RWA/ANG - Tierra Henderson eyes success in Abidjan

ABIDJAN (African Champion Clubs Cup) - Last year Rwanda international Tierra Henderson attracted admiration after becoming the 2011 Afrobasket leading scorer with 17.7 points per game in spite of her national team finishing in a disappointing ninth place.

This week, however, the former UCLA college standout revealed her desire of securing more international silverware regardless of whether or not Rwanda make it to next year’s Afrobasket.

Indeed in December last year, she helped Angolan club Inter de Luanda to lift their second African Champions Cup (ACC) trophy in row in Lagos and this year she is once again eyeing the title.

The nine-day ACC starts today at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan.

Twelve women’s teams from eight African countries begin their quest for the continent’s most important club trophy.

And the most asked question among the ACC followers is whether a new team will join the tournament winners list or whether defending champions Inter Clube, who qualified to this year ACC behind Mozambique Liga Mozambique, will be able to hold on.

When you are number one, Henderson told FIBA.com, you always have a target on you and with everyone playing their best game against you.

“I still believe we can win and make it a 3-peat. In Mozambique (in the Zone VI qualifier) we learned what we are made of as a team and I think losing those two games helped us out in a good way,” the 25-year-old said.

Along with Nigerian side First Bank, Inter Clube de Luanda are among the most successful African clubs with two ACC titles, one fewer than Senegal’s DUC.

This week’s ACC is a gathering Africa-based best female performers, and Henderson recognises that her team will have to improve their defence game if they want to become one of the greatest African clubs.

“I believe this year the competition will be very tough but that is the only way I want it to be,” Henderson said.

In her second season with Inter Clube de Luanda, Henderson is learning a different reality from what she was used to in US.

“Afrobasket was an eye-opening experience because a lot of people do not know anything about basketball in Africa. Plus it is not even talked about more laughed at.

“I was able to see women basketball players from all over the continent and they made me see that basketball is competitive over here.

“Playing with Rwanda was a fun and great experience, we were not expected to win just to go out and compete to the best of our capabilities which we did.”

Asked to describe her experience of being a professional basketball player in Africa, Henderson compared fans’ enthusiasm to those in the USA.

“The fans here remind me of the US fans, they are crazy and passionate about their basketball which I love,” she said.

Inter Clube de Luanda is Angola national team’s most represented club, with Olympian players including Nadir Manuel, Luisa Tomas, Catarina Camufal, Astrida Vicente and Sonia Guadalupe and Henderson did not miss a game of her teammates in London.

“Their performance was not the outcome they wanted, I know for sure because they are all very competitive and love the game of basketball.

“I laugh and joke with some of them about their game against the USA (38-90 defeat) but they know it is all fun.

“I am proud of them for going to the Olympics and representing their country, just going to the Olympics regardless of the outcome is a great experience.”

Although Henderson is seeking to make a positive impact at this week ACC tournament, she eyes higher goals.

“My personal objective is still to play in the WNBA but (I know) that road is less travelled, so just to be as a good as I can be.

“I want to go to Europe and play for the experience.

“I want to be able to progress each day with the little things and eventually the little things will turn into big things.

“I know before leaving Africa I want to be MVP of one of these tournaments!”

FIBA