Pappas: “I have a proposal to take over a position at Panathinaikos”

Nikos Pappas revealed in an interview that he has an offer to take up a position at Panathinaikos. The ace of the trefoil, speaking to VICE, claimed that he has been offered a position like that of the “general leader” without revealing his thoughts. Among other things, he confirms his candidacy for mayor of Athens.

Read part of his interview…



“Either at Panathinaikos or nowhere. I would stop if I didn’t come here.”

Why;

“It had been two years since I left the team. I’ve come a long way, I don’t play basketball for a living anymore. And when I’m used to playing for Panathinaikos and its world, it’s very difficult to find motivation based solely on money or love for sports. I like basketball, but I can play it in my neighborhood as well.”

So are the reasons purely emotional?

“Yeah, I don’t get paid anyway. I play only to be here with the team, to come to OAKA and see the world, to live it as much as I can.”

Have you given the money from this contract to the cleaning ladies at OAKA?

“Yes. Panathinaikos has given me a lot of money for so many years, I wanted to contribute as much as I can and say thank you to them”.

What did you think of this kind gesture?

“For so many years, all the people who work at Panathinaikos, from the coaches and players to the caretakers and cleaning workers, we are all like family. For ten years we say “good morning”, we look into each other’s eyes and many times we can listen to each other, how they feel. These working women, in our locker rooms, take care of our own bad habits and negligence.”

How they reacted the same?

“I didn’t tell them. At one point they came to thank me, we took a commemorative photo for the moment. There was an emotional charge, these are women whose circumstances brought them to do this honest, dignified, but so difficult, work. They do it to earn a living with dignity and I wanted to recognize that in practice.”

Favorite coach?

“I like coaches who are fair. The sense of justice is very strong in me. That’s why I got on well with Ivanovich, who is a very strange man. But he would shout out to Diamantidis, as well as to the team’s 15th player. So we all knew there was meritocracy, there was justice. And Pascual was a good coach and a good guy, as was Pedoulakis, who matured me as a player. And Sfeiropoulos, at the beginning, did not “spoon-feed” me, he was strict but fair – we found it between us.

I consider fairness to be the most important off-game feature for a team to function well. If you know that the team will punish even the best player for an offense, you can’t relax, nor feel wronged when it’s your turn.”

What are your plans for the future?

“I have already accepted an offer from the team to take on a serious management position.”

Team manager?

“Kind of like a general leader. They trust my judgement, my perception, they want me to be close to the team and take initiatives and decisions. And I thank them for this acceptance and appreciation. A scenario, then, is this.

The other is the political scene. Many times there were proposals that I rejected, but I have my own ideas that I want to implement, immediately. I’m seriously considering that too.

There is no party that I completely identify with at the moment to “put on their shirt” and go to the polls. I’m thinking about self-government, I’m thirsty, I have ideas and, above all, I’m so, so disappointed with what’s happening, that I can no longer do opposition or stay on social media and interviews.

Unfortunately, I feel like there is no room for not doing something. You will say to me “and are you capable?” The only thing that is certain is that they are incompetent. And that’s why I feel the need to get out there and be more active.”

Was it heard that SYRIZA will support you for mayor of Athens?

“Yes, I will run for the Municipality of Athens. This idea has long been cultivated in me. I want to come down and create an enlarged faction, which will receive support from those who identify with my ideas. I was very happy that I already received the support of Alexis Tsipras”.