Basketball Africa league (ball) 2023- according to coach Mamadou Gueye: AS Douanes intends to do better than in 2021 and relies on the public to qualify

At a press conference on Monday, the Gabelous coach gave an update on the preparation of AS Douanes which will enter the running for season 3 of the BAL on March 11. Mamadou Gueye PABI said he was reassured about the recruitment and the work provided. The representative of Senegal intends to do better than in 2021 where he stopped in the quarter-finals.

How is the preparation going?

The preparation is going very well. For a year we have been preparing for the BAL. Here we are in the final phase. For almost two weeks, we have been training very well with the foreigners who have come to strengthen this team. As you know, we have quite talented players added to our players. They are champions and it is a homogeneous group. With young and old who will certainly gain experience after participating in the first edition two years ago. I have confidence for the future. I hope that we will have good results in Dakar to qualify for the final phase in Rwanda.

Coach Parfait Adjivon who is coach and trainer of the DUC is part of your technical staff. Why this choice ?

I want to send a very positive message to the world of basketball and sports. We are not enemies but adversaries for a moment. Who knows coach Adjivon knows he is a very good coach. He was African champion, he knows African basketball. He is my main opponent locally. Today AS Douanes represents Senegal. If I had the opportunity to take on other players who play in the local league as I said before, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. I tried to do so but unfortunately our rules do not allow it. But as it allows us to take a coach from another local club, I chose Parfait Adjivon for his experience. I know the person and the coach with everything he has done for basketball, I couldn’t have had better. He represents all the other coaches to say that we must work in the same direction.

What is your objective ? Do better than your first participation?

This has been clear from the start. To do better than two years ago, and two years ago we were in the top eight teams. This year, we knew how difficult it was, especially in our interior sectors. We were being walked on and there was nothing we could do. This year I spoke about it with the customs authorities to tell them to get out the means so that we recruit very good players like Stroglin and Matthew. There is also coach Parfait, the captain who is an international. All these ingredients together make me believe that we will do very good things. Now it will have to be translated into action on the ground.

What is the state of mind of the group?

You will have to be ready. They are there for that. As I told them, you were chosen among so many others. It will not be necessary to sleep under their laurels but to give 200% to represent Senegal with dignity. The mood is good. I joined them here 5 days ago because I was in the national team. The leaders have put the means so that we achieve our objectives. We will have to get started, give ourselves all the means to do so. We have the opportunity to do great things. In sport, today you win, tomorrow you lose, but I don’t think about this eventuality or not qualifying. We don’t know what the future holds for us but let’s trust and support each other.

Is the group complete?

There’s only one that hasn’t arrived yet. It is the South Sudanese who was drafted by NBA Africa. He was in Angola and will join us shortly. For the rest, I can say that all the players have been there for two weeks. They are very well integrated, they know the game systems and laugh with each other. They all have characters that I don’t know yet. But the message has been clear from the start, I want players who are disciplined, who arrive on time and do their job.

In your conference, who do you think is the opponent to be feared?

Certainly, the champions, US Monastir. They practically represent the national team of Tunisia, African champion and champion of the BAL. It’s a lot of experience. Compared to our players who play in a local and amateur championship. We must not hide the face, they evolve in a professional championship with a big budget. And it counts internationally. But that does not prevent us from setbacks. Especially since we play at home, with our fans to win our matches.

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