Athlete Ventures In Action: How Kriol Star Is Transforming The Basketball Landscape In Cape Verde

As the lines between sport, business, and culture continue to blur, today's athletes are no longer just performers, they're founders, investors, and storytellers. But what Cape Verdean brothers Joel and Ivan Almeida are building with Kriol Star goes beyond the familiar athlete-to-entrepreneur trajectory. Founded in 2024, Kriol Star is a rare example of athletes creating a scalable, values-driven venture while still competing professionally.
Positioned at the intersection of grassroots development and international opportunity, the team is Cape Verde's first representative in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and a case study in strategic legacy-building. By leveraging their credibility, connections, and shared vision, the Almeidas have not only created a pathway for local talent but also attracted global investment, turning their on-court credibility into long-term, community-driven capital.
In an interview with Forbes.com, Almeida shared more about the inception of the team, the funding behind it, their path to the continent's biggest stage as well as the competition so far.
Kriol Star's origin story is rooted in community and vision. The team, which grew out of a foundation which shares the same name is, a grassroots initiative focused on empowering youth through sport and opportunity. What began as a social project soon evolved into a professional mission, fuelled by the brothers' shared love for basketball and a commitment to creating something lasting for future generations.
Kriol Star Founder and Player, Joel Almeida
Supplied/BAL
At the heart of Kriol Star's mission are Joel and Ivan, whose journey from Cape Verde to international play has driven the team's vision. "We've shared the court since we were young," says Joel. "It's always amazing to do this with your brother, someone you've been to battle with." This bond, forged through years of playing together, is central to their ambition: to build not just a successful team, but a lasting legacy for Cape Verdean basketball. "It's important to leave a legacy and create a pathway for the next generation," Joel insists.
From the outset, the Almeidas understood they needed to combine their passion for the game with strategic thinking. They recognised Cape Verde's untapped talent but also the lack of structure to harness it. This insight led them to create the Cape Verdean Basketball League (CBL), a platform designed to identify and elevate local players. The league became a cornerstone of their strategy, paving the way for their team's entry into continental competition.
'We had a vision from the very beginning, and we stayed true to our core values,' Joel shared. 'The execution was key.'
The team made history in the Road to the BAL 2025, becoming the first team from Cape Verde to compete in FIBA's elite continental qualifying tournaments. Their presence alone was a statement: Cape Verde was ready to join Africa's basketball renaissance.
Behind that leap was not only talent but strategic thinking and key investment. A pivotal figure in The CBL and Kriol Star's journey is Paul Bragiel, a prominent Silicon Valley investor and founder of an early-stage technology fund. Known for backing over 200 startups, Bragiel saw in Kriol Star a unique blend of potential, vision, and impact.
'Paul Bragiel was one of our main investors,' Joel explains. 'He played a significant role in helping us compete on the Road to the BAL. We brainstormed how to get a CBL team into the BAL. I said, 'We have the talent, we just need to put everything together, enter the Road to the BAL, and qualify.''
That belief, coupled with Bragiel's support, helped unlock the resources Kriol Star needed to only dream big, but also execute with precision. His backing signalled a larger shift: African basketball was becoming a viable destination for global capital and strategic partnerships.
Kriol Star's debut in the Sahara Conference of the BAL, currently taking place in Senegal, hasn't been without challenges. Going up against some of Africa's most experienced and well-resourced teams was always going to be tough. Their campaign began with a hard-fought loss to reigning champions, Angola's Petro de Luanda, but instead of faltering, the team responded with resilience.
'It's not about how hard you fall, it's about how quickly you bounce back,' Joel emphasised. And bounce back they did. In a defining moment, Kriol Star claimed a crucial victory over Senegal's ASC Ville de Dakar, a gritty performance highlighted by Joel's 16 points and five three-pointers. That win was more than just redemption; it was a statement: Kriol Star wasn't here to participate; they were here to compete.
'We showed a lot of character, resilience, and guts,' Joel said. 'We imposed our rhythm and played with grit.'
Following their loss to Tunisia's US Monastir to close out the first round, they now approach the final stretch of group games, holding a 1-2 record and ranked 4th in the standings. The pressure is on. With a -42 goal difference, every rebound, every defensive stop, and every possession matters as they fight for a spot in the next round. But their story is far from over. For a debut team, the odds may be steep, but belief runs deep.
Kriol Star represents more than a team's entry into elite competition, it's the embodiment of a new kind of sports entrepreneurship. By building infrastructure, mobilising investment, and anchoring their brand in purpose, Joel and Ivan Almeida are reshaping how we think about athlete-led ventures. Their story is about vision in motion, about lifting others as they climb, and proving that long-term impact doesn't have to wait until after retirement. For Cape Verde, it's a moment of arrival. For African basketball, it's a model of what's possible when ambition meets alignment. And for global investors, it's a signal: the future of sport is collaborative, community-rooted, and already here.

