Christ Koumadje, the giant who played soccer in the streets of Chad

«I remember my childhood in the streets of the city, playing football with my friends.

My mother was always there.

She is everything".

He remembers Christ Koumandje, the tallest guy who ever played in the ACB (he equals Ralph Sampson), the difficult childhood in N'Djamena and that sport that he still did not know and that was going to give him "the great opportunity of his life."

, was predestined even if he kicked, like the others, a ball.

At 16 he left Chad for Senegal

and in a few months he was in a high school in the US, but he never forgets his origins.

His future purpose is to work for the United Nations helping refugees, for which he has a degree in International Affairs. Nor is it easy now.

To Christ, who arrived a few weeks ago in Madrid to sign for him

He is not very amused that it only stands out for its 224 centimeters.

«What I like is that I am valued for my basketball, not for my height.

There are many things that, precisely because I am so tall, cost me more, "he protests, of this modern basketball, less and less made for the giants. And there, this afternoon in the derby -" I know it is a special match "- he will have in front to

(2.21 meters), differential in Europe although he did not succeed in the NBA.

Another African tower, stories of discoveries, of adolescent journeys in search of a future not even chosen.

The Real Madrid center also left Cape Verde as a young man to train in Gran Canaria: “Basketball means everything.

Thanks to him I have been able to study, travel the world, face great players and be an inspiration for the children of my country ", admits Christ, who landed at the Montverde Academy in Orlando, where he was a partner of

.

Then, after considering several university offers, to Florida State, where they began to develop their skills, under the command of Leonard Hamilton, an expert on giants.

Boris Bojanovsky (2.21) or Michael Ojo (2.16), the Olympiakos center who died this summer due to a heart attack at the age of 27, passed through his hands, his long-awaited companion from so many training sessions.

In his first two courses with the Seminoles, Koumadje gained 14 kilos.

He played 122 games, although he did not give him to be drafted in 2019.

But last season, the Sixers saw possibilities in him,

, maybe.

Tacko Fall (2.26), with whom he faced in the NCAA, has already made his debut with the Celtics.

With the Philadelphia team he played in the Summer League and in his G-League team, the Delaware Blue Coats, he began to forge his own legend.

He was named defender of the year after placing four blocks per game, in addition to averaging 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds.

"One night I caught 25 rebounds and they only asked me about my height," Big Christ now complains. Adapting to Europe - "it's the best league after the NBA, there are different things, but it's still basketball" - after appearing briefly against Baskonia - he debuted against Youssoupha Fall (2.21) -, and Fuenlabrada, last weekend already played almost 10 minutes in the victory against Betis: he scored his three shots without failure and put his first stopper.

But above all, he dazzled his teammates and his coach with his enthusiasm.

Watching him run the court was a delight.

«It has come out of a small injury.

The happiness and intensity that it transmits to the group are pillars to be able to build a competitive team ", he highlighted

, aware that he has a pearl in his hands.

Giant.

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