By Mike Seium | Eri-International Sports,

Thomas Kelati continues to be a well seasoned and a steady player as he gets older. As most of our readers know he got his start in professional basketball in Belgium then Poland and he moved on to Spain and Russia afterwards.

In between he was able to rub shoulders and actually get along with one of the world’s best basketball players of our time Kobe Bryant. He currently plays for Polish side Stelmet Zielona Góra where he has been contributing to the team’s second place success. His team’s chances of playing in the European Champions League are also high this season.

He made the move to Poland where his wife is from after spending most of his career playing for top Spanish teams.

This article will focus on Thomas and the Lakers and why he did not pursue the opportunity to join a topnotch team. With Alexander Isak rejecting Real Madrid and a couple of other big teams, may be some athletes can learn from these Eritrean family values and well cultured athletes that may change the way decisions are made in the future.

There are still some questions that linger as to why Thomas did not continue with the Los Angeles Lakers to this day.

It was the year 2009 and fans all over the world were following the former Washington State Cougar and all Pac 10 standout as he made his way to the city of Angeles where he had an opportunity to play for one of the best professional basketball teams in history.

As a free agent, Kelati signed with the Lakers in a training camp invitee role on September 30, 2009, but he was later waived or was he really waived?

During a recent interview he conducted with a Polish Journalist, Thomas was asked about the contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to his responses, which were conducted in Polish, the experience for Thomas was great as he was about to fulfill the dream of playing in the NBA.

The Lakers invited him to camp along with seven other players. During this period of time they approached him through third parties and finally decided to call his agent and mentioned to him that Kobe really likes his style of play so did Phil Jackson. The Lakers thought that Kelati fit into the team’s plan and wanted to keep him, however, within that year alone the Lakers had to cut a staff of 13 players as a result of high salaries and luxury tax. The team promised Kelati that they would send him to the D-League and would call on him during the regular season, at which point Thomas decided that he would be better off playing in Europe, thus rejecting the Los Angeles Lakers offer.

Why would anyone turn down a great team?

Thomas had options and he decided to go with his instinct to play in Europe and make guaranteed money instead of lingering in the D-League of the NBA where he would have had to wait on the Lakers to call him up.

So once again a year later, the Lakers came calling again, and asked for Thomas with a new proposal but he refused once again because the offer was based on the same criteria as the year before, which was for him to attend training camp and a possible contract at a later time.

Meanwhile, during that time Kelati had three great offers on the table from the likes of Olympiacos of Greece, Real Madrid of Spain and Russia’s Khimki, which was offering him a very rewarding contract. So in the end Thomas decided on a two-year contract with Russia’s Khimiki, which also participated in the European championships. He made a clever choice not to put everything into one basket as he fought for a possible contract with Los Angeles without rejecting any of the other proposals.

How was Kelati’s experience with Kobe and the Lakers?

Kelati spoke highly of Kobe Bryant. He spoke of how Kobe was a workaholic and trained intensely throughout the time that he saw him while with the Lakers. Training with the L.A meant measuring up to Kobe Bryant work habits as he set the standard bar high.

Thomas also looked up to players like Shannon Brown who was on the Laker’s squad at the time. It was a great experience for him, because he had the opportunity to compete and practice with a legendary NBA player and one of the best players in the history of the game.

He added that, “Kobe came to practice early and twice a day.” He was very well liked by his teammates and it was an honor to have spent even a short amount of time with him.

Update on Thomas these days

After playing with Murcia in Spain last year where he took a pay cut to help the team out, he also was getting proposals offers from other teams including in Spain and Turkey where he did not want to take his entire family (Wife and kids).

He finally settled for Poland where his wife is from. He joined Stelmet Zielona Góra as they showed that they really cared about him besides being the current Polish Champions and the opportunity to participate in the Euro Championships.

Thomas kelati has come a long way from his college days and continues to inspire young people while showing his character as a family man, professional basketball player, Eritrean-American-Polish.

See the youtube video link below for a buzzer beater by Thomas for his new team.

Games Photo Library Youtube Downloader Releases Values Salaries Contacts Alone

Asmara, 19 January- The Charge d’Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy in the US, Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet conducted a seminar to Eritrean nationals in Philadelphia on 15 January.

Mr. Berhane gave extensive briefing as regards the development achievements registered and on the national development programs for 2017.

Mr. Berhane also pointed out that the external conspiracies against Eritrea have been foiled through the strong resilience of the Eritrean people.

The participants on their part expressed readiness to strengthen participation and contribution for the success of the national development endeavors.

In the same vein, the national associations in the North East of the US conducted annual congress from 13 to 14 January in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At the congress the participants discussed on the reports presented by the different national associations and adopted resolutions pertaining future activities.

Mr. Dawit Haile, head of Public Relations at the East Coast of the US, gave briefing on strengthening organizational capacity, organizational guidelines and discipline as well as on national and community services and reinforcing productivity.

The participants on their part adopted different resolutions as regards ensuring active participation and reinforcing participation in the national development endeavors and others.

Likewise, the National Union of Eritrean Women branch in Copenhagen, Denmark, conducted second congress on 7 January.

