Angola had the first-ever
basketball in 1930 that was played in the capital Luanda after more than 3
decades it was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891. While on the 18th
May 1930, a match between Sporting de Luanda against Associacao Academica Liceu
Salvador Correia, with the former winning 8-5 that marked the beginning of one
of Angolan’s most treasured sports. This has made Angolans named 18th
May the National Basketball Day.
Notwithstanding, this year they
had few reasons to celebrate the game they love following the Angola Basketball
Federation (FAB)'s unanimous decision last week to cancel the 2019-20 Angolan
Basketball League (ABL). And the start of the women's National
Championship has been postponed for a later date.
This development came after
FAB's board of directors, clubs and associate members decided to stop the
current season to avoid the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. And now, the most
frequently asked question in Angolan basketball circles is whether or not FAB
will determine a champion for the 2019-20 ABL season.
However, FAB spokesperson
Anselmo Monteiro noted: "We are trying to find a way out of this issue. We
will base our decision on FAB and FIBA's statutes. As soon as we make a
decision we will be informing the media.
Reigning champions Petro de
Luanda led the Championship with 49 points, five more than both Primeiro
D'Agosto and InterClube de Luanda at the time of the temporary suspension of
the ABL back in March this year. The Angolan champion earns automatic
qualification for the Basketball Africa League (BAL), newly-launched
competition in partnership between FIBA and the National Basketball Association
(NBA).
He continued: "Even though there is a small number of confirmed (COVID-19) cases in
the country, we are aware that the virus is susceptible to spread rapidly,
especially in Luanda. With this decision (to suspend the League) we are
corroborating with the guidelines implemented by the health authorities,"
said former Angolan international Joaquim Gomes, now serving as D'Agosto
director for basketball.
Meanwhile, Since their
independence from Portugal in 1975, basketball in the country remained the
second most popular sport after football, but has been the most successful.
The Southern African nation went
on to become an African powerhouse winning eleven FIBA AfroBasket dating back
to 1989.
