Olaseni Lawal ready to fill Diogu’s big shoes
MOMENTS after power forward, Ike Diogu, became unavailable for Nigeria with his leg injury it became obvious that someone would need to step up and fill the void left Afrobasket2013’s top scorer.
In Diogu’s absence, American coach, Will Voigt, has opted for FC Barcelona Lassa power forward, Olaseni Lawal, to fill the position, reports SuperSport.com. “Our expectations are to come here to win it.
I think we have a good enough team to win. These guys have been here before, they really want it badly, and I want it badly too because to represent your country is such a big thing,” Lawal told FIBA.com.
While Nigeria have been able to cruise to relative easy victories over both Central Africa and Uganda in which Lawal was spectacular, and a solid step-in for the now injured Dongguan Leopards big man, the true test was expected last night when Nigeria took on Tunisia in a mouthwatering battle of the best of Group A. Lawal is saying all the right things and remains confident and grounded just like his game. “I am excited about playing Tunisia.
They are a good team, and are going to be an early test for us, moving to the elimination round.” “We don’t need a superman, we just need everybody to do their job,” he further pointed out. “I can plug a lot of holes as far as rebounding, finishing around the rim, playing great defence, running the floor, doing things that they need me to do, a little bit of everything.”
Asked about focus the soft-spoken Lawal, who at 6’8” can play either power forward or Center, which he did both at Oakland University and later on at Wayne State, was also emphatic, saying, “We are very excited and we are ready.
We haven’t won the title yet; we can’t celebrate until August 30. We have to win every game, and take every game seriously. “To say that you are the team that is supposed to win, it doesn’t mean you win, that’s the easiest way to lose.
We have our heads on a mission right now, one game at a time.”
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