Mike Brown: Early preparation will help D’Tigers in FIBA World Cup qualifiers
On Saturday, August 20, the D'Tigers camp will open in Abidjan as the team begins preparing for window four of the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. This became necessary, according to the team's head coach Mike Brown, after the team's defeat by Cape Verde, to address the sluggish beginnings in the first two windows.
Brown stated that the team has to put in more practise before playing host Cote d'Ivoire on Friday, 26 at the 3,500-capacity Palais des Sports Treichville, recognising the challenge ahead in its bid to qualify for the world cup.
“We are trying to get there earlier to see whether we can have a few more practices to see whether we can get ready to perform at a little higher level in game one. In the last window, things were put together at the last second and we went there right before the first game”.
He is optimistic that early preparation will make a difference when his players step on the court for their first game.
“Hopefully, with us getting there a little earlier, getting three or four practices under our belt, it will show a little bit of difference when it comes to playing the games”, Brown said.
Currently fourth on the table, D’Tigers will play its opener against host- Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, 26 before facing Guinea a day after. On Sunday, 28 August, the team will square up against Angola. The 2023 world cup takes place from 25 August to 10 September in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.