Paul Gombwer, Head Coach of Civil Defenders Basketball Club of Abuja, says his side is ready for the crucial second leg game of the Elite Final 8 of the 2019 FIBA Africa Basketball League against Association Sportive de Sale of Morocco.
Both sides drew 69-69 points in the reverse fixture played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium on March 30.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday caught up with the team during training at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium, as the coach drilled his players on their shooting.
Gombwer said the task ahead, difficult as it may appear, is achievable.
“In every sport you play to win. My expectation is to lead the boys there and return with victory.
“With the kind of work we have put in, I don’t think it is an impossible task. Yes, it is difficult, but my job is to motivate my players and put the winning mentality into their head,” he said.
The Nigerian side bungled a last-gasp opportunity to win the first leg by failing to convert the free throws awarded them in the dying seconds of the game.
Gombwer however refused to criticise his players, saying they did enough to win the game and were now focused on the second leg.
“Like I said in the first leg, we did everything right and deserved victory against the Morocco side. We knew after the game that we just had to keep training and keep working hard.
“Our task is simple: to do our best and ensure that we beat ASS at their backyard,” he said.
One area of concern for the Defenders going into the second leg of the Elite Final 8 is the height advantage their Moroccan opponents have over them.
But Gombwer was optimistic his boys could make up for that shortfall in other areas.
“Yes, we are second-best in terms of height and it was to their advantage in the first leg. But in every disadvantage, there is an advantage.
“Even with their superior height advantage, we were better of all-round and that is the positivity we are taking to Morocco for the second leg.
“We are faster than them and we can overrun them,” he said.
The return leg of the game against AS Sale will be played on Friday, April 12, at the Salle Bouazzaoui Sale, Morocco.
Gombwer confirmed to NAN that his team will depart Nigeria for Morocco lastest on Thursday.
“Latest, we will depart on Thursday, April 11. The ideal date should be Wednesday, April 10, but we are sorting out some paper work for the journey.
“If we get everything done quickly enough, we could leave on Wednesday,” he said.
