamoudou Sy, Dramane Diarra, Negueba Samake, Tahirou Sane, Mahamadou Doucoure, Waly Coulibaly, Mamadou Diarra, Mohamed Tangara, Soumaila Samake, Ousmane Cisse.

FIBA