By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Israel will host Serbia on Friday. The FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Round 9 game is fairly important for both National Teams. Despite their need for the “W”, the two head coaches Oded Kattash and Sasha Djordjevic were more than friendly with each other during their interview to Walla and Arale Weisberg.
When asked what they remember from each other during their playing years, Israel’s coach mentioned: “He probably doesn’t remember me”, but Djordjevic replied: “No, no. I know you very well”. “I had the easy job. I remember sitting at home watching the Final Four and your buzzer-beater for Zeljko’s team” Kattash said on the 1992 EuroLeague Final Four.
The Serb coach answered: “I was young then. We learned a lot from Zeljko. You were lucky to play for a coach like Zeljko Obradovic, especially in that period. You reached your peak and realized what you really were capable of”.
The 44-year-old Israeli coach went on: “I was a big fan of Yugoslavian basketball. Back then they were more videos. I watched Drazen Petrovic, Djordjevic and tried to do the same things on the court”.
Asked on how they would they coach themselves, Djordjevic stressed: “I wouldn’t be in my team. I just couldn’t. I was a terrible”, but Kattash said: “I wish I had a Djordjevic in my squad, a real coordinator, a scorer” and the Serb replied: “I would have taken Oded”.
The duo went on talking about their biggest dreams as a head coach and Djordjevic mentioned: “After three silver medals, I want to hear the Serbian national anthem at the end of the tournament”. “My biggest dream indeed has to do with the National Team, it’s always more exciting,” Kattash said.