Special Afrobasket '07: We are happy to be in Dakar - FMBB president

“We are happy to be at the biggest women championship in Africa and I want to use this opportunity to thank the hierarchy of FIBA Afrique and the Federation of Senegalaise Basket Ball (FSBB) for intervening when fund was going to stand between us and participating in the championship.

“For us in Madagascar it is a welcome development for our team to be in Dakar after 34 years absence, as you can see we are lodged at the residence of our country Embassy in Dakar because we could not afford the luxury of an hotel which is one of the reason we had wanted to pull out of the championship but the intervention of officials of FIBA Afrique and the FSBB official.

“Personally, I feel great that we are able to attend this competition barely four months that I came into office, the only championship we've always take part in is the Indian Ocean Championship which we always won and being in Dakar is a step forward for our basketball and we will consolidate on it for the overall growth of basketball in our country and region.

“We have learnt one or two things from some of the big teams in terms of organization and technically and we are going back to our country with this knowledge.

“I want to assure officials of FIBA Afrique that we shall endeavour to attend subsequent competitions in order to raise standard of the sport in our country.

Ramaroson Jean Michel - President of Madagascar Basketball Federation.

FIBA Afrique.org