Rodrigo Carlos presents the U-22 team and comments on expectations for the 16/17 season
The base of the red-black basketball team will help in the preparation of the Pride of the Nation
By Isabel Oberg - in
The team that will defend the Sacred Mantle in the under-22 basketball category presented itself in Gávea, this Monday (8). Commanded by Rodrigo Carlos, assistant to coach José Neto in the adult team, the under-22 team has four new reinforcements and will be a fundamental part of the preparation of the Pride of the Nation in the search for the sixth championship of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB).
Rodrigo, who was present for four of the five NBB titles, as well as the Liga das Américas and the World Cup, organized the meeting with the group to discuss the season's guidelines, which primarily focus on competing in the LDB, the Basketball Development League, promoted by the National League. The coach commented on the importance of this first meeting.
"I wanted to give this presentation first so the players could get to know each other, and also so they could get to know the staff, since it's a new group with four new players. I'll show them what the U-22 championship will be like, based on the information I have so far, and I intend to show them how we work and what the training schedule we always provide is like. I also want to show them what it's like to play for Flamengo. I'll provide guidance on everything from social media to off-court behavior. What it's like to train with adults and what we expect of them. There's been an investment in the U-22 category, and there will definitely be pressure. They need to understand where they're headed and where they'll play. I think it's very important to convey all of this in the first meeting," explained Rodrigo.
Although the category's main competition is the LDB, the under-22 team has the important mission of helping the adult team prepare not only for the NBB but also for the season's other competitions. Rodrigo, who actively participates in the day-to-day running of both teams, emphasized the importance of this relationship.
"The U-22s will play a key role this season. We have seven adult players, and the U-22s will be very important for training and also for the main team's matches. So we have to do a good job with the kids so they can be ready to help the senior team in the first tournaments we'll play in September, and in the Rio de Janeiro championship, the NBB, and the Liga das Américas as well. We'll have a lot of work to do this year. We've brought in quality kids. We have some who were already at Flamengo and now four new ones. We have to work with them so they can adapt quickly to our philosophies, and then when the adults arrive, integration can be easier. I hope they help us a lot this year," he said.
With four new reinforcements at your disposal, one of them Humberto, who arrived at Flamengo in July to also join the adult team, Rodrigo remains cautious when talking about the season's ultimate goal. But the coach guarantees one thing: hard work.
"The goal of the season is to go as far as possible. Of course, we're thinking about reaching the final and being champions, but we still don't know how many clubs there will be or what level they'll be. Regardless, we'll work to reach the final. We intend to qualify in the first phase, go to the final phase, and fight to win the title," he said.
The under-22 team begins preparing for the 2016/2017 season this Wednesday (9), sharing training times with the American Dream Team, which is using the Hélio Maurício gym to prepare for the Rio Olympic Games.
The youth basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – CSN (Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional), Banco Bonsucesso and Brasil Brokers – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR), in addition to support from the Brazilian Confederation of Clubs (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources originating from the Pelé Law.
Rodrigo, who was present for four of the five NBB titles, as well as the Liga das Américas and the World Cup, organized the meeting with the group to discuss the season's guidelines, which primarily focus on competing in the LDB, the Basketball Development League, promoted by the National League. The coach commented on the importance of this first meeting.
"I wanted to give this presentation first so the players could get to know each other, and also so they could get to know the staff, since it's a new group with four new players. I'll show them what the U-22 championship will be like, based on the information I have so far, and I intend to show them how we work and what the training schedule we always provide is like. I also want to show them what it's like to play for Flamengo. I'll provide guidance on everything from social media to off-court behavior. What it's like to train with adults and what we expect of them. There's been an investment in the U-22 category, and there will definitely be pressure. They need to understand where they're headed and where they'll play. I think it's very important to convey all of this in the first meeting," explained Rodrigo.
Although the category's main competition is the LDB, the under-22 team has the important mission of helping the adult team prepare not only for the NBB but also for the season's other competitions. Rodrigo, who actively participates in the day-to-day running of both teams, emphasized the importance of this relationship.
"The U-22s will play a key role this season. We have seven adult players, and the U-22s will be very important for training and also for the main team's matches. So we have to do a good job with the kids so they can be ready to help the senior team in the first tournaments we'll play in September, and in the Rio de Janeiro championship, the NBB, and the Liga das Américas as well. We'll have a lot of work to do this year. We've brought in quality kids. We have some who were already at Flamengo and now four new ones. We have to work with them so they can adapt quickly to our philosophies, and then when the adults arrive, integration can be easier. I hope they help us a lot this year," he said.
With four new reinforcements at your disposal, one of them Humberto, who arrived at Flamengo in July to also join the adult team, Rodrigo remains cautious when talking about the season's ultimate goal. But the coach guarantees one thing: hard work.
"The goal of the season is to go as far as possible. Of course, we're thinking about reaching the final and being champions, but we still don't know how many clubs there will be or what level they'll be. Regardless, we'll work to reach the final. We intend to qualify in the first phase, go to the final phase, and fight to win the title," he said.
The under-22 team begins preparing for the 2016/2017 season this Wednesday (9), sharing training times with the American Dream Team, which is using the Hélio Maurício gym to prepare for the Rio Olympic Games.
The youth basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – CSN (Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional), Banco Bonsucesso and Brasil Brokers – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR), in addition to support from the Brazilian Confederation of Clubs (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources originating from the Pelé Law.