CPV – Cape Verde coach Ricó upbeat of Athens

PARIS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) – Recently appointed Cape Verde coach Eric Silva will deliver a message that is loud and clear to his players in Praia later this week when they start their preparations for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Silva, known as “Ricó” in Cape Verde basketball circles, expects to work with 15 players in the build-up to Athens – half who were in last year’s FIBA African Championship squad in Angola with the others coming from the United States and Europe.

The islanders, who beat Africa powerhouse Egypt 53-51 in a spectacular bronze-medal game win last year, will take on Germany and New Zealand in Group B in Greece where three places for the Beijing Games are up for grabs.

“To be honest, with this group of players I have, I am able to say that if Dirk Nowitzki misses the tournament, we may have a chance against Germany,” Ricó said to FIBA.Com.

“I will make my players aware that they are capable of fighting neck-a-neck with Germany.”

Ricó, the former assistant coach of Emanuel Trovoada, the man who guided the country last year in Angola who is missing the Athens tournament because of family reasons, has no fear of going up against the Germans, or New Zealand.

“Definitely, New Zealand is a team within our reach,” he said.

When asked to describe his team, Ricó said: “Well, we are a very competitive team that will be in Athens to qualify to Beijing.

“I continue to believe that any team in this tournament has the same chance to qualify.”

Ricó would prefer to avoid Greece in the quarter-finals, should his team make it that far.

“I will be very concerned if we have the unfortunate (game) against Greece,” he said.

“It will be very difficult to face them at home. Their fans are very supportive, and this makes me believe that one of the places still to grab will be Greece’s.”

From the squad that shocked all of Africa with its surprising run to the bronze medal last year, Portugal based Mario Jorge will miss Athens because he is getting married.

Survivors Rodrigo Mascarenhas, Marques Houtman, Mario Correia, Aldevino Lima, Tony Barros and Odair Santos will be the backbone of the team.

In addition to these, Ricó, who is coaching a lower division team in France, has called up Jeff Xavier, Jorge Gomes, Peter Cipriano, Avery Oliver, Ivan Almeida, Fidel Mendonca and Abdulay Faty.

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward Ryan Gomes had been linked with the team because of his Cape Verde ancestry but the coach laid the speculation that he could join the national team to rest.

“I have read some reports that he wants to play for the US at the 2012 Olympics,” Ricó said.

“This explains everything about his interest to play for us, does it not?”

FIBA