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Newsweek

3 days ago

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Why Is the NBA Partnering With the UAE and Rwanda? Both Are Accused of Fueling Massive Humanitarian Crises

As the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs heat up, there is much to be excited about regarding the league's future. Television ratings are up, multiple young stars compete to be the next face of the league, and partnerships with other countries are deepening, opening doors to new audiences and corporate sponsorships. On the surface, these kinds of arrangements seem like a win-win for everyone. NBA spokespeople point to the NBA's investment in youth basketball leagues and clinics in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Rwanda, as well as to basketball infrastructure like courts and arenas. Front view of the NBA store on 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Front view of the NBA store on 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Getty Images The UAE has invested heavily in the NBA, fully sponsoring the in-season tournament now called the Emirates NBA Cup in a deal reportedly worth $500 million. The UAE also hosts the annual preseason NBA Abu Dhabi Games, with the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers slated to appear in October 2025. Meanwhile, Rwanda has been a lynchpin for the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the NBA's first professional basketball league outside of North America. The Rwandan government pays several million dollars to the NBA to host the BAL playoffs in its new arena in the capital of Kigali, as well as to be a general sponsor of the league. Probe beneath the surface of what else these two governments are involved in, however, and another story emerges. The UAE and Rwanda are presently sponsoring deadly rebel groups in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), respectively, directly fueling two of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Nearly 20 million people have been displaced from their homes in these two conflicts. In Sudan, the UAE is backing the insurgent Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia that the United States in January determined committed genocide and that now controls wide swathes of the country, thanks to generous military support from the Emirates. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate in his confirmation hearing, "In part of our engagement with the UAE, we need to raise the fact that they are openly supporting an entity that is carrying out a genocide [in Sudan]." In the DRC, Rwanda invaded with up to 12,000 troops in January and since 2022 has militarily supported the M23 militia, which has taken over wide swathes of eastern DRC. The human costs of these conflicts is staggering, with 12 million people displaced in Sudan and 8 million in the DRC, 30 million in need of emergency aid in Sudan and 28 million in the DRC, and thousands of child soldiers in both conflicts. The UAE and Rwanda are benefiting financially from these military interventions, with billions of dollars of illicit gold flowing from Sudan and the DRC. The Emirates imported $1 billion in gold from Sudan in 2023, and Sudan's largest mine is controlled by a UAE company linked to the royal family. In 2024, over $1.5 billion in gold was exported from Rwanda, including large amounts of conflict gold from the DRC. A Rwandan-backed militia also controls a large DRC critical minerals mine and smuggles the mineral into Rwanda. The UAE and Rwanda's partnerships with the NBA represent the very definition of sportswashing, wherein governments involved in heinous atrocities distract attention from their crimes by investing in sports teams and leagues around the world in exchange for good publicity. Today, no one from the NBA has spoken out about the human crises directly fueled by partners of the NBA. Perhaps there is simply too much money at stake. Yet given the league and many of its most prominent players' presence in social justice efforts, their silence around the violence being fueled by Rwanda and the UAE is all the more deafening. Recognizing this contradiction, U.S. senators from both parties joined together last year and wrote to the NBA, saying the league "has long positioned itself as a beacon of social justice" but has instead continued "developing relationships with dictators and despots," including Rwandan President Paul Kagame. As the NBA's association with partners who enact extraordinary human rights abuses becomes clearer, the ideal response from the league would be to cancel these relationships. Some NBA stars who have spoken out so forcefully in support of social justice causes in the U.S. could start asking questions about what the UAE and Rwanda are doing in Sudan and the DRC and shine a spotlight on the suffering of Sudanese and Congolese people. Sportswashing is all about deflecting attention away from horrors like those being perpetrated in Sudan, especially Darfur, and the eastern DRC. But if upstanding NBA players with truly global platforms redirect attention toward the massive suffering being inflicted, perhaps it would begin to affect the calculations of those responsible. John Prendergast is co-founder of The Sentry, an investigative and policy organization that seeks to disrupt predatory networks that benefit from conflict, repression, and kleptocracy. Sasha Lezhnev is senior policy advisor at The Sentry. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.

