Bruno Nicolaci, physical trainer at FlaBasquete, is part of the Brazilian National Team at the World Cup
CUIDAR professional comments on his work at the club and with the national team
By Helena Petry - inThere's more players in the squad! In addition to Jhonatan Luz and Marquinhos, Flamengo will also be represented by fitness coach Bruno Nicolaci on the Brazilian national team competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. The competition takes place from August 31st to September 15th in China.
Nicolaci, who has been with Mais Querido since July 2018, arrived at the club with national team experience under his belt. With the opportunity to continue his work with the national team in another competition, Bruno expressed his joy and honor.
"Mainly because we're competing in a World Championship. It's an honor to lead Brazilian physical preparation, especially since I'm Flamengo's physical trainer," he said. "I consider this call-up a professional and personal achievement. The experience of competing in one of the world's top competitions and interacting with other training cultures will only enhance my career and my work at Flamengo."
In June, the Rubro-Negro won its sixth NBB championship, a competition that began in October, nine months earlier, and whose preparations began in August. Meanwhile, on the Brazilian national team, athletes report for duty about 30 days in advance just for the competition. For Nicolaci, this is the main difference in the work to be done: time.
"Over the course of a season (which lasts almost a year), periodized training methodologies yield very positive results for the physical performance of both the athlete and the team as a whole. In this case, it's possible to implement physical characteristics that are acquired over the long term. With the national team, the preparation period is shortened. The secret is in the planning," said the professional, adding. "It's necessary to monitor the athlete's performance remotely. I'm very often in contact with the physical trainers of the Brazilian players this season. I also maintain a direct line of communication with them. This way, we exchange information about their physical conditioning and injuries, and I can provide advance information on my planning and training plans."
For Nicolaci, the time with the national team at a World Cup can add a lot to his work at the club.
"All this exchange of knowledge with other professionals in the field only helps me evolve and bring more experience to our season at Flamengo. Brazilian club basketball is evolving significantly, and being the physical trainer for Flamengo is a huge responsibility and honor," commented the physical trainer.
Bruno Nicolaci is part of the team of professionals at CUIDAR (Unified Center for Identification and Development of Performance Athletes), a red-and-black center whose objective is to improve interdisciplinarity in sport, combining athlete training with work from different areas of sport, working together and complementing each one's training.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – BRB, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.