You are back in Lithuania one season after your departure. Why this return to Rytas?
I returned to Rytas because I had a good time there. It’s a well-organized and well-structured team that highlights me as a basketball player, but also as a person. They trusted me by calling me for a second time. So I came back to help them, without even hesitating. I had already familiarized myself with the players and the managers, so it was easy for me.
What makes this championship so special?
I wouldn’t say there is anything special about the Lithuanian league. Because already there are not many teams in the league, and Lithuania is not a very big country. So we don’t make long trips for national matches. The longest trip is maybe 3h50 by bus. It’s not very long and it also allows you to come home very quickly after a match to be able to recover. I think it’s an asset to be here in Lithuania. But other than that, there is no great particularity. It’s basketball like it’s done everywhere.
After visits to Spain, the United States (NBA), Russia, Lithuania and China, which championship do you like the most?
I would say the Russian championship. Because it was from there that I really became known, especially in Europe. In Russia, I had a coach who allowed me to play my game during all the matches. This is also where I won my first personal trophy which was that of the best defenseman in the league. So, I have only good memories in this Russian championship. Afterwards, I would say maybe the NBA in the Usa. Because like everyone else, it was a childhood dream. So that was kind of an accomplishment for me. I rubbed shoulders with high level players in this championship, world famous players. There it was only basketball to make money, but I was also marked by NBA culture.
What are the goals with your club?
My goal with Rytas is to win the Lithuanian championship, but also to reach the final of the Basketball Champion’s League. This is my goal. Win at least one trophy, because Lithuania is a basketball country, a basketball country. Really I have only had good interactions with the people who live here. Rytas fans are awesome. I would like to bring them the national trophy in Vilnius and why not the basketball Champion’s League. I think we have a team that can surprise and impress a lot of people. Because already, during the start of the Champion’s League, many thought that Rytas was not going to leave the group. However, we came out first in our group, and there we will begin the second phase. So I think we have our chances. I’m going to go all out, as will my teammates and club leaders so that we can reach at least the top 8.
In Lithuania, there is a Senegalese, Amar Sylla, under the colors of Nevezis. Have you traded since your arrival, especially to advise him?
Frankly, I didn’t have to talk to him. We met just before a match, but it was quickly done. But he is still a player that I saw play when he was at Real Madrid in the small category, but also in the national team in the U19. He is a boy who has a lot of talent and I hope that one day he can really rise to the challenge, by coming to defend the colors of the Senegal national team.
Kigali 2021 was your 2nd Afrobasket. Disappointed by the result in view of the hope aroused by the team.
I am deeply disappointed with the result, even 100%. Because even before going to Kigali, I told my teammates that this time it should be the right one. That if Senegal don’t win, we had better put our shoes away, because it was really time for us to take the trophy. It’s a double disappointment, because I didn’t finish the tournament. So I couldn’t help my teammates until the end because of an injury. I never expected this kind of scenario. But that’s sport, you can prepare in the best possible way and then not have a good tournament. The team, however, gave their all. But I hope that next time the luck will be with us. You did not finish the game against Angola in the quarter-finals. How did you feel when you left your teammates?
In my head, I told myself that it was unthinkable that I was abandoning my teammates. Because I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. Anyone who knows Angola knows that it has always been a problem for Senegal. But when I got injured and had to go into the locker room, after the third and fourth quarters, I received the notifications on my cell phone. I saw that the game was very close, and I told myself that I had to join the bench to motivate my partners. I wouldn’t say that’s how we won, but I think it gave them a boost to win this game.
Some think that the youth of the team was a brake?
I don’t think it was a hindrance. Because they are young people who have a lot of talent. And who says youth speaks of lack of experience. I think it played a bit. If you watch the game against Angola, it was against players who have a lot of experience. This is why the game was close. The same against the Ivory Coast. We lacked a little experience, but the talent is there. And I think if we keep this group and work even harder, they can rise to the challenge and bring the cup home.
How to regain the African title that has eluded us since 1997?
I think at first it’s extremely difficult to form a team one or two months away from a competition. Especially the Afrobasket. For me what we need to do is try to organize training camps where the players can come to train and play 5v5 matches, because most of our players come to Senegal on vacation. . This is what will create camaraderie and trust between players, between teammates. If every year we can help these young people, organize reunification camps, friendly matches or just individual days of work, I think it would be good for the team and for the players. It would give them the chance to train in Senegal and be part of a team. I think that in this way, our selection will be more united. And that’s what our team is missing. Tunisia, most of the players have been together for 5 years 6 years, they know each other. We too must be our goal to bring the cup back in 2025.
During the competition, you announced your international retirement. Is it still relevant ?
So far, I’m more towards retirement than a return to the national team. Because all the same, I gave a lot to this selection. Since 2014, I have participated in a lot of campaigns and it has also taken a lot of time for me and for my family. It’s during the summer that you can really be with your family. So for several years I couldn’t take advantage of my family. Even when my wife was pregnant, I was not by her side because of the national team. So I made enormous sacrifices, but I think that as I said earlier, today I am closer to international retirement. So I’m going to take the time I have left, the summers I have left, to be with my family. I think this is something important to me. I would have liked to bring the cup back to Senegal, unfortunately this is not the case. But what we can do now is to coach our young people and help them on and off the pitch. I will continue to support our national teams and pray that they continue to shine.
Regrets of stopping with the Lions without winning a trophy …
I wouldn’t say I have any regrets. I would be sorry if I had not given everything for my country. But there, I have a clear conscience because those who know me know that I always give 100%. I have always been present. And for me, it’s always the team that comes first. It’s a sacrifice to be made as a player and I have made it. So I don’t regret anything as long as I know that I gave the best of myself to offer the title to Senegal.
We often talk about ego problems between Gorgui Sy Dieng and you. What relationships do you have?
I’ve never had a problem with Gorgui. You have to understand that Gorgui Sy Dieng is a player that I respect a lot. But I’m not going to call a friend on the phone to ask how he’s doing or stuff like that. He’s not a friend I’m going to spend hours with. But I respect the person and the player, because he represents Senegal at the level of the NBA. We don’t have a problem. Granted, there may be some differences in perspective on certain things, as is the case with all families. But in the field, we have always done our job. It’s not ego issues, just pure basketball misunderstandings. When we meet, we laugh together. I remember a year in New York, he had a game there, after we went to a restaurant for dinner together. Here it is, it is a teammate, but it is not a friendly relation like for example me and Hamady Ndiaye or another. But we have no problem, it’s just a difference of vision on certain things.
And your message for young Senegalese, especially basketball players?
A dream without a plan is just a wish. Admittedly, there are not many opportunities in our country, but all the same, it must be said that there are more nowadays than before. But our young people are constantly bombarded with useless information, distractions and social networks, which they no longer know on which foot to dance. The opportunity is known to knock on everyone’s door, but only whoever has the key can open it. I would say that the key is first to know what you want in life, to be prepared, focused, selfish and persistent. But the most important thing is not to give yourself excuses and not to let anyone break your dream, to influence you in one way or another, because a dream protects itself. The other message I wanted to send is that no one will come to help you if you do not help yourself, our country will never be developed by foreigners. So let’s do everything, each on his own to participate in development, to be part of this change that we so want to see. We all know what to do, but not many people do what they need to do. Let’s talk little and act more.
