Caleb Agada takes the obligatory name seriously: "It's crazy, I'll try to live up to expectations" • Does not intend to leave BS: "I would love to continue here for a few years" • Defines himself as a defensive player: "Takes advantage of my good genes" • and reveals the tragedy she designed His life: "I did not get to know my father" • Interview

• Agada. "Want to continue here for a few years"

  Photo: 

  Liron Moldovan

Caleb Agada is one of the best foreigners to land in Israel ahead of the league renewal, and the main reason for Hapoel BS's excellent ability in the lower house. If he is good tonight - there is a high chance that his team will beat Maccabi Haifa and possibly qualify for the playoffs against all odds.

"I feel good in Israel," he says in an interview with Israel Today, "I have not yet seen everything I want, but I have already managed to understand that it is a beautiful place. The weather is good, and it is the most professional club I have had in my career, so I am satisfied. I would be happy to continue in Israel for a few years. "

Agada, 25, was born in Nigeria and when he was 3, his family suffered a tragic tragedy when his father was killed in a serious car accident. "My father was a doctor and did a lot of good things for populations that needed his help, but unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen to good people too," he says sadly. "Unfortunately, I did not get to absorb his legacy, but I know he greatly influenced my mother and my uncles."

Agada. From the stars of the Corona League // Photo: Liron Moldovan

Three years after the accident, the Agada family moved to Canada and settled in a small, quiet town near Toronto, where Caleb grew up. "My mother is a strong woman. She did not concentrate on mourning, but on giving us the best life she could. She has done an amazing job in our upbringing. All my life I will thank her for that."

Already at the Canadian school the young Caleb excelled in basketball skills and later went on to study economics at the humble University of Ottawa. He also played basketball there, but was not sure he was heading for a professional career.

Shortly after graduating from college he was called by a coach of the Perth team from the second division in Spain. Agada was convinced and for the past three years has been one of the best players at LEB. Last season he played for Melilla and won the title of defensive player of the season.

"Defense is who I am"

When BS spoke to Melilla coach Alejandro Alcoba, he said he was the best defensive player he had coached and one that suited the Spanish top league. Indeed, with 1.96m, long arms and an athletic body, Agada can maintain four positions in our league.

"I have good genes and I take full advantage of them," he explains, "I take my defense very seriously, this is who I have been since I became a professional player. I have a good position on defense and it also improves my offense because I snatch a lot and produce attacks. "I consider myself a defensive player, but I have everything I need."

Agada. BS Defense Minister // Photo: Liron Moldovan

His good ability in recent years has not gone unnoticed by members of the basketball associations of Canada and Nigeria. He previously played in the Universiade in the Canada uniform, but after his first season in Spain, the Nigeria coach invited him to the squad, and the player decided to accept the offer.

"Nigeria is still my country of origin, and it was significant for me to represent the country where I was born," Agada explained. So far he has only played in the qualifiers and was not a partner in a major tournament, but hopes a good season in Israel will put him on the final list for Tokyo 2021: "If I have a chance I will go for it, but even if I still do not support our team."

"Hopefully the change will come"

Apart from basketball, Agada is very involved in the political and social situation in the world and expresses his views on social media quite a bit. Recently, protests by the African-American community in the United States have been at the forefront of his mind, in part because of events he has experienced firsthand.

"I grew up in a white area, and unfortunately, blacks always experience racist incidents. I was a very good middle school student, and yet the teacher called my mom and said she was afraid I would drop out of school, with absolutely no basis. 

"The parents of the white children were not called, even though they did young nonsense, and only my mother - the black child - was called. I am proud that I went through everything and graduated well. The situation is crazy, and I hope the change will come now."

Finally, do you know what your name means in Hebrew?

"Yes, someone told me it means 'Legend'. It's crazy, I hope to meet those expectations and be a legend in Israel, we'll see."

Qualifying for the playoffs in the Premier League tonight will already make it a mini-legend, at least in the capital of the Negev.