Eight-time All Star and 4-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo during Aspire4Sport at Aspire Dome yesterday. PICS: SHAIVAL DALAL
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Sound coaching can help sports-loving Qatar become a basketball powerhouse, former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo said yesterday.
Qatar, who won the GCC basketball title last month, has a fiercely contested nine-team national league.
“I think they already have the resources to promote basketball. They got money, the facilities, the training places and now they have to look at coaching,” Mutombo said during a chat at Aspire4Sport conference yesterday.
“I think that’s very important,” Mutombo said. “The knowledge of the game comes with good coaching,” he added.
“They got to have clinics for coaches. They can send their local coaches to NBA and spend a year at an American college to learn all the techniques that can help guide young players,” the former Houston Rockets player added.
“We’ve already seen some athletes come to Qatar and then go on to play in the NBA. Some of them have reached the NBA level and that’s good,” the 46-year-old explained.
“You know things move when you get good coaching.
“Coaching is important. That’s the key message here. You can have a great body: you can be 7 and a half foot tall, 260 or 280 pounds but if you know the technique of basketball, only then you can be a good basketball player.
“Just being tall and huge won’t get you anywhere,” Mutombo said.
“I would like to learn more about the game here. I am very pleased to be here.
“This has been a good journey to Doha. I will be holding a clinic for kids and will go to a basketball game also,” the Kinshahsa-born added.
Mutombo, a retired professional basketball player, last appeared for the Houston Rockets.
He was the oldest player in the NBA at the time of his final season in 2009.
The 7 ft 2 in, 120 kg center is commonly referred to as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times.
On January 10, 2007, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the second most prolific shot blocker (in terms of career blocked shots) in NBA history, behind only Hakeem Olajuwon.
From 1991 to 2009, Mutombo played for Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Mets, New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets in his illustrious career.
However, ‘Mt Mutombo’, is happy just being a spectator.
“I think I work much longer now than when I was playing,” Mutombo said when asked about his retirement days.
“I have a family to look after. I also work for the NBA. So heck no, I don’t miss the sport. I am very happy with my career.
“I had an 18-year-career. I was accomplish a lot of things in the game of basketball. I have no regrets.
“If you look at the players, the NBA careers of top names lasts to three to five years. For me, I was there for more than 18 years.
“You can’t ask for more than that,” Mutombo said.
“I have achieved a lot. I didn’t win a Championship but I was a champion at heart. I think I can live with that,” the Congolese-American said.
Mutombo urged young players to go to the Olympics to polish their game.
“It’s great (the Olympics). They have taken the game further. Olympic Games can help young players to become the champions at some stage. The Games give the young players a feel of the national level.
“Yes, the modern-day greats are doing job in promoting the sport by being at the Olympic Games,” he said.
“The Games come only once in four years.
“If you play one, you are never sure if you’d be there at the next edition. If I was there playing, I’d make sure I’d be there,” he added.
THE PENINSULA
