Deligiannis: “Big disasters at the Karditsa stadium”

The day after the catastrophic floods in Carditsa she’s difficult. The president of the local team, Christos Deligiannis, spoke about the damage caused in the closed “Yiannis Bourousis”but also how they affect the club, emphasizing – however – how it is of course important to heal the wounds of the local community.

For the damage to the stadium from the floods: “The destruction was very great. We are talking about 1.5 meters of water in all areas of the stadium and unfortunately, despite the great efforts made by people from the team, it managed to pass around 30 points of water on the parquet. The next day we coordinated a lot and managed to get the water out in a short period of time, maybe we can save the parquet. All this created a very big problem for the team. With the prefecture in this situation, as soon as the roads were opened we sent the team directly to Karpenisi as an emergency and devoted ourselves to the field part, so that we could have an estimate soon. The company that made it has come in and looked at the parquet and the assessment of the electromechanical installations has begun, where we have to wait a few days until everything dries inside. They are in the process of making some moves to see if the parquet can be saved or if it needs to be changed. The first estimate we make, if all this pressure takes place and the need that exists to get the stadium done quickly, I think that the end of October will be fine at best. That’s our first goal, without knowing at the moment if it’s possible.”

Regarding the fact that they will play the first matches of the 1st round away from home: “We made sure to make this request to the members of ESAKE, and we thank them very much for all their positive suggestions, because they obviously understand the phase the team is in and what Karditsa’s effort is. The characteristic of this team is its mode of operation and its “home”, the stadium. If we didn’t manage to get this support from ESAKE or the other teams, I don’t know how easy it would be for the Karditsa team to survive in general this year, because we are also in a crucial period for us, both in terms of preparation , as well as economic status. We think about how the society will close its “wounds” and then we can keep the group’s level of sustainability. Giannis Bourousis was himself in the water, fighting and helping a lot of people. ESAKE somehow enabled us to really give a basis now to the “wounds” of the situation and step by step to straighten everything here and then put the team back to normal operating levels. What we also made clear to the members of ESAKE is that this move was not made with the aim of reaching the end of the 1st round to play away from home, it is something that we do not know if the team can withstand. The necessary pressures will be made so that the stadium can quickly become operational again.”

For Karditsa’s progress last year and its goals this year: “The truth is that last year was a big “school” for us at all levels. It was the first time that from an amateur union we created a S.A. where the data and the mode of operation are completely different, at a competitive level with many parameters, changes of players, foreigners, something in which we also faced many problems and made us fight until the last matchday for survival. Also, it is a bit clear that even though Karditsa has presented a very positive face in the Basket League, entering its 2nd year in the 12-team league, it is not so easy to succeed so soon if it gets out of a danger zone which concerns the four teams fighting for survival. So, using all of last year’s knowledge and the capabilities that are a little bit more than last year’s budget-wise, we’re happy with what we’ve seen so far and the guys that have come in, because a lot of these players we had as the first choice. We are satisfied with the completion of the roster, because it was the goals of the team. What we see in terms of player and character customization leaves us quite satisfied.”

For the new format of the Basket League: “It’s in the right direction. For the championship of 12 teams, with many peculiarities, I think that it could not continue in the way it was conducted, because suddenly in a very small fast-run championship, mistakes are not “forgiven”, nor is the right to “correct” some results. It was quite monotonous. And in terms of interest and commerciality we will manage to have more games during the year and more commercially. It will be judged in the end whether this format was the right choice or not, but I think it is in the right direction.”