By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Virtus Bologna head coach Sasha Djordjevic talked about how the season cancellation and the psychological effects of the coronavirus pandemic within the team, in a recent interview with nova.rs.
The Italian league season ended without a champion, though to Djordjevic all that matters is to get through this challenging period. “Honestly, this is now in the second and third thought. The first is human lives, and then when the pandemic is over, slowly we, as individuals, governments, society, begin to build an environment in which viewers will enjoy basketball, a good movie in the cinema, a play in the theater; Unburdened by the fear gathered into all of us during these difficult weeks. Don’t be surprised if we see people wearing masks on the street long afterward. It will not be easy, because we have received a big blow, but I am convinced that we will rise again”, he mentioned.
The coronavirus pandemic is also taking a great toll on teams’ finances, with many organizations implementing salary cuts for their staff.
“We are all in difficulties, clubs have run out of ticket revenue, TV rights … and we need unity to get out of the crisis in as little pain as possible”.
Djordjevic also talked about keeping his players’ spirits high during the lockdown and the psychological toll of the pandemic.
“Our hall is private, so we tried to keep some freshness with no more than two players on the court, out of contact, away from real training. But after a few days, we stopped because we saw that it would not be possible to continue. So we told them that they could go home. Teodosic and Markovic are already in Serbia, and two more of our Americans will be home soon. I do not need to mention how professional they are, they will all be physically back in shape easily, but the most important is the psychological moment, after the great mental blockage that this condition has produced. Everything starts from the head. This mental spasm is extremely dangerous, it is often the cause of injury and imagine it now”, added Djordjevic.