Bronze medal at the Olympic Games this summer, silver medal a year earlier at the World Cup, second place in the FIBA rankings… All the indicators for Serbian basketball seem to be green today.
But tomorrow? Svetislav Pesic, whose Olympic Games were to be his last competition at the head of the national team, is one of those who, paradoxically, are not optimistic about the future. I am very direct and can often say what many people don't like to hear. “, admits the technician in a Interview with Croatian media Index.
What they don't like to hear? I often used to warn people in Serbia that we are well on our way to following Croatia in basketball. That means we are about to hit rock bottom, just like you. “, warns the man who spent a large part of his life in Bosnia.
The technician considers that ” If some Serbian basketball leaders do not change their approach “, Serbia will have to ” to satisfy » to qualify for the European and World Championships. Without any further ambitions in terms of medals. Like the Croatian team, whose last international medals date back to the early 1990s.
Red Star and Partizan in the crosshairs
” You can forget about the Olympics. People don't like to hear that. That's why it's not surprising that I was never fully accepted in Serbian basketball. “, deduces the coach.
The latter, in an interview a month earlier taken up by BasketNewshad already considered that he was ” crucial to have a system and strategy in place ” at the local basketball level. ” We have big problems because we have big goals. It's a big responsibility for everyone, and it's time to start thinking differently. ” he asked vaguely.
The coach spoke of a ” totally obsolete system ” and believed that the success of a change of philosophy ” will depend largely on Red Star and Partizan, our biggest clubs “A way to point the finger at training within the clubs in question? Considering its current workforcePartizan for example only has 6 Serbs out of the 16 players listed.
“ I feel like a loser at the end of this process because I have not managed to convince people during all these years: everyone agrees, but nothing is done. “, Svetislav Pesic still regretted.
