By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops met Yiannis Bourousis in “Metropolitan Hotel” where EA7 Milan is staying in Athens and the Greek center accepted to speak in order to explain his position concerning the – bad – atmosphere surrounding in Piraeus his return in Peace and Friendship stadium (SEF) for the first time as an opponent of Olympiacos.
“I want to clear up once and for all my situation with Olympiacos, where I played for five season, became attached to, but the end of my tenure in the team was not the one I have dreamed. The adjective I used to describe the Aggelopoulos brothers (ed. note: He called them idiots in a phone conversation that was published in Greece as a part of the investigation for fixing football games) was unfortunate and I apologize. It was something that should have never happened and I know it was distressful to them and also to many people who love Olympiacos. I want everybody to know that I was very emotional after what had happened with coach Ivkovic and his decision to keep me out of the team for one month (ed. note: back in the 20010-11 season) without never explaining me why. When I was informed about his decision I asked twice from the front office of Olympiacos to call me officially for a hearing in order to clear things out, but they never replied to me. Then, the team manager asked me to stay away from SEF during the home game against Marousi (20/2/2011) because, as he told me, it was Ivkovic’s order”.
“I complied to this request and I was really surprised, disappointed and angered when coach Ivkovic the very same day stated in the press conference that I was not punished, on the contrary I was injured and the journalists should ask me why I wasn’t present in the gym. I felt exposed in a way that I didn’t deserve, I didn’t have any way to react in order to protect myself and I felt hurt because the team owners didn’t supported me with their stance. That’s the real reason for my racked up anger and then I was exposed again via the publishing of a personal conversation. I want to leave behind me everything that has happened, I am really glad that Olympiacos has found its way as the Euroleague and Greek champion. I repeat that I owe a clear apology to misters Aggelopoulos. It’s an apology that I will offer in personal level, when I will encounter them face to face, as every man who has made a mistake should do”.