Leandrinho debuts for Flamengo this Sunday
The red-black team will play a friendly against Brasília, at 11 am, at the Ilson Nelson gymnasium
By press office - in
International basketball star Leandrinho will wear the Flamengo jersey for the first time this Sunday (October 09.10). The Toronto Raptors NBA player will debut for Flamengo in a friendly against Brasília at 11 a.m. at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília. The game will be broadcast on SPORTV. The winner will take home the João Herculino trophy.
"I'm very anxious and excited for this debut. For days, I've been thinking about it all day. I stay at home, quiet, just imagining what this moment will be like. I'm very happy to wear the Flamengo jersey, a club that welcomed me so warmly and has wonderful fans, which makes all the difference," said the player.
Leandrinho was signed by Flamengo in August. The Rio de Janeiro club took advantage of the NBA strike, declared in July, to sign the player until December. During the "lockout" period, athletes are authorized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to play for other teams, on the condition that they return to their respective teams at the end of the strike.
Leandrinho hasn't played in Brazil for nine years since joining the NBA. He doesn't hide his joy at being reunited with Brazilian fans.
"It's going to be very exciting for me. Today, I know that Brazilian basketball has evolved a lot and the National League is very competitive, at a very high level. I hope this first game goes very well and that I can help Flamengo come away with the victory in Brasília," he said.
Leandrinho is still recovering from a wrist injury that kept him out of the Brazilian national team.
"I'm not 100% recovered yet, I'd say I'm 80%. But I'll be able to play and I hope the result is positive," he said.
Flamengo heads to Brasilia on Friday (07.10). The team will travel with all its stars, including the season's new signings (Argentine Federico Kammerichs, American David Jackson and Brazilian national team center Caio Torres) and captain Marcelinho Machado.
This Thursday's training session (06.10), at the Hélio Maurício gym, in Gávea, will be open to the press from 11 am.
"I'm very anxious and excited for this debut. For days, I've been thinking about it all day. I stay at home, quiet, just imagining what this moment will be like. I'm very happy to wear the Flamengo jersey, a club that welcomed me so warmly and has wonderful fans, which makes all the difference," said the player.
Leandrinho was signed by Flamengo in August. The Rio de Janeiro club took advantage of the NBA strike, declared in July, to sign the player until December. During the "lockout" period, athletes are authorized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to play for other teams, on the condition that they return to their respective teams at the end of the strike.
Leandrinho hasn't played in Brazil for nine years since joining the NBA. He doesn't hide his joy at being reunited with Brazilian fans.
"It's going to be very exciting for me. Today, I know that Brazilian basketball has evolved a lot and the National League is very competitive, at a very high level. I hope this first game goes very well and that I can help Flamengo come away with the victory in Brasília," he said.
Leandrinho is still recovering from a wrist injury that kept him out of the Brazilian national team.
"I'm not 100% recovered yet, I'd say I'm 80%. But I'll be able to play and I hope the result is positive," he said.
Flamengo heads to Brasilia on Friday (07.10). The team will travel with all its stars, including the season's new signings (Argentine Federico Kammerichs, American David Jackson and Brazilian national team center Caio Torres) and captain Marcelinho Machado.
This Thursday's training session (06.10), at the Hélio Maurício gym, in Gávea, will be open to the press from 11 am.