By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko newly-appointed coach Igor Kokoskov arrived in Istanbul Friday (7/8) to take over his new team. The Turkish powerhouse will have its first practice with Kokosov ahead of the new season on Saturday.
“Fenerbahce is a world-famous brand,” Kokoskov said to Turkish media after his arrival. “People all over the world know about Fenerbahce. My main wish is for this health situation to get better so that we can focus on basketball. We have a lot of new pieces, a lot of new players. We’re starting something a little bit different, a little bit new. Hopefully, we’re going to take one step at a time and hopefully have a successful season.”
Kokoskov is succeeding his fellow Serbian coach Zeljko Obradovic at the helm of Fenerbahce. The latter parted ways with Fener after seven years, during which the team won the first EuroLeague championship ever for a Turkish club, along with numerous domestic titles.
“Zeljko Obradovic is my dear friend of mine. My life and basketball mentor,” Kokoskov said. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about basketball, exchanging ideas and thoughts. I’m very well informed about what to expect. Zeljko has nothing but great things to say about the organization and his experience of coaching here for seven years.”
For now, Kokoskov will look to first meet players before beginning the preparation for 2020-2021.
“We’ll see. I got to meet with the guys,” Kokoskov said. “They’re coming from different parts of the world. Our main thing was for them to go through medical exams, so nobody is at any contact with this virus. That’s the main thing. So, health no. 1, then put the guys together and meet face to face. It’s always different when you have communication with guys, face to face.
“We have the first practice tomorrow and we’ll go from there”