Dikoudis: “The plan of the National teams is evolving and shows promise”

The report of the “small” national teams this summer is considered very positive and promising, with three appearances in the EuroBasket eight after almost two decades. The head of National teams of the EEC administration, Municipality of Dikoudistalks about conclusions and promises.

“There is a long-term plan that has been running for two years and has specific goals. First and foremost, it is for the children who show a potential for distinction in their sports development to feel from a young age how big and important the environment of the National teams is for those who enter it. From then on, we want them to play a certain style of basketball, to leave the habits and style of each club when they are with the National Team, to understand that they put the National Emblem above all else and care to play for it. We want through the process of these National teams to produce athletes for the future of Greek basketball and I think a proper connection is beginning to be seen from the u15 to the Men’s team. This plan is progressing well. We see weaknesses, we correct them, we move forward, it is clear that there is significant room for improvement and I am convinced that in the coming years what I mentioned will be visible across the spectrum“, emphasized the member of the golden team of 2005.

“This year, we saw four teams with a very encouraging picture, overall much better than last year and left promises for the future. Starting with the Junior Men’s National Team, it brought home a third place medal and was a team that exceeded the initial expectations that existed. They were a great success and that is not in doubt, they showed a lot of mental gifts and left behind a generation of children who I believe will soon be able to make up the Men’s National Team. Their presence made us really happy and optimistic. The National Youth Team went to play a tournament with very high expectations and I think it did not reach where we expected. I think it was obvious and it cost a weakness in shooting, as well as in defensive function for some of us, but the constant injuries that left the team with three players less in crucial games certainly played a big role. The four best teams entered the top four and I think ours didn’t show that they were one of them, but they are a bunch of athletes with great prospects, they can have a bright future, we believe in them a lot and they have other competitions ahead of them to achieve something bigger. The National Youth Team finished in 8th place at EuroBasket in Skopje, but made many steps forward compared to last summer, when these kids were on the junior team. We are very pleased with the development they showed both individually and as a team, they played a basketball that we liked and they have many years ahead of them in the pan-European youth championships and we believe in them a lot. Finally, the Pampaion National Team is a team that we worked with much more during the season and their presence in the summer in the Friendship tournament justified the planning. The purpose at this age, which is in some way the starting point of a batch with potential to staff the National teams, is for the children to enter this environment, of the Nationals and in their meaning, to gain international experiences before their first Eurobasket the next summer. The samples were very encouraging, based on what we aimed for and expected“, he added.

“In conclusion, we have the right to be and we are very pleased with the presence of our teams in this year’s Pan-Europeans and we are sure that there is significant room for improvement. I want to personally thank all the coaches and staffs of the teams for the work they did, with professionalism and consistency and to assure that the effort will continue in coordination with the goals I mentioned at the beginning“, concluded.