POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
The results of Cape Verde's participation in the 2007 African Women's Basketball Championship in Senegal proved less spectacular than expected, but there were positive points. Cape Verdean athlete Crispina Correia (193-F/C-75, college: Auburn) "Tininha" managed to secure two very prestigious individual trophies: best scorer and one of the competition's five best players.
Despite Cape Verde having come in ninth place in the championship, you managed to bring home two individual trophies. What does having conquered these trophies represent for you?
I'll begin by thanking my teammates, the technical staff, the federation and all those who helped me to become a basketball player, for without their help this wouldn't have been possible. Responding to your question, these two awards are very meaningful for me. All athletes dream of being among the best. So this was the fulfillment of some of my dreams.
What is your evaluation of Cape Verde's participation in the championship, considering the fact that the main objective (improving the 7th place ranking of the previous championship) was not achieved?
Even though we didn't reach our objective, I believe that our participation was not all bad, considering our level of preparation and the level of basketball that's practiced in Cape Verde.
In your opinion, why wasn't Cape Verde's performance better?
I'll repeat what I've said: our level of preparation was low due to the lack of playing. All of the other teams participated in the African Games in Algeria one month prior to the African Basketball Championship, and carried out training abroad. If we'd had the same conditions as the other teams, maybe we would have had better results.
Considering the seven games played, what were the greatest difficulties encountered during the matches?
Our greatest difficulties took place on the physical and psychological levels. We didn't know how to react correctly to the successive obstacles we came up against, at times because of our lack of physical strength. And most of the time we were lacking that mental toughness that helps us believe in ourselves.
Which game was most difficult for you?
For me there were no difficult games, they were all difficult, but some were less difficult than others.
Talking about your individual performance, do you think you were at your best?
To be among the best means being at the best possible level. Everything has to be in tune. I think I played well, even though some things didn't go as well as they could have.
Considering the fact that in 1995, at the Pedras d'El Rey tournament in the Algarve (Portugal), you were considered one of the five best players, I ask you: as a player, what changed in you between then and now?
Between 1995 and the present a lot of things changed. It's been twelve years and I've grown a lot as a player. At that time, I hadn't played professional basketball in Portugal or the United States (NCAA). All I had was my experience in Cape Verdean basketball. Today I see basketball in another way, and I've managed to get rid of many of the vices I had. There are people who think I've changed completely as a player between then and now.
What do you think should change in women's basketball in Cape Verde so that we can become a part of the African basketball elite?
For us to be a part of this elite group, I think that almost everything has to change. Beginning with the posture of everyone involved in basketball. Investing in athlete training, encouraging the creation of more children's basketball schools, educating coaches, referees. Federation officials ha
