Pedro Gomes is a very important part of the national team, a key man behind the scenes, involved with virtually everything to do with both the men’s and women’s national basketball teams of Cape Verde, the CVNT. Pedro has a very interesting history. At the moment, he is working for the United Nations, UN, on various anti-terrorism and anti-drug trafficking programs. He is married, to a judge, and the couple has a young child. They live in Praia, Cape Verde’s largest and Capital city. Pedro is just over 30 years old, but has accomplished much even at this young age.
Pedro came to the US to attend college and play basketball. He went to the University of Massachusetts-Boston, the school founded by the late US President John F. Kennedy. At U-Mass, Pedro became a star basketball player. At 6′5″, he was made for the sport. Pedro went on, after graduating from the university, to play as a member of the Cape Verde National Team.
Pedro also played professionally, for several seasons, in Portugal. With this long and successful experience of playing basketball, Pedro has, in recent years turned his attention to the development of the sport in a variety of ways. He writes on a frequent basis about basketball in Cape Verde, at all levels, for the website: www.AfricaBasket.com, on the Cape Verde homepage. This covers not only national team news, but also information about Cape Verdean players in college or professionally abroad; local sports news about teams in Praia, Mindelo, or other cities; and anything affecting Cape Verde basketball.
In addition, Pedro helps to identify talented Cape Verdean basketball players, and support them when possible. One recent example: Pedro helped get Vinny Lima the information and support necessary for Vinny, a 6′9″ forward who is a young member of the national team, and has now enrolled at Northeastern University in Boston, where he plays on the Northeastern Huskies basketball team. Northeastern is the Alma Mater of Puerto Rican national team player and NBA player Jose Juan Barea, the former pro, late Reggie Lewis, and several European pro players. Being in Boston will allow Lima a chance for a valuable education, as well as the possibility to play major college basketball in the US.
In recent years, and sometimes along with the UN, Pedro has arranged basketball camps for children that have brought NBA stars to Cape Verde. Really, even though he himself is no longer wearing the uniform and competing internationally for Cape Verde, Pedro is highly involved in just about anything having to do with Cape Verde, and basketball.
Congratulations, Pedro, for all of your hard work!
