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In
Preparation for Portugal Intlernational Tourney:
Lone Star B'ball Team Undergoes Intensive
Training
October 22, 2002
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
Having being extended an invitation to participate in
an international basketball tournament by ACTION BASKET SPAIN of Portugal,
the Liberia Basketball Federation (LBF) has put into mechanism for the Lone
Star basketball team to prepare adequately.
According to LBF General Secretary Fred J. A. Pratt,
the Lone Star technical staff under the leadership of coach Boie Corvah and
assisted by Jerome Pelham, have begun training the team in preparation for
the Portugal International Basketball Tournament slated to commence from
November 15 and run to the 17th this year.
Commenting further, the LBF Chief Scribe said the
technical staff assembled the players last week and briefed them about the
tournament. He said coaches Corvah and Pelham have already drawn up their
training program for the team, and have in fact commenced training on an
intensive level.
Several players who were earlier short-listed to justify
their inclusion on the Lone Star basketball team, have been invited and are
currently undergoing intensive training.
Those players who are undergoing training at the moment
include Numinee Walker, Suah Williams, Barchue Toure, Reuben Marshall,
Joseph Lakay, Athanasius Nah, Jr., Mark Smith, Alphonso Kuiah, Raphael Quaye,
Richelieu Allison, James Williams, Dasaly Zulu, Chris Taylor, Sande Cooper,
Rudolph Vinton, Vassellie Yarkpazuo, Porte, William P. Kennedy, Armah Bakana,
Varney Saidu, Hakeem Saani, among others.
The team is being trained in all aspect of the game,
including shooting drills, fast break techniques, defensive and offensive
drills, rebounding and blocks techniques, among others.
At the end of the training, about 12 players will be
selected for the Portugal International Basketball.
There will also be a 3-man technical staff, medics, masseur
and officials from the LBF and Sports Ministry on the delegation.
In September, the Liberia Basketball Federation (LBF) was
extended an invitation by ACTION BASKET SPAIN through its General Manager
Julio F. Gmez, for the Liberia Men's National Basketball team, the Lone Star
to participate in an international basketball tournament slated to take
place in Portugal.
According to the invitation, the Portugal International
Basketball Tournament, as it has been dubbed, will commence on November 15
and run through to the 17th with the Lone Star scheduled to play three games
against the Portuguese national team and three other games against other
teams in Portugal.
If all goes well, the Lone Star basketball team should
be arriving in Lisbon or Porto on November 13-14, 2002, while the team will
commence practices in the evening on those dates, the invitation stated.
The tournament itself will commence from November 15
and run to the 17th. ACTION BASKET SPAIN said it will be responsible for a
18-man Lone Star delegation, who will be provided local transportation,
hotel accommodation and meals (three times daily).
According to LBF General Secretary Fred J. A. Pratt, the
invitation to Portugal came during his training visit at the International
Olympic Academy, where he attended a three weeks course. He said discussion
was held with Julio F. Gmez in Athens, who expressed interest in having the
Liberian national basketball team participate in this international
tournament.
Mr. Pratt said the tournament will be used to give Liberian
basketballers the necessary international exposure, as well as laying the
grounds for Liberians basketballers to be scouted by European clubs.
"We will make use of this opportunity because Portugal is a
good basketball country that Liberia can learn a lot from. It will also
afford our players the opportunity to get scouted."
Asked whether the Government will give green light in
terms of sponsorship for the air tickets and perdiem, the LBF General
Secretary said a package has been put together and submitted to the Ministry
of Youth and Sports. "We are very confident that the Government will play
its role for the Lone Star basketball team just as it has done for the Lone
Star football team over the years."
Mr. Pratt has appealed to the Chief Patron of Sports on
behalf of the LBF for his assistance to ensure that the Lone Star basketball
team participate in the Portugal International Basketball Tournament. |
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