The guarantee was left during a meeting between the player and the minister, which took place this Monday.
"During an audience with the talented Priscila Varela, a basketball player who plays in the United States of America University Championship (NCAA), the minister guaranteed all the institutional support necessary for Priscila to achieve her dream of playing in the North American professional league women's basketball team, the WNBA", reads a statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to which VerAngola had access.
On the occasion, Rui Falcão "reinforced his department's commitment" to providing support to national athletes who "shine abroad".
The minister also said there is a commitment to providing support to athletes who "raise the name" of the country abroad: "We are committed to providing all the necessary support to our athletes who, with dedication and effort, raise the name of Angola beyond its borders", he said, cited in the statement.
The official also recalled that Bruno Fernando and Celton Miguel are also representing the country's colors abroad.
"We have Bruno Fernando, we now have Celton and (...) we are going to start working with Priscila so that in two years we will also have the opportunity to see Priscila represent us in the WNBA. It's a work that we're going to start, I've already anticipated these conversations with Bruno, when Celton comes I'll also agree with him, so they can also be one of her promoters there, since they're both in the NBA, they know the doors they should open to also be Priscila's facilitators, we will coordinate these actions", said the minister, quoted by Rádio Nacional de Angola (RNA).
Priscila Varela – who is 19 years old, born in Cabinda and plays at Idaho State University – expressed herself "very pleased" to have been welcomed by Rui Falcão.
On that occasion, according to the ministry's statement, the athlete promised to continue her hard work to achieve "the best levels of performance", as well as expressing "her total availability to represent the National Team whenever called up".
"I have two more years at Idaho State, so I'm going to continue playing there", said Priscila who, quoted by RNA, added that it takes "a lot of work, a lot of experience, playing time and game readings (...)", and also working on "the connection" you have with people helps with visibility.
"It's very competitive there, at the moment, because there are only 13 teams with 10 places each, that's for the United States as a whole, which is very competitive, they even select from the top universities (...), but it's about continuing to improve the game, the game experience, readings of the game and the connections", she added.
During her time in Angola, the athlete participated in several tournaments in Cabinda, having promoted the massification of basketball, the guardianship's statement also states.
In addition to Priscila, the Minister of Youth and Sports also held, on Monday, a meeting with the management of the National Association of Football Clubs, in a conversation dominated by issues related to the implementation of the country's Football League.
