SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda’s African Message) - Here is a reflection on what I have heard, read and watched about Cape Verde's decision to pull out of the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers.

Having written about the topic last Monday, and in the aftermath of the press conference held last week by the Cape Basketball Federation (FCBB), there is still a lot that sticks in my mind.

While the current FCBB board, which took over last May, reiterates that the governing body of basketball in the county is currently over-indebted as a result of the previous administration's mismanagement, the future of the national teams (including the women's) remains in the shadows of uncertainty.

Here are the takeaways from Cape Verde's decision of not taking part in the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers.

1. FIBA AfroBasket 2019

Some seem to believe there will be a FIBA AfroBasket in 2019. However, the 2017 edition of the tournament will be the last biennial edition of the event with the next one taking place four years later, in 2021.

FIBA's New Competition System, which comes into effect in November 2017, will see the tournament take place every four years.

The 16 teams that participate in the Brazzaville showpiece in August will automatically make up Africa's representatives in Division A, where the world's leading 80 national teams from across four regions will compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers. There are five berths on offer for African teams to qualify for China 2019.

Unless Cape Verde are awarded a wildcard invitation for this summer's FIBA AfroBasket, the 2015 edition of Africa's flagship event will surely be the last major competition for a number of Cape Verde players.

2. FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers

With Cape Verde out of the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, FIBA Africa Zone 2 is limited to three national teams who will be battling it out for two places in Brazzaville. As far as I understand, Senegal and Mali are certain to take part in the Qualifiers, while Guinea are yet to confirm. If that is how things stands, both Mali and Senegal will secure qualification for Brazzaville. 

Given that the decision of pulling out of the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers appears to be irreversible for FCBB, the most frequently asked question among Cape Verde players and fans is "What's next?"

"We are looking for a new way of managing basketball in Cape Verde," said FCBB President Andre Delgado who lamented the decision of withdrawing from the Qualifiers. 

3. Marketing Cape Verde's basketball

African basketball's Achille's heel is undoubtedly the recurring lack of significant private investments. Like Cape Verde, most African nations rely on government funding to survive. But with the implementation of FIBA's new calendar, local federations such as FCBB could have a chance of generating income and becoming self-sufficient. Teams participating in the World Cup Qualifiers will play home and away games, and as a result could generate revenue from TV deals. 

During last Friday's press conference, FCBB revealed it will be launching a marketing campaign to generate funds for the national team's sustainability. To me, that initiative comes too late.

Cape Verde has some of the finest players from the African continent and while I understand the FCBB's plan of preparing for the future, I still believe it will take them a lot longer to relaunch the men's national team.   

3. Players-National Federation's relationship

Even though new head coach Kula Monteiro hopes to select some foreign-based players at some point during the preparations for an international tournament to be played in Cape Verde, the relationship between players and the FCBB needs significant improvement.

Some players insist the decision to withdraw from the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers caught them by surprise and, as a result, they feel disrespected after helping the country become a top team in Africa in the FIBA World Rankings. 

Following last week's press conference, Cape Verde international Fidel Mendonca told the media: "no national team player will take part in any competition under this federation."

4. Players' Association

In the wake of the current situation of Cape Verde basketball, and with so much dissatisfaction from the players and a section of fans, I wonder if the creation of a players' association wouldn't help resolve the situation.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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