Inaki Garcia optimistic in return to coach Mozambique

MAPUTO (AfroBasket 2015) - Spanish coach Inaki Martin Garcia is back in charge of Mozambique's national team, four years after guiding the Southern African nation to the silver medal at the 2011 All-African Games held in the country's capital city of Maputo.

With the clock ticking to the start of this year's AfroBasket in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis (19 to 30 August), the Mozambique Basketball Federation (FMB) felt it was the right time to bring back Garcia, who showed a lot of optimism to embrace his second international coaching challenge.

"I am going to Mozambique, trying to continue what we started at AfroBasket 2011," he told FIBA.com.

Garcia and his Mozambique squad traveled to Madagascar, four years ago, with low expectations. Their main goal was to avoid the last two places, but did better than that by finishing 10th in the 16-team tournament.

The 36-year-old coach is well known to Mozambicans, speaks fluent Portuguese, and, more importantly, he coached at club level in the country for three seasons before returning to Spain in 2012.

The former coach of Maputo-based Maxaquene club won two national championships between 2009 and 2011.

His contract, as assistant coach at Valladolid Club Baloncesto in Spain's Liga Espanola de Baloncesto Oro (LEB Oro), is due to expire in June.

Garcia, who is expected to pen his contract in the next few weeks, is taking over from Horacio Martins, who, the FMB has hinted, will serve as his assistant.

This is the toughest group and we're going to need to play at our best, balancing our game against a super team of Senegal. - Garcia

But taking on teams such as defending champions Angola, Morocco and Senegal in Group B at AfroBasket 2015 is likely to be a challenge for the ages for Mozambique.

Asked about his priorities for the team, Garcia said: "Obviously, I'll make some changes and be fair with players who deserve to wear the colours of Mozambique.

"Mozambique often pays the price for their small line-up, but I am going to instil a new offensive, and controlled rhythm.

"I am planning to travel to Maputo in the next two weeks to follow the national championship, put our preparation plans in place and meet the players."

Garcia was expected to lead Mozambique at AfroBasket 2013, instead the FMB handed the reins to his former assistant Milagre Macome.

Still, Garcia felt encouraged with what he saw in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, where Mozambique won two of their five games to finish 11th.

“I know we have talented players there and we are going to need to be humble," he explained.

For FMB chairman Francisco Mabjaia, Garcia was considered for the post because of his previous record with Mozambique.

But, this time around, they aim higher goals.

"We are targeting to finish between fifth and eight-place in Tunisia," Mabjaia said to FIBA.com.

"Obviously, if we beat Angola and Senegal in the preliminary round [Group Phase], we will dream a lot higher."

FIBA