The congress in which representatives of the different national associations took part, discussed on efforts that should be exerted to implement the set out programs, contribution of the national associations in the national development endeavors as well as reinforcing organizational capacity and collaboration among the different national associations.

The congress also elected executive committee for three years term.

By Shabait,

In its 7th Commencement the Orotta School of Medicine and Dentistry graduated 36 doctors on 14 January following 8 years of education in General Medicine.

The Minister of Health, Ms. Amina Nurhussein underlined that the institution is producing medical professionals equipped with specialized skills.

Pointing out that producing quality human resource in medical sector is part and parcel of the investment being made in the national reconstruction and development programs, Minister Amina reminded the graduates of the heavy responsibility that is awaiting them in delivering quality health services.

Dr. Haile Mihtsun, Dean of the Orotta School of Medicine and Dentistry on his part pointed out the speedy advancements observed in medical science has significant impact in the development of health services in the country. He further underlined that the graduates have passed the international standard examinations with great success.

Reaffirming commitment to serve the people with dedication, the graduates commended the exemplary role and support parents and instructors displayed during their 8 years of learning experience.

Established in 2004, the Orotta School of Medicine and Dentistry has to-date graduated 243 doctors in General Medicine and 20 in Dentistry.

Alexander Isak Becomes Sweden’s Youngest Goalscorer of All Time

lexander Isak has had a week to remember. He made his debut against the Ivory Coast on Sunday, becoming the second-youngest player ever to turn out for the national team.

On Thursday, he went a step further as his 19th-minute goal against Slovakia made him Sweden’s youngest ever goalscorer.

Isak has been making waves around Europe for some time now. He’s the Swedish top flight’s youngest ever goalscorer at 16 years and six months, and now, at the age of 17 years and 113 days, he holds Sweden’s record for youngest-ever scorer in national team history, breaking a record that’s stood for 105 years.

>> ALSO READ : Alexander Isak New Face for Adidas Campaign

Real Madrid are rumored to have already had a bid rejected for the young Swede, with his performances for AIK in his home country prompting scouts from around the continent to monitor his progress.

Standing at 6’2″, powerfully built, with silky skills and a ruthless streak in front of goal, Isak is already drawing the inevitable comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Becoming Sweden’s youngest goalscorer isn’t going to hurt his case.

23229-president-isaias-receives-kenyan-foreign-ministerPresident Isaias Receives Kenya’s Foreign Minister
Asmara, 10 January 2017- President Isaias Afwerki today received and held talks with Dr. Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s Foreign Minister and candidate for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

The President underlined the need for the enhancement and revitalization of the African Union to ensure that the African continent holds its rightful place in the world. President Isaias further emphasized the urgency for both the African Union and the regional organizations (RECs) such as IGAD to get their acts together to advance the widely shared objectives of the continent’s economic integration.

President Isaias and Dr. Amina Mohamed also discussed in detail the status of the bilateral ties between the two sisterly countries. In this regard, President Isaias underscored the need for Kenya to play its due role in the Horn of Africa.

Eritrean Nguse Amsolom captured commanding victory at Madrid’s San Silvestre Vallecana, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, on the new year’s eve, frustrating what could be the first Spanish victory in 13 years.

Amsolom won with 28:09, the third best mark in the history of the race. Spain’s Ilias Fifa and Toni Abadía finished second and third respectively.

The 30-year-old, Madrid-based Amsolom became the second ever Eritrean to win the event after Zersenay Tadese’s victory back in 2010.

“Over the early stages I didn’t feel comfortable but after halfway I began to work properly,” said Amlosom. “Even when Fifa caught me before the final sprint, I was confident of my win, as I’m the African champion.”

In the absence of the last two years race winner, the Turkish-Kenyan Mike Kigen, Nguse Amlosom was one of the race favourites.

In that colder than expected night, UK’s Chris Thompson was the early leader while he had opened a 10-metre gap over his closest pursuers during the uphill stretch within the first kilometre.

The leading pack went through the halfway point in 13:58 and no fewer than 12 athletes with winning chances still remained. The first key movement came with little more than three kilometres left when Amlosom injected a brisker pace which was only covered by Spain’s European 5000m champion Ilias Fifa.

The clock read 19:30 for the seventh kilometre split and it became clear that, barring disaster, either Amlosom or Fifa would be the eventual winner.

The two leaders took turns at the front until the ninth kilometre when the Eritrean broke away from the Spaniard to open a 15-metre gap. It appeared to all be over, but Fifa bounced back and managed to join Amlosom just entering the stadium of football club Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish capital’s southern suburbs.

Amlosom found another gear inside the stadium to finally prevail by two seconds over Fifa

“When Amlosom broke away from me with ease with one kilometre left, I knew it would be difficult for me to win,” said Fifa. “I could join him then but I didn’t have any more energy in the tank for the final sprint. Anyway, I became European champion in the summer and today I managed a 10km Personal Best (PB) so I can’t ask for more to the year 2016.”

Amlosom is not targeting the World Cross Country Championships. Instead, he aims to improve on his PB of 59:39 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on 10 February before spending five or six weeks in his hometown.

His main aim for the summer is to compete in the 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships London 2017 before making his marathon debut in the autumn.

There were more than 42,000 runners participated in this year’s San Silvestre Vallecana, the most populous in the world.