By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman’s wish for the Turkish authorities to postpone the season has been granted and he believes it was the right – and inevitable – call.
“I think the decision to postpone was an inevitable measure,” the coach told Anadolu Agency. “I find the decision very correct. As a matter of fact, my players were not able to play psychologically in any way. It was also against the spirit of fair-play in this sport. I think that precautions were taken at the required time. We’re all troubled right now.”
Ataman also noted that while they are optimistic, they don’t expect EuroLeague to be resumed until at least May: “We want to think optimistically but it doesn’t seem like the EuroLeague will start on April 10. As a result of the quarantine rules in the countries, we expect that it will start in May and be successfully completed at the end of June, as in the Champions League. Both organizations and clubs and athletes worked hard until the season was stopped. Of course, we want to get the reward for this effort.”
Meanwhile, the coach will take all precautions but still find a way to keep his players ready: “It’s not possible to wait for athletes for 1 – 1.5 months and then start running. We gave the players for observation purposes until Sunday. From the beginning of the week, in groups of two and three, without putting everybody together, maybe we’ll be doing some practices in the open. As disinfected, we will do some daily training with each player using their own balls. We want to continue with 75 – 90 minutes of work. Training is very important, both physically and psychologically. Sitting without doing anything is psychologically as dangerous as physical discomfort.”