SEN - Traore talks club and country’s glory days

DAKAR (Afrobasket/FIBA World Championship for Women) - Until recently, a trophy of a major African clubs’ competitions was visibly missing on the list of accomplishments for Aya Traore, a player who led Senegal women’s team in five of the past six international tournaments.

That void has now been filled.

The 29-year-old played most of her professional career in Europe, until Mozambican side Liga Desportiva de Maputo signed her to compete at last month's African Champions Cup Women (ACCW) held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Traore accepted the offer with open arms and played in the ACCW final as if it were her last game.

She had a game-high 22 points to help her club claim its first ACCW title ever with a 53-43 win over the defending champions Inter Clube de Luanda.

“I am glad that I was part of that championship team and helped somehow,” she told FIBA.com.

“I can also say that the level of competition was pretty high. All the teams that were there were the best ones in their respective countries or zones. So definitely there was a challenge.”

As Senegalese clubs have missed out on African clubs competitions in recent years, some of their best talents ended up achieving international success with overseas clubs. Traore was not much different in that sense, although she has not missed a national team commitment since she first joined the women’s senior side at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women.

The 1.86m forward has been the team’s leading scorer at two Afrobaskets (2007 and 2009), at the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women and at the 2010 FIBA World Championship for women. She was also named the MVP at the Afrobasket in 2009.

Asked why she has gained so much notoriety with her national team, she says that is because she always wanted to contribute the best way she could.

“My teammates are such amazing people. To play with such a great group of athletes is a blessing and hopefully we can continue to represent our country and find success at the highest stages,” she explained.

Senegal’s future

In recent months, Senegal’s youth teams have won both U18 African Championships (girls and boys). For Traore, this is indicative of the great passion the country has for basketball.

“I can safely say that basketball is the second biggest sport in Senegal after soccer. Lots of people follow women’s basketball because of their success in the past. At the same time it encourages the youth,” she said.

Indeed, Senegal is Africa’s most successful team with 10 Afrobasket titles, although the last decade appears to reverse their history with only one title (2009).

A 62-54 defeat to Angola in the Final of last year’s Afrobasket has stained Senegal’s admirable record.

“Both teams wanted it badly,” Traore said, adding that they did their best to win, “unfortunately, our best was just not enough that day.

“Angola played a great game and came out with the victory. It’s a reminder that we have more to do and it will keep us hungry for anything that involves getting better.

“That does not necessarily mean they (Angola and Mali) try to cause Senegal problems. It is just that they want to find success as well.

“The legacy and the heritage in Senegal women’s basketball is one of the best in African basketball history,” she added.

“We are trying to follow in the footsteps of our older sisters. To be a part of that now and to have a chance to continue to bring success back to the Senegalese program is a blessing.”

Senegal is one of the teams that has secured direct qualification to the 2013 Afrobasket - to be held in Mozambique - which is a qualifier tournament to the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

Traore says her team-mates and herself need to focus on what “we have to do now in order to get there (in Turkey).”

She believes African teams have shown some progress and are catching up to the rest of the world.

“(Basketball in Africa) is improving slowly but surely we are getting there," Traore said.

“A lot of players from different African countries now have the opportunity to play professionally in Europe and overseas. That helps a lot because we get to see what it takes to be successful on the biggest stage.

“Hopefully soon we will be able to reach their level.”

FIBA