LBF Begins Preparation for Portugal Tourney - As Lone Star B'ball Team Begins Training Today
  
     Head Coach Boie Corvah
 

October 17, 2002
Posted to the web October 17, 2002

Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia

      Having been extended an invitation by ACTION BASKET SPAIN, a promotional firm in Portugal with Julio F.

     Gmez serving as its General Manager, the Liberia Basketball Federation (LBF) has begun preparation in ensuring that the trip is successful.

      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 is being put together for onward submission 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."

    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.

    Meanwhile, the Lone Star basketball team begins training today at the Sports Commission under the watchful eyes of head coach Boie Corvah and assisted by Jerome Pelham.

     Players expected to form part of the training are Suah Williams (LBF Most Valuable Player), Barchue Toure (LBF regular season MVP), Numinee Walker, Emmanuel Nimely, Joseph Lakay, Vessellie Yarkparzuo, Mark Smith, Raphael Quaye, James Williams, Rudolph Vinton, Athanasius Nah, Jr., Papus Kennedy, Sandy Cooper, Jr., Reuben Marshall, Dazaly Zulu, Alphonso Kuiah, 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.