TUN - Rzig plays down Kobe autograph criticism

CAIRO (Afrobasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - When Tunisia's Mohamed Hadidane took his shoe off at the end of his team's 110-63 defeat to the United States on the second day of the men's basketball tournament at the Olympics and had it autographed by Kobe Bryant, the action brought back memories.

At the 1992 Barcelona Games, Angola's players had photographs taken with members of the Dream Team.

Hadidane' act, however, drew criticism and continues to do so with fans voicing their displeasure in Internet forums with some arguing that the player shouldn't be in awe of his opponents.

Others have accepted the autograph request as normal, and something that shows the Olympic spirit.

For Tunisia captain Amine Rzig, Hadidane did nothing wrong.

"For some of us, he [Bryant] is a legend," Rzig said to FIBA.com.

"So if he likes Kobe as a player, I don't see any problem having an autograph.

"That's what the Olympics are all about as you play against the best in the world.

"I did not have an autograph from him [Bryant], but I had a lot of photographs with so many international athletes, including Kobe Bryant."

What perhaps should be more important to the fans is how Tunisia played at the Olympics, and whether or not they took a step forward in the international game.

The African champions didn't win a game, yet showed a lot of potential.

They learned a very important lesson on the opening day against Nigeria.

Tunisia discovered that a team has to be ready from the start when it competes at an Olympics or else it will get punished.

Nigeria stormed out to a big lead early and then held on for a 60-56 victory.

Rzig, 32, says Tunisia got better in London.

He says their "psychological approach to the game is much strengthened. It improved a lot."

"We gave everything we could to win games," Rzig said, "but the tournament is simply the highest in national team competition," and that has served as a major rehearsal for next year's Afrobasket, the qualifying tournament in Africa for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Tunisia lost all five of their Olympic games, although they suffered the narrow defeat to Nigeria and another to Lithuania.

The Nigerians showed a very high level of play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, just to reach London but they came unstuck in Britain after the victory over Tunisia.

There are plenty of teams that will challenge Tunisia next summer, including the Nigerians.

"Tunisia are still the champions," Rzig said.

"And we are going to Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) to keep our title, no matter how well Nigeria may be playing. We just want to retain our crown."

Rzig is known for his perimeter shooting.

He finished as the fourth most accurate three-point shooter at the Olympics, with his 53.3% (8 of 15) better than Kevin Durant's 52.3%.

However, Durant launched 65 attempts and made 34 and more importantly, the Americans captured the gold medal.

On the opening day of the Olympics, Rzig made four of his five threes and finished with a game-high 18 points but the slow start against Nigeria was too much to overcome as Tunisia lost by four.

"We just got focused 17 minutes into the game," Rzig said.

"We could have done better."

Rzig has not missed an international for Tunisia since he first represented the men's team at Afrobasket 2007.

At Afrobasket 2009, Rzig made the all-tournament team along with Joaquim Gomes "Kikas" (Angola), Cote d'Ivoire playmaker Pape Amagou, Central Africa forward Romain Sato and Senegal center DeSagana Diop.

The physical education teacher, who is playing in Egypt for El Ahly, says he will be with the team for next year.

"I will play one more Afrobasket [2013] and, if possible, the 2014 World Championship, then I might call it a day from the national team," he said.

FIBA