SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda’s African Message) - FIBA Africa’s decision to sanction Malabo Kings - with two defeats as the 2014 African Champions Cup (ACC) is still underway in Tunis, Tunisia - for falsifying documents of two of their players is probably one of the biggest challenges African basketball faces in years to come.

The desire of accomplishing success at any cost is undermining the future of the game on the African continent. 

Over the course of the past decades, there have been countless cases of false identity in the African sports history, and as it turns out, few are taking it seriously. 

No names of the players, nor details of how it happened have officially been published by FIBA Africa, although the Basketball Governing Body on the African continent confirmed, in a statement, the decision of inflicting two defeats to Malabo Kings, which leaves the Equatorial Guinean side - one of the most exciting teams to watch in this year’s ACC - in a difficult situation going forward.

As I mentioned, Malabo Kings caught the public’s attention following a 79-69 win over Angolan champions and favourites Recreativo do Libolo, in the tournament opener.

In that game they made a staggering 11 of their 24 three-pointer attempts and created 18 assists. That was good enough to consider the Kings as a potential candidate to advance, at least, to the Quarter-Finals of the tournament. 

They came up with another big display in the ACC Day-3 action, even though the Guineans fell 77-76 to Egyptian club Sporting Alexandria.

Now things, seem bleak for the Kings.

Over the past few years, Malabo Kings have never hidden the desire of becoming a top team in the African continent.

Nowadays, the Kings are a well known team on the continent, and could become a powerhouse if they continue to invest in the game, in the right way. 

The Kings have made the most of their international relations with Spain. In the past they have signed reputable Spaniard coach Miguel Angel Hoyo Ramos, and, judging by what they showed so far, regardless of the players’ identity, the Kings are a team to take seriously.

This year, they brought Mali international Mohamed Tangara, a well known center who built his name in recent history of the AfroBasket. 

However, the Kings should know that any incorrect information regarding players’ identity could damage the team’s aspirations. 

As I write I have no idea what implications FIBA Africa’s decision will cause to Malabo Kings in the ACC.

Will they continue to compete, knowing that they have to regroup and start everything again with just a week to go? Or will the Kings just throw the towel and return home and try to reinvent its basketball programme? 

In this particular case, I feel the Kings - considering the exclusion of two of their players - are being victims of the so called “need of immediate success,” which happens when someone decides to consume right away without considering future consequences, good or bad.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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