Business Wire

5 days ago

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Agenus and Noetik Enter Collaboration to Develop AI-Enabled Predictive Biomarkers for BOT/BAL Using Foundation Models of Virtual Cell Biology

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Share Central to this collaboration is Noetik's OCTO virtual cell model, a 1.5 billion parameter foundation model trained on one of the largest proprietary multimodal spatial datasets. This dataset brings together spatial proteomics, spatial transcriptomics, H&E pathology, DNA genotyping, and clinical metadata from nearly 200 million tumor and immune cells collected from thousands of patients with cancers such as colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancers, and sarcomas. By integrating these diverse data types, Noetik's foundation models provide a systems-level view of the tumor microenvironment in real patients, unlocking novel insights into cancer biology that can drive more precise therapeutic discovery and development. Botensilimab, alone or in combination with BAL, has been evaluated in more than 1,200 patients across nine tumor types, including colorectal cancer, NSCLC, and sarcomas. By targeting complementary immune pathways, the BOT/BAL combination has shown deep and durable clinical responses—even in tumors considered immunotherapy 'cold' or resistant to prior IO treatment. The regimen has generated growing recognition within the medical community, supported by compelling data presented in both late-line and neoadjuvant settings, multiple peer-reviewed publications, and presentations at more than a dozen major medical congresses over the past three years. The collaboration aims to uncover clear, actionable biomarkers that can help predict which patients are most likely to respond to BOT/BAL treatment. Using OCTO virtual cell models to simulate how tumors behave in the body, Noetik will analyze complex biological data from multiple cancer types. The goal is to identify patterns that can predict treatment outcomes and help classify patient groups who may benefit most. Agenus will have exclusive rights to apply these insights in its drug development and commercialization efforts. 'Enhancing clinical efficacy is the most important problem in developing new medicines, and exactly what we've trained our foundation models to do. We are excited to deploy Noetik's virtual cell foundation models on Agenus' rich clinical data to uncover biomarkers that can enrich patient therapeutic response, improve trial outcomes, and ultimately deliver more precise therapies,' said Ron Alfa, M.D., Ph.D., CEO & Co-Founder, Noetik. 'At Agenus, we are committed to transforming cancer care through scientific innovation and next-generation immunotherapies. This collaboration with Noetik enables us to harness cutting-edge AI to better understand patient biology and tailor treatments more precisely,' said Dr. Garo Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus. 'By integrating Noetik's virtual cell models with our expansive BOT/BAL clinical dataset, we have the potential to accelerate the identification of predictive biomarkers, enhance the success of our pivotal trials, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients who currently have limited or no treatment options.' This collaboration reflects a growing momentum in oncology toward model-driven trial design and AI-enabled precision medicine—an area increasingly prioritized by the FDA under the guidance of the current U.S. administration as central to advancing more equitable, effective cancer care. By applying these technologies to real patient data, the goal is to accelerate the delivery of more personalized treatments, improve outcomes, and expand access to therapies for patients who need them most. About Noetik Noetik is an AI-native biotechnology company using machine learning to increase clinical success rates for precision cancer therapies. By training AI models directly on human patient data, the company bridges the gap between drug development and human biology. Noetik's proprietary platforms, OCTO and Perturb-map, leverage the power of virtual cell models trained on massive multimodal data to identify therapeutic targets with unprecedented precision. Founded by biotech and AI veterans from Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Noetik is based in San Francisco, CA. To learn more about Noetik, visit About Agenus Agenus is a leading immuno-oncology company targeting cancer with a comprehensive pipeline of immunological agents. The company was founded in 1994 with a mission to expand patient populations benefiting from cancer immunotherapy through combination approaches, using a broad repertoire of antibody therapeutics, adoptive cell therapies (through MiNK Therapeutics) and adjuvants (through SaponiQx). Agenus has robust end-to-end development capabilities, across commercial and clinical cGMP manufacturing facilities, research and discovery, and a global clinical operations footprint. Agenus is headquartered in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit or on social @agenus_bio. Information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted on our website and social media channels. About Botensilimab (BOT) Botensilimab is a human Fc enhanced CTLA-4 blocking antibody designed to boost both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. Its novel design leverages mechanisms of action to extend immunotherapy benefits to 'cold' tumors which generally respond poorly to standard of care or are refractory to conventional PD-1/CTLA-4 therapies and investigational therapies. Botensilimab augments immune responses across a wide range of tumor types by priming and activating T cells, downregulating intratumoral regulatory T cells, activating myeloid cells and inducing long-term memory responses. Botensilimab alone, or in combination with Agenus' investigational PD-1 antibody, balstilimab, has shown clinical responses across nine metastatic, late-line cancers. Approximately 1,100 patients have been treated across the botensilimab/balstilimab program in phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. For more information about botensilimab trials, visit About Balstilimab (BAL) Balstilimab is a novel, fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) designed to block PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) from interacting with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. It has been evaluated in >900 patients to date and has demonstrated clinical activity and a favorable tolerability profile in several tumor types. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding its botensilimab and balstilimab programs, expected regulatory timelines and filings, and any other statements containing the words "may," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "hopes," "intends," "plans," "forecasts," "estimates," "will," 'establish,' 'potential,' 'superiority,' 'best in class,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the factors described under the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Agenus cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Agenus undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, other than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Forbes

