The national team, U-20 in women's basketball, starts preparations for the final matches of the European Championship

2024-06-30 17:35:00, Sport CNA

The national team, U-20 in women's basketball, starts preparations for the

Basketball team, U-20

The city of Pogradec has been chosen by the national U-20 women's basketball team to do the preparatory phase. From Monday, the girls selected in this team are preparing for the final matches of the European Championship that will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria. Clarent Dedaj, the coach of our U-20 national team, has shown that all the players come from the super league teams and are of high quality in the game. Dedaj admits that these finals are quite difficult, especially against the teams that will compete in this championship, while he is confident that they will give their best to represent Albania as decently as possible.

"The U-20 was assembled on June 24, for the European under-20 in Sofia, Division B. We have Group C, with Greece, Belgium and Croatia. Our idea is to give the best in Albanian basketball, for the level that we are so far. We will try to play in a dignified way, and get the most of the girls. The girls are all members of the senior teams of the women's league first on the 15th, we will try to get the maximum without giving statements whether we will win or not. The championship starts on the 6th, we will be in Sofia on the 4th, these are the last preparations. The next week is the 3 days last."

Clarent Dedaj, Coach of the National Team, U-20

The coach also shows the reason why they chose to hold this preparatory phase in the lake city, using the opportunity to thank the mayor Xhakolli for the opportunity he created for the team to train in the sports palace, now renovated and with modern conditions.

"It was the initiative of the mayor, Ilir Xhakolli, that since this sports hall was already renovated, why not choose Pogradec in a hot time. Here are the best possible conditions to train normally. I publicly thank the mayor for this , for ensuring optimal conditions. We are very satisfied here, all the responsible people are at our disposal, we have not had any problems. I don't think there is any other place."

The captain of the U-20 national team, Livia Gjata, says that in the group they will play, there are many difficulties due to very good opposing teams, however, she says that by giving her best, she hopes to achieve good results in this championship . Among the opposing teams, the biggest "fear" remains against the Belgium team, but due to the good qualities of our team's players, dignified results are expected.

Livia Gjata, captain of the U-20 team

"We have started preparations since Monday, with a very high intensity. We are good, we are giving our best and I believe we are ready to make the best possible appearance in the European championship. The group we are in is really difficult, but we are doing a lot of training and I believe we will make a dignified performance for our country. I want to thank the federation that made it possible for us to come to train in Pogradec, the Municipality of Pogradec that opened its doors to us and all the sponsors for the accommodation and the food. I believe that Belgium has fallen from the A's and it is a bit difficult team, but we will give our best for every game. The group is really good, we are very good elements."

In these finals, the girls team of the national team is in Group C with Greece, Belgium and Croatia.

The U-20 European Championship will start on July 6 in Sofia, Bulgaria, while in these finals, the girls' team of the Albanian national team are in Group C, with Greece, Belgium and Croatia. The hope to come out with good results is in every player of the team and management staff, as the U-20 National Team has in its composition, quite strong elements of basketball players./CNA