Tangara longs for Tucson while playing professionally close to home
by Javier Morales on Feb. 27, 2010, under Sports
Former UA forward Mohamed Tangara is playing professionally in Morocco, not too far from his Mali home in Africa
Two Arizona players who left the program for another school to get playing time, but are welcome back any time by their ex-teammates, are former Gumby Mark Georgeson and recent reserve Mohamed Tangara.
Tangara has resurfaced in Morocco, playing for a professional basketball team there. Tangara, who transferred his senior year to Division II Chaminade so he could immediately exhibit his skills, attempted to make the Bucks’ roster but was let go before the NBA Summer League. The Bucks cited roster space on their summer-league team as a reason.
“I am doing well, I can’t complain,” Tangara told me about his Moroccan experience. “I am getting paid to do what I love to do. Hey, there’s nothing better than that, even though the money is not like NBA or Spain. But I’m good with what I’m making now.”
A bonus to playing in the northwestern African country of Morocco is that Tangara, from nearby Mali, can play in front of family and friends.
“I am close to my parents which I was missing the most during my whole journey in the USA,” Tangara said. “Now I get to see them maybe three times before I go back to Arizona in June.”
Tangara plans to return to Tucson, his home away from home he says, to work out and catch up on some of his friendships in the city. For now, he plans on living life to the fullest in Morocco.
“Man, I like Morocco. It is a mix of Spain and France, a very modern country compared to a lot of African countries,” he said. “It has very beautiful cities like Tangier and Marrakech. It has been interesting basketball wise. The level is not like Europe, or like USA, but it is organized. They got basketball courts almost as nice as some of the USA basketball courts.”
Tangara, a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com out of the Mt. Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina, could not crack the Arizona starting lineup in his first three seasons. He transferred to Chaminade after Lute Olson took a leave of absence in 2007-08.
“I know I left to Chaminade, but I am still a Wildcat. To all Arizona and Tucson citizens, the U of A, my fans, friends, I miss all of you. Man, Arizona gave me so much, I can’t thank it enough. It was a privilege to be part of the Lute Olson legacy and the University of Arizona program. Tucson, Arizona, is my second home right after Mali. My dad always says to me, ‘Hey Mohamed, home is home but there is no better place than the place where there is kindness, love, and help when you need it. That is the place you need to be.’ See you soon Arizona.”
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