Newly-appointed coach of the 2015 Afrobasket Men’s team, William Voigt, will open the team’s training camp in Abuja on Wednesday, July 15, for both home-based and foreign-based players.
Head of Media, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Patrick Omorodion, told TheNiche that the camp is expected to open on the date in Abuja in preparation for the 2015 Afrobasket Men’s tournament billed for Tunis, Tunisia.
Last week, the NBBF selected Voigt ahead of others to lead the campaign in Tunisia.
Voigt was the Head Coach/General Manager of the Bakersfield Jam of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Development League from August 2009 to July 2014 during which he won more games than any other coach in the D-League and helped his team to be regular Season Champions in 2012/2013.
He was offered a short term contract until September to win the Afrobasket and qualify Nigeria for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
If he succeeds, he will lead the team to the Olympics. He is to be assisted by a team of assistant coaches and video analyst.
Coaches Ayinla Johnson and Abdulrahaman Mohammed, as well as the team doctor and physiotherapist, will keep their positions from the 2013 coaching staff.
Voigt will not be new to the national team and Nigerian basketball environment, as he has previously coached two of the team’s standouts, Alade Aminu and Ike Diogu, in the NBA D-League and has also volunteered in summer basketball camps organised by Masai Ujiri in Zaria and Lagos between 2004 and 2008.