5 days ago

• Forbes

Boris Diaw Feels The Pulse Of The BAL's Fifth Season As Al Ahli Tripoli Make Their Mark

PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 14: Al Ahli Tripoli celebrates after winning the 2025 BAL Championship ... More against Petro de Luanda during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Championship on June 14, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Julien Bacotr/NBAE via Getty Images) Al Ahli Tripoli made history in Season 5 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), defeating defending champions Petro de Luanda 88–67 in the final to become the first team from the Road to BAL qualifiers to claim the title. It was a season of many firsts, a conference winner went on to win the championship, and for the first time, a BAL Coach of the Year, Fouad Chacra led his team to the title. At the heart of Al Ahli's triumphant campaign was Jean Jacques Boissy, who was named the 2025 BAL Most Valuable Player, while also claiming the Scoring Title with an average of 18.7 points per game. Boissy anchored the team on both ends, earning selections to the All-BAL First Team and All-Defensive First Team, a rare trifecta that reflects his all-around dominance. As the confetti settled inside Pretoria's SunBet Arena, the venue buzzed with the unmistakable energy of a league that's beginning to embed itself into the global basketball consciousness. The atmosphere spoke volumes, about the growing appetite for the game, the hunger of emerging stars, and the potential for the BAL to not only grow within the continent but also to become a destination of choice for talent around the world. Among those witnessing it all for the first time in person was Boris Diaw, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, longtime French national team player, and general manager of team France. Despite being familiar with the BAL from its inception through his relationship with BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, this was his first time experiencing it court side. 'It's the first time I'm coming, actually, to the BAL. It's the fifth edition every time before, I couldn't make it. So I'm really happy that I was able to make it after five years,' Diaw shared with during the playoffs in Pretoria. What stood out to Diaw wasn't just the skill level, but the emotional stakes. 'You can tell they really want it,' he said, reflecting on what struck him most. 'You can feel the tension on the court. That's what I love, that's what playoff basketball is about.' He added: 'In some leagues, players show up and they're just mercenaries. But here, everybody is really into it. They care. That exceeded my expectations.' OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 31: Boris Diaw #33 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to a play in the second ... More half as Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during Game Six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 31, 2014 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) As someone who's played on some of the biggest stages in the world, from the NBA Finals to the Olympics, Diaw has a sharp eye for style and structure. One of the most compelling aspects of the BAL, in his view, is the way African basketball is carving out its own identity while still evolving with the global game. 'African basketball is more athletic, more one-on-one,' he observed. 'Players here have a lot more athleticism than you'd see in Europe. But it's not quite like the NBA, and it's not as structured as EuroLeague either. It's somewhere in between.' That blend, he explained, is a strength, not a gap. The BAL's gameplay reflects how African players interpret and reshape the global basketball language on their terms. 'What's exciting is how these different influences are starting to merge,' he said. 'Everyone is feeding off each other, NBA, Europe, Africa. But at the same time, you can see Africa developing its rhythm, its style.' The result is a product that feels distinctly African yet globally relevant, a style that celebrates athleticism and flair, but is increasingly matched with organisation and tactical discipline. PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 14: A view of the BAL Finals logo after Al Ahli Tripoli won the 2025 ... More Basketball Africa League Championship against Petro de Luanda on June 14, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images) For players navigating uncertain career paths, the BAL is evolving into more than just a seasonal competition, it's becoming a credible launchpad for growth, visibility, and long-term opportunity. 'Before, it was harder to get players to come,' Boris Diaw acknowledged. 'Now, more and more are looking at the BAL as a real option, whether they're just starting or looking to close their careers.' What's driving that shift is visibility, not just in Africa, but across the world. Through strategic partnerships with the NBA and G League, expansive media coverage, and accessibility via platforms like YouTube and NBA TV, the BAL offers something few regional leagues can: a global stage. 