Itoudis: “Yoannis wants to, but it will take time – Slukas, Kalathis and Dorsey’s decisions are respected”

THE Dimitris Itoudis left open, but not with much chance, the possibility of strengthening o John Antetokounmpo the National team in World Cup. The federal coach, in the first training session of the Greek group, characterized respecting the Sluka, Kalathy and Dorsey decisions to stay away. At the same time, he made it clear that those present are important to him and pointed out that the players should play for the national emblem and through it make their own name.

“We have the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, at least from the first call, because he has had an operation which will take time. We’ll obviously be watching his recovery with the Bucks, where he belongs, to see how he does. Undoubtedly, his will is to help the National team, he has proven it in practice. Kostas Antetokounmpo also had an operation and we believe that in 10 days we will have a clearer picture. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is in free agency, he will be with us from tomorrow and we will see what his path will be. Ioannis Papapetrou is here, he’s doing his treatment, he’s got a problem with his shoulder, but I think towards the end of the week we’re going he’ll be with the team as normal“, write down.

“What matters is that the work begins and that we are as consistent as possible with those present. There are athletes who contacted me and the federation and expressed the desire not to participate in this effort. Kostas Slukas has been in the national teams for almost 20 years. He wanted his body to be as good as possible for the effort in the team he will be in and that is absolutely respected. He informed us on time, we tried to convince him, but what he decided is completely respected. On the same wavelength was the absence of Nick Calathes, with a problem he had with his shoulder towards the end of the Fener season. He also wanted him to be in the best possible shape for the new season. And Nick has been in the national team for many summers. Tyler Dorsey has a family issue, he would like to be by his partner’s side in her pregnancy, while at the same time he had some issues in the middle that he wanted to settle so that he could be present in the next step of his career at the collegiate level. Leonidas Kaselakis had an operation, he was also present in many invitations of the National team, but he would not be able to help“, he pointed out.

Dimitris Itoudis reminded everyone that history is written by those present. “The most important are those present. Obviously, the names of the players who are absent or have problems are very loud, but we have them present and we are ready to work and represent the colors of Greece with the greatest pride. Will our captain, Kostas Papanikolaou, allow me to use what he said in his speech to the rest of the players before the first training session: We play for what is written on the front of our shirt (i.e. Greece), to build what is written on the back (i.e. his name). Kostas has been in the national teams for many years and knows very well what it means“, he declared, while earlier he welcomed Thomas Walkup and Dino Mitoglou to the National Team.

Regarding the presence of Mandzoukas and Zougris, who won the bronze medal with the Youth Men’s National Team, he said:Both me and my colleagues are worried that we work for the National team. It’s a great honor, you shudder! Many congratulations to Zougris and Mantzoukas who brought a medal to Greece, they are here because we are watching their progress and they can help us. They have not been done any favors, they deserve this invitation and we want them to give their best so that we have the best possible preparation».

About the profile of the team he wants to create, he said:A colleague with more experience in the national teams told me that what you build one summer you may not find in the next, because cohesion and chemistry are disrupted by the absences that may occur. It’s not math, but a common goal for us to be combative, to fight for every ball… Something that the National team won last year, even though it didn’t get a medal, is that it brought the Greek back to the field or on his screens to watch the National team. Large percentages of Greeks saw our effort in EuroBasket or in the qualifiers and we should not miss that. You cannot fool the world and we are not here to do such a thing. Everyone is here for the best, we have to be hustle players, make sacrifices. The physiognomy of this group has these elements that make us optimistic that we will have these virtues. We hope to be a team that no one will score against easily. The first goal is to become a team, to marry generations and athletes who may never have played against each other. This we will try to do as soon as possible, if we are healthy».

Finally, he did not fail to speak about those affected by the fires. “Right now our thoughts are with our fellow human beings, who have lost homes and property to the fires in various parts of the country. It is something painful for the future of the country, for the health and for the properties of the people affected. Ethniki and I personally would like to be of help for any help to our fellow human beings. I hope the fires will be contained soon. A big thumbs up goes to the firefighters, volunteers and those who help the organized government work to put out the fires“, he emphasized.