Members of Nigeria's national soccer side, the Super Eagles, are diversifying their training in Malaga, Spain, by engaging in several other sports apart from football, in an effort to build team spirit and stay fit for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Local newspapers and football websites reported Thursday the Eagles have been playing volleyball, basketball and tennis in their Spanish camp.
The innovative training style has alarmed critics at home, who felt the players were being distracted from the main task at hand.
But German coach Berti Vogts has lambasted the critics, whom he tagged 'old fashioned'.
"We try to build team spirit and we will play basketball, volleyball, soccer, and tennis. I hear some people ask 'why play volleyball' but I think they are old fashioned.
"You cannot play football, football all the time. The players have to relax and they have to take their minds away from football but still exercise to make the muscles work,'' the 61-year-old coach was quoted as saying..
Meanwhile, Nigeria beat Sudan 2-0 in a friendly played at the camp venue Wednesday, a day before Vogts is expected to name his final 23-member squad for the continental extravaganza.
Nigeria, which will be seeking its third Nations Cup title at the 20 January to 10 February tournament, is drawn alongisde Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Mali in the first round of the competition.