Adingono sees bright future for African Part II

The national side sure made believers out of everyone in Angola last year, when they marched all the way to the gold medal game at the FIBA Africa Championship before falling to the tournament hosts, the perennial powerhouse Angolans.

One of the rewards for Adingono, a former player in the NCAA with the Rhode Island Rams and now an assistant coach at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, is that Cameroon will play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men from July 14-20 in Athens.

Adingono could end up matching wits with some of true greats in coaching like Jasmin Repesa of Croatia and Panagiotis Yannakis of Greece.

Here is Part II of Julio Chitunda's interview with the Cameroon coach Lazare Adingono.

The memory of that incredible run at the FIBA Africa Championship for anyone associated with sports in Cameroon won't go away anytime soon.

Lazare Adingono's men, many of them college players in America, won five straight games with a fast, high-flying style of hoops that made everyone sit up and take notice in Angola.

Cameroon, perhaps punished for their lack of experience, ultimately came unstuck in the title game where they fell to Angola 86-72. But they celebrated anyway. They had earned the right to play in July 2008 for one of three remaining places on offer for the Beijing Games.

Adingono's country had finished fourth in Africa 1974, but that paled in comparison to last summer.

"It was a special day in the history of my country," Adingono said, "and I think the commitment of everyone involved made it possible."

How good was Cameroon? They didn't dethrone the kings Angola, but Adingono believes the wrong team won.

"I strongly believe that we were the best team of the AfroBasket (FIBA Africa Championship), but the best-prepared team won the tournament," he said.

Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt or even Mali is frequently regarded as powerhouse of African Basketball, but they failed recently in Angola. Instead, it was Cameroon and minnows Cape Verde.

Adingono knows he and his country cannot rest on their laurels.

"All of those teams performed well at the AfroBasket," he said. "And I am sure they will be back in the future; ready to compete for the title."

Adingono, after winning a scholarship to Rhode Island to play for the Rams, left the United States and competed professionally in Mexico.

A serious injury forced him to stop playing, but he did not leave basketball.

Instead, he pursued a coaching career, which he did at his alma mater, Rhode Island, as a graduate coach.

He moved on to Canisius, and then got the chance to lead his country at the FIBA Africa Championship.

"I welcomed the unique opportunity to lead my dear country to the AfroBasket," he said, "and I am grateful to all the people, especially the Cameroon Basketball Federation and the Ministry of Sports, who have placed their trust in me."

One factor in the Cameroon success was that Adingono was able to communicate his ideas to his players.

His philosophy, in fact, applies to all aspects of life, and certainly to those who want to have a career in sport.

"In order to be successful in coaching, as player, or in life in general, I will simply advise him or her to have a tremendous work ethic, the passion, and enthusiasm to achieve success in that specific field," he said.

It's a happy time for Adingono. Yes, he's worked hard and earned the opportunities to play and coach in the game, but he's smiling for another reason.
He sees a bright future for basketball in Africa.

"I believe basketball in Africa is on the rise with countries like Cameroon, Cape Verde and Angola," he said.

"I think the future is bright for years to come and I am excited for all the young players that will take the African Continent to a different level in the future."

Miles away from his native country, Adingono keeps an eye on what is going on there.

"It is refreshing to see the hard work that the federation is doing to help develop the sport of basketball back in Cameroon," he said.

"The young, talented players at home are getting better."

FIBA