Aug. 1, 2011
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Sandrine Nzeukou, a senior forward for the UNLV women's basketball team, is one of 25 players participating in the team camp for the Cameroon National Team that started on Monday and will continue through August 26.
Nzeukou, who is trying to become the second member of her family to play on the Cameroon national team (her father played for the men's squad), was born in the capital city of Yaounde in 1989, the same site as the camp. Of the 25 players invited to the camp, a total of 12 will be selected at the end of the three weeks to represent Cameroon at the Nations' Cup, the 2011 FIBA Africa Women's Championships, which is being held in Mali on Sept. 23 though Oct. 2. The top two teams in the tournament will then earn berths in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
"I feel very honored to have this chance to play for my country, and it would mean even more to me if I make it since my dad also played for the national team," said Nzeukou. "I never thought I would have this chance, but now that I'm here, I want to go out and represent my family and UNLV, and I hope that I can achieve the honor of playing for my country."
Nzeukou got her camp invite in part thanks to her friendship with friends from Cameroon that are on the University of Arizona women's team. After they told the Cameroon coaches about her, Nzeukou was contacted and invited to come try out for the team. She is looking forward to the trip not only for the chance to make the team, but also to return home to a country she has not seen since she was 5 years old. "It's going to feel like a big reunion for me, I have about 95% of all my relatives, with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, all still in Yaounde, and my dad was already over there for the summer. When I left I was so young so I don't remember much, so I'm really excited about this opportunity to see everyone and the country again."
While Nzeukou is overseas, she will be in contact with UNLVRebels.com with a blog that will be updated several times a week, and will also include pictures and videos from her attempt to make the national team.
