Going all out for the 2020 Dubai International Basketball Championship, Mighty Sports has added one of the brightest young coaches in the game today to its staff.
Charles Tiu will be joined by Angola Men’s National Basketball Team head coach Will Voigt for the tournament set from January 23-February 1, 2020 at the Shabab Al Ahli Club.
And for Tiu, it’s an honor to have someone as decorated as Voigt in his staff.
“I’ve always been a big fan of having international coaches out here to learn from them,” said Tiu, whose squad is backed by Creative Pacific of Bong Cuevas, Go for Gold, Oriental Group, Discovery Primea, and Gatorade.
“Will’s track record speaks for himself. He’s had a lot of different accomplishments already in the international basketball scene. I am very excited to learn from him.”
Just 43 years young, Voigt already has a wealth of experience under his belt.
After starting off his career with the LA Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs during the late 1990s, Voigt went on to either be part of the staff or coach numerous collegiate and club teams all over the world. He was an assistant with the Texas Longhorns, Norwegian club Ulriken Elite, G-League squad Bakersfield Jam, and CBA squad Shanxi Brave Dragons.
In 2015, he caught his biggest break with the Nigerian National Team, steering the nation to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Two years later, he became head coach of the Angolan team that beat Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup, 84-81 in overtime.
Besides helping Mighty Sports take down the annual tourney, Voigt is also hoping that this will serve as his audition for the vacant Gilas coaching post.
“I know Will has had some interest to coach here, I know he would love to be part of our national team, and even do some clinics here so when I got the chance to invite him, he was all for it.”
Players that have been confirmed for the squad are brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Kai Sotto, Dave Ildefonso, and Andray Blatche.
Teams that have been announced for the tourney are Libya’s Al Ahli; Syria’s Alwathba Sports Club and Al Ittihad; UAE’s national team and Alittihad Alexandria Club; and Lebanon’s Al Riyadi and Beirut Sports Club.
