Today three Belizean basketball headed to Cancun to participate in the Hoops on the Beach tournament. The teams, comprised of the best of the best in the Ahmidaya League, will be competing against other teams from around the region. We spoke to some of the players and coaches this morning about tournament...
Naveed Mangla - President Ahmadiya Muslim Jama'at, Belize
"The Ahmadiya Basketball league in Belize has been established for the last four years, and this year we had expanded to three categories. U13, U17 and U21. This time around we had an opportunity where we received an invitation to a tournament in Cancun called Hoops on the Beach to bring three teams."
Rodvern Lino - Commissioner, Ahmadaiya Basketball League
"We have U15 actually bringing the U15 team from PG this year, it's the first time we're taking a u15 team. We have our regular U17 team, but there are new player to the U17 program because out older players are transitioning to the U19 category that we're taking as well, so we're taking U19, U17 and U15. We would like to say that we believe that it is the best talent in our country that we're taking."
Jamel Wagner - Head Coach, U17 Team
"I think with the amount of talent that we're taking out our chances are pretty good. We've been out there last year and the competition is really tough, so it's not gonna be easy. The strategy is improving their skills and not staying against the odds because when you go out there you're definitely stacked up against the odds in terms of your in someone else's country, in someone else's place with their officials. The strategy is not to worry about that, it's to go out there and play your best game ad that should give you the advantage."
Nicholas Phillips - Center, U19 Team
"My experience with the Ahmadiya team over the past two years and a half has been great. Mr. Naveed Mangla, he's brought a great organization together, eh's helped get come kids off the street and the system they run is pretty much a strict system. If you stay within the system he can help find ways to help you get out. Over the past couple years when we've been to Cancun, the way how he carries the organization shows over that side because they players show what they've learned from him and the coaches have taught us a lot."
Scouts from the US and Canada will make an appearance at the tournament.
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