By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
From welcoming the new management of Euroleague Basketball, the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board took it a step further reinforcing the good vibes coming out of Dejan Bodiroga being named president and director of Euroleague Basketball.
Proud and optimistic, EHCB executive director Goran Sasic talked to Mozzart Sport about the challenges to be dealt with by Bodiroga.
“Complicated tasks. The disagreements between the clubs in EuroLeague, the two years of the pandemic, and the stressed relationship between Euroleague Basketball and FIBA,” he painted the picture for the new management, “Impossible for a more demanding situation to begin in Euroleague Basketball.”
Sasic admittedly did not expect Bodiroga selected to lead Euroleague Basketball at this crucial time for European basketball.
“I am overjoyed he got this opportunity from the teams. I worked in the Euroleague for nine years. It was more than a job for me. For me, the people in Euroleague are my brothers. I always consider the human factor,” he went on, “We are all here to assist you.”
Setting the priorities, according to his own perception, his advice was clear.
“I can’t tell Dejan what to do first,” he underlined but suggested, “We must always take care of what happens in our own house. Everyone respects Dejan. In Greece, Italy, Spain, and of course Serbia, and in other countries as well. He is the person who can connect everything because everyone in basketball respects him. I want him to first resolve disputes in Euroleague Basketball and then we will see what happens with FIBA.”
“He is like a force that can fuse everything together,” he focused on the Euroleague Basketball and FIBA finding a common path, “One thing is for certain, we cannot have four European competitions. Solutions are necessary. We have new people in leading positions. I think they are all reasonable people seeking the best interest of basketball.”