The National basketball team was once the pride of the nation. It serve as a unifying force amongst the diverse people that populate the coastal country.
But for the past five years they have fallen off the radar as they have never won any competition they have entered. It became a source of concern to both players and the national minister in charge of sports.
As a proactive measure to restore pride the coastal country went and hired a foreign trainer so as to bring fresh ideas to bear. This was thought to bring success and inject joy to the low confident team. That coach lasted barely twelve months in the job. His major task was to qualify the coastal country to their regional championship. This he failed to do. Instead their neighbour qualified at their expense. He was booted out of the job.
An indigenous coach was then recruited as a last minute measure. He was to hold forth until another suitable coach is hired. That took over six months to tie down a new coach.
The indigenous coach was therefore tasked to qualify the team for the world cup. Everyone knows he won't do it but due to lack of personnel he was merely allowed to try his luck. As a way to resuscitate the team he invited both local and foreign based players to hit the camp for selection. This approach turned out to be an injection of joy as the player brought out the best in them.
In the meantime they played the qualifiers and surprisingly topped their group and went to the world tourney as group winners.
During the competition, that is, the main event, they came third and picked up the bronze. They came back with a rousing welcome from the entire country.
