By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Former Partizan Belgrade coach and club legend Dusko Vujosevic engaged in an online dialogue with the Patriarch of Serbia Porfirije over a report that the latter influenced Nikola Mirotic’s decision to back out of his agreement with the ABA League powerhouse.
Following Mirotic’s announcement on social media that he won’t be signing with Partizan despite a deal in place between the two sides, it was reported that the EuroLeague superstar and former MVP had a change of heart as a result of consulting Porfirije.
It was never confirmed if such a talk happened and – if it happened indeed – whether it actually impacted Mirotic into canceling his move to Partizan, but the report prompted a reaction by Vujosevic. While also doubting the veracity of the information, the Montenegrin coach said that if it’s true, then Porfirije is acting not as Head of the Church but as a “lobbyist.”
“There’s a lot of talk,” Vujosevic said. “That the patriarch also called to use his [Mirotic’s] religiosity to choose the other club which the Patriarch also supports. If this is really true, and I doubt it, then he is not a Patriarch, but a member of some lobby. Then those are tough games.”
Mirotic, known for being a Christian and a very religious individual, said that he opted to leave Serbian clubs in general out of his future options for the wellness of his family after receiving certain threats. He also wanted to avoid becoming a divisive figure in Serbia since Crvena Zvezda, Partizan’s archrival, was also interested in him.
A side note: Porfirije is well-known to be a Zvezda supporter.
Vujosevic’s comments brought Porfirije’s response via social media. “I don’t need to advise Dusko Vujosević, but when he, as a mature man with a lot of life and professional experience, even partially accepted such a science-fiction story – not to mention slander and lies – that its ultimate goal has nothing to do with Zvezda and Partizan, how can it be understood by those less knowledgeable and with less experience.”
“The Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church does not deal with such affairs,” Porfirije added. “To the extent that the Lord has given me, I deal with the problems of the Church, the salvation of all, the salvation of the faithful people, of course, as well by his own salvation, just like every other Christian.”
Vujosevic answered to Porfirije through a letter published on Sport Klub. This time, he emphasized on how certain he now is that the Patriarch didn’t play a part in Mirotic’s transfer to Partizan. “I am glad that with your statement you confirmed my doubts about the truth of the rumors that you participated in the Mirotic case, using his religiosity,” Vujosevic mentioned. “I immediately expressed those doubts very clearly.”
“I am glad that you understand the importance of sports and treating that area in the right way,” Vujosevic also wrote. “In this context, it is good that you do not use your influence to create a division of the Serbian people between Crvena zvezda and Partizan, because, in accordance with the function you perform, you should be above such harmful divisions.
In this sense, I hope you agree that such divisions are emphasized if the reception of the basketball players of Crvena Zvezda is organized, and the reception of the basketball players of Partizan is not followed.”