Buenos Aires, July 11: San Antonio Spurs basketball star Emanuel "Manu" Ginobili, has returned to his native Argentina where he met with the South American nation's President, Nestor Krichner. As a boy, Emanuel "Manu" Ginobili stood in awe of the life-size Michael Jordan poster pinned on his bedroom wall and thought his hero was from a different planet. Now, fresh from his NBA championship victory with the San Antonio Spurs, he wants his success to convince young players in his native Argentina that they too could play with basketball's greats with hard work and a good dose of lady luck. The 6-foot-6-tall (1.98 metre) 25-year-old Spurs guard was greeted by President Kirchner on Thursday (July 10), with whom he exchanged gifts. President Kirchner gave Ginobili a wrapped present and received a San Antonio Spurs' jersey with his name on it. Ginobili was expected to hold a series of workshops for Argentine schoolchildren as part of the NBA Latinos Unidos Tour 2003.


Bureau Report