From BZ/dpa
Before the start of the season in the Basketball Bundesliga and the Euroleague, the basketball players from Alba Berlin started their team preparation with a first team training session.
“This year’s preparation will be a big challenge,” said Alba head coach Israel González at the start of training on Thursday.
In particular, the departure of key player Luke Sikma is forcing the team to change their playing style. There are also new faces in the team and some of the players will join the team later due to the World Cup. The Basketball World Cup will take place in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines until September 10th.
“Of course it’s not ideal for growing together as a team, but it offers our young players in particular the opportunity to prove themselves,” emphasized González. In addition to the World Cup players Johannes Thiemann, Gabriele Procida, Matteo Spagnolo, Ziga Samar and Yanni Wetzell, Christ Koumadje was also absent from the team’s training session.
Johannes Thiemann is with the national team at the World Cup Photo: picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com
The 2.21 meter tall professional from Chad is waiting in the USA for a new visa for Germany to be issued. “Christ is having trouble getting a new visa and hasn’t rejoined the team yet,” Alba sporting director Himar Ojeda said.
Koumadje cannot enter his home country for political reasons. Alba is therefore currently working on a solution with the help of the Senate so that the 27-year-old can exceptionally receive his visa in the USA.
Coach González now has around four weeks to get his team fit. The new season of the basketball Bundesliga starts for the Albatrosses on September 28th with an away game at the MLP Academics Heidelberg.