By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Dimitris Itoudis is set for his first experience with the Greek National Team, as he was confirmed to be Greek Basketball Federation President Vangelis Liolios’ choice for the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2022.
Liolios confirmed his selection through a press conference on Tuesday and mentioned that the Federation has already been in talks with the CSKA Moscow head coach, while there is no confirmation yet about the FIBA World Cup qualifiers windows in November. Both sides now await CSKA’s official approval for the deal to be announced.
“My choice for the EuroBasket is Dimitris Itoudis. The relevant processes and discussions have taken place. We hope that CSKA Moscow understands that Itoudis must be the coach of the Greek national team. We will try to achieve it “, mentioned the newly-elected Greek Federation President.
“However, we are realistic, at the moment EuroLeague coaches can not participate in the windows. It would be impressive, really, for a team to allow its coach in the windows. So, because the National team is a whole, it is not divided into windows and final phases, the coach that will take over the bench in the windows will be decided between the Federation Board and the federal coach”.
Per Eurohoops’ Monday reports, AEK head coach Stefanos Dedas will lead the NT during the FIBA qualifiers windows in November, before Itoudis takes over for FIBA EuroBasket next year.
UPDATE: CSKA President Andrei Vatutin clarified there’s no agreement between CSKA, the Greek National Team, and Dimitris Itoudis, via an interview on TASS.
“Unfortunately, I don’t speak Greek, so I am familiar with the presentation of news about the Greek national team only in the Russian translation of the domestic media”, mentioned Vatutin. “Based on what I’ve read, I don’t find a similarity between the words “coach’s choice – agreement with the coach – CSKA agreement”. At the moment, there are no agreements between our club and the Greek NT”.