By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes stormed past Maccabi Tel Aviv Thursday, though head coach Ergin Ataman used his platform to send an important message that has little to do with basketball, on the day that Russia declared war on Ukraine.
“Stop the wars! This is [an] unacceptable war that people are dying [in]. Unacceptable. Innocent people, children. Stop the war, please”, said Ataman in his post-game quotes.
“We have no games left in Russia, but I believe that sports should have a unifying force. Sports cannot be a divisive solution. Boycotting Russian teams… I don’t know. There are a lot of European and American players and coaches who play and coach on those teams. There are many innocent athletes like the people of Ukraine who were exposed to this attack”, Ataman further stated in the post-game press conference.
“There are athletes who work hard and work for success. That’s why I expect a solution to be found at the EuroLeague’s high-level meeting tomorrow. Yes, many measures can be taken politically and economically, but it should not be forgotten that sports are always a unifying force in the world. As a country, we are a country that always defends peace. That’s why I think a solution can be found here as well. Of course, going to Russia in such an environment, it is also necessary to respect the players and teams who do not want to go to the games. Maybe, at least until this tension subsides, a solution can be found if games are being played at neutral grounds, but I think it is against the spirit of the sport to boycott all the matches of the Russian teams”
Ataman is among many basketball personalities who have voiced their opposition towards the current Russia – Ukraine crisis, which, of course, has also affected sports activities throughout Europe (check here for Eurohoops’ detailed analysis on the current events in regards to basketball).
On the EuroLeague front, so far EuroLeague Basketball has suspended three Round 27 contests; Bayern – CSKA Moscow, Baskonia – UNICS Kazan, Zenit St Petersburg – Barcelona.
Amid the crisis, Lithuanian side Zalgiris Kaunas further announced they will be boycotting their next road games in Russian territory for the remainder of the regular season.