BASKETBALL- WORLD U19 – Ankoay ready for battle

D-11. The young Ankoay boys U19 who will play their first 5×5 Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, from June 24 to July 2, left the country yesterday afternoon for a ten-day regrouping camp in Serbia. Composed of eleven players at the start, but reduced to ten due to an illness at the last moment of Landric Donovan Rakotonanahary, the first wave of the Malagasy delegation flew away without problem. Sydney Raolimpanantena already in France will also be part of the internship in Serbia. General Nina Zafisambo, general manager of the FMBB, reached by telephone, explains: “As regards Donovan’s state of health, we have taken the necessary precautions by carrying out a check-up at the military hospital in Soavinandriana. According to the doctor, there is nothing to worry about and we hope that this very week, he will join his teammates to follow his training camp in Serbia. The Ankoay U19s will start their competition against the Americans on June 24, before facing Lebanon the following day. The coincidence of the calendar meant that the protégés of Aimé Randria -coach Mémé- of the national team do not play on June 26, the Malagasy national day, because they will challenge Slovenia on June 27. “We hope that the ten-day regrouping course in Serbia will bring more for our young Ankoay. Like their older brothers in 3×3 basketball who beat France, they will create great surprises for the name of Madagascar during the World Cup”, confides Herison Mandrindrahasina, supporter who came to see the departure of young Ankoay.