'There are so many eyes on this league, it's broadcast so widely, even more than some other leagues around the world,' Diaw said. 'For players, it's a great opportunity to come and show their talent.' That visibility is amplified by the digital age. Social media, live broadcasts, and streaming have made the BAL accessible to players, fans, scouts, and executives around the globe. It's this reach, and the sense of community it fosters, that's turning the league into a movement. Diaw sees a particularly powerful opportunity in countries like France, where large African diaspora communities are beginning to reconnect with the continent's basketball scene through the BAL. 'There are so many players in France with African roots,' he said. 'And I'd love to see more of them come back, contribute, and play in the BAL.' Many of them already follow the league closely. 'It's all over social media. You hear about it. You see it. It's global now.' Whether you're in Paris, Lagos, or Dakar, the BAL is no longer just a league, it's a bridge. 'It became so global and so easy to follow from everywhere in the world that I think all these countries are connected,' Diaw added. That interconnectedness, the feeling that this is a league for Africans everywhere, is part of what's fuelling its momentum and securing its future. Reflecting on his early days running basketball camps in Senegal in the early 2000s, Diaw recalled just how limited the infrastructure was. 'There weren't many indoor courts. There was just one old arena,' he reflected. 'Now, you've got the big arena in Dakar. There's the NBA Academy in Saly. New gyms in Thies. Things have changed.' For Diaw, the transformation of basketball infrastructure is part of a much broader story. 'I remember going back to neighbourhoods in Dakar and seeing how much had changed, roads that used to be sand are now paved. That mirrors what's happening in basketball. More courts. More youth programs. More support systems. It's all moving in the right direction.' And it's not just the physical structures. Coaching, development pathways, and organisational leadership are evolving too.'The coaching is improving, the level of preparation is better, it's not the same game it was 20 years ago and that's a good thing.' TOPSHOT - (From L) South Sudan's #11 Marial Shayok, South Sudan's #10 Jt Thor, South Sudan's #13 ... More Majok Deng, South Sudan's #26 Sunday Dech, South Sudan's #14 Peter Jok and South Sudan's #09 Wenyen Gabriel acknowledge the public at the end of the men's preliminary round group C basketball match between South Sudan and Puerto Rico during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP) (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images) Diaw's experience playing against African national teams spans nearly two decades, from the FIBA World Championship in 2006 to the 2012 London Olympics. Back then, teams like Nigeria, Tunisia, and Angola were fierce competitors but today, he says, there's a noticeable shift in how African teams approach the game. 'It was always hard to play against African teams because of their different style,' he recalled. 'But now, they've evolved even further. It's not just that they're physical or athletic, they're smart, organised, and prepared.' He pointed to South Sudan's recent performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a standout example. 'South Sudan is playing a new style of basketball, one that we haven't seen that much over the years. They're bringing something fresh and effective.' What's changed, in his view, is access. African coaches and players now have more tools than ever before to study the game, from international broadcasts to advanced analytics. 'Now, everybody is learning basketball that's more global and unified,' Diaw said. 'That knowledge transfer is helping teams become more competitive at the highest level.' PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 14: A view of the BAL Finals trophy and ring after Al Ahli Tripoli won the ... More 2025 Basketball Africa League Championship against Petro de Luanda on June 14, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images) Al Ahli Tripoli's BAL title earns them a spot at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, where they'll represent Africa against top clubs from around the world. For a team that started its journey in the Road to BAL qualifiers, it's a remarkable full-circle moment. But for Boris Diaw, the bigger takeaway lies beyond the silverware. 'I came here expecting good basketball, good vibes,' he said. 'But what I saw? The heart. The emotion. The fans. The competition. That exceeded everything.' The crowd energy in Pretoria, the celebration after every hard-fought win, and the unfiltered passion on the court made it clear: The BAL is a competition of consequence, one that means everything to the players, coaches, and fans who are helping shape it. 'The way the players react when they win, how happy they are, how intense the games feel, that's what basketball is supposed to be,' Diaw said. 'You don't always see that in every league. But here? You feel it.'