Cameroon's FAP out to conquer the continent at newly-launched Basketball Africa League

YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - For at least two decades, players and fans of the Forces Armees et Police (FAP) Basketball club have had to languish in behind-the-scenes obscurity as their foes BEAC and Nzuimanto rivalled the continent's best in pinnacle competitions.

But the passion accrued during these long years of wait sparked the passion that fuelled the side's qualification for the maiden Basketball Africa League (BAL) that will be staged from May 16-30 in Kigali, Rwanda.

"IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED AMONGST THE GREATS, YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE BEST."- Ebaku Akumenzoh

Basking in the spotlight that comes with being considered amongst Africa's elite, the outfit of Cameroon's Army and Police is keen on making the best out of their stay in Rwanda.

"It's a dream come true," FAP captain Ebaku Akumenzoh told FIBA.basketball, adding: "Every competitor wants to play against the best. If you're good, you only get better playing tougher sides and if you want to be considered amongst the greats, you have to beat the best."

The 32-year old forward has been on the books of FAP for nine years during two stints, and he best comprehends why the trip to Kigali must be taken seriously.

"We are up against some very serious teams in our group but we have a really good roster with some young players who will be debuting on the international scene and they want to impress.

"For us, this is something good. The atmosphere within the team is wonderful and when I talk to the others, I can feel there's a determination to do something big at the BAL.

"Obviously for some of the players this is new but we're grateful that we have an experienced backroom staff with Lazare Adingono who's coached and won silverware at the high level and he's giving us tips on how to tackle this sort of competition."

Akumenzoh, who works as a social worker and collects data for Cameroon's Institute of Statistics when he's not on the court, understands the trophy cabinet of their Group B foes Association Sportive Sale, Petro of Luanda and Association Sportive Police speaks of their pedigree on the continental scene.

While FAP, who haven't been to a continental jamboree in ages, will give away plenty in experience and mastery at this stage of the tournament, the players are more consumed with enacting performances that translate the strength of Cameroonian basketball.

"We are in the BAL to win games and get the best possible results," Cedric Tsangue added.

The forward, who ranked sixth with the most points scored per game, as he hit 19.3 points and 4.5 rebounds during the BAL Qualifiers while on the books of Gabonese outfit Manga BB, is part of a quartet drafted in to reinforce FAP.

The 29-year-old Cameroon international has a grin on his face when he talks of the bond amongst the players.

"We have a wonderful group and that's why I think we have the potential to conquer our group and go on to do something great.

"There are some really good players in the team with top quality and I think they can bring forth something wonderful for the team.

"Having good players is one thing and having players who can adapt is another. We're fortunate that the new players have been able to adapt and they've been able to blend into the team.

"We have quality players and we wouldn't focus on the others. It's down to us to play at our best level and get the others to respect us," Tsangue stated.

Lazare Adingono (FAP)

But albeit with the glaring optimism within the team, FAP players can't help but rack their brains on the threat that two-time winners of the African Champions Cup Petro of Luanda and AS Sale victors of the tournament in 2017 could pose.

Amidst all of this, fans of the Yaounde-based club founded in 1972 can't help but think they have the solution to their Group B equations in head coach Lazare Adingono.

The 43-year-old Yaounde native established a reputation for himself after coaching AS Sale in 2011 followed by an eight-year stint at the helm of Petro of Luanda that was headlined by an African Champions Cup trophy in 2015.

Adingono's knowledge of both teams thus makes him the centerpiece of FAP's plans.

 "We've been training previously but the past two months have been intensive and there are a lot of positives heading to the BAL," Adingono stressed.

"The entire team is eager to start competing because there's been a tremendous investment that's been made. We have brought in some elite talent that should help us set in motion our strategy".

When drilled on the mettle of AS Sale, Petro of Luanda, and AS Police, Adingono retorted.

"Games are played on the floor, not with rosters or star names. I know the potential within my team and we are confident.

"We want to play at the highest level and we want to embark in this tournament competing at the highest level.

"We're just thinking about ourselves and not the opponents.

"A lot of the young men in this team have shown what they're capable of doing and we have brought in some top players who can turn games around for us."

With an average of 24.3 points netted during the BAL Qualifiers for Nigelec Basketball Club of Niger, swingman Harouna Amadou is one of the recruits alongside point guard Thomas Wiley.

FAP President Colonel Jackson Kamgain

"This team isn't going to the BAL for tourism," FAP president colonel Jackson Kamgain told the players during a meeting.

"We are going to the BAL to learn and also impress. The quality of basketball played will provide an insight into the state of Cameroonian basketball.

"This tournament is very important for us and we want to be there yearly but for us to do that, we need to play some good basketball and stun the continent," Colonel Kamgain concluded.

FIBA