Capoyannis: “We deservedly won the Cup – We have the support of the whole organization of Panathinaikos”

With a score of 87-62 o Panathinaikos defeated the Hesperides, winning the Greek Cup for the second year in a row, in yet another success Elenis Capoyannis with the “clover”.

The “green” coach spoke, among other things, to EOK WebRadio about her winning the trophythe experience that the team had next to the men’s section, but also for the assumption of the Women’s Eurobasket 2025 by Greece.

In detail, Eleni Kapogianni’s statements to EOK WebRadio:

“A final is always a final with a degree of difficulty and stress. As it turned out, our preparation and tactics, although they count less in games like this, were correct. We did a very good job in our mental function, for our athletes to manage their stress. I think that they also did a very good job with themselves, for each other, they looked very serious for 40′ and we deservedly won this title».

For the fact that they had won both times in the Hesperides championship: “This is also a “trap”. If you’ve played an opponent twice and won both times, you say “ok, I’ve got him”. That’s where I think the experience of both the coach and the athletes come in, to understand that the Cup match is very different, the previous history and the standings of the two teams are of no importance. It is a knockout match, in which anything can happen. It requires seriousness, mental clarity and respect for the opponent, but also for ourselves, since the children have made a great effort so far to play worthy of their ranking position and their value».

On the fact that the final was held on the same day as the men’s: “We want a lot to reach, if we reach, the model of France, but it is still a step forward, a move that, I want to believe, will have a continuation, so that the women’s basketball that has so much need and has been wronged. Like Helen, I would like it to be done more quickly, but I have to applaud this move by the EEC. I expect and want to believe that he will make more such moves at a faster pace».

For the image of the women’s division sitting next to the men’s in the final: “It was a very beautiful image and original. I haven’t talked much about this part, but they were more than happy to sit next to the Panathinaikos men’s team bench. In my eyes, Panathinaikos is one and we must show this to the outside world. In sports you can’t always win, but it’s important to be united and move forward as a club, to become every day the best version of the previous day».

On why mid-season signing Alain feels good in the team: “This is my job too, but I’ll start a little earlier. It is very important in the selection, not only the basketball value of an athlete, but also her character. We do very serious research before we bring an athlete to the team. In this part, Lolita has done a very good job, and so have I. The selection in the first phase is half. In the second phase, it is mainly my job, but also that of the girls in the team, to integrate each new athlete who comes and make her feel good. When you do championships, the value of the athletes is known, but it is important when you play “in red” that the athletes feel good, that they have support from the whole organization. Fortunately, we have this at Panathinaikos. When someone feels good about what they are doing, they will be more efficient. I am glad that this year we have succeeded to a very large extent and we all feel good».

For the upcoming (25/02) away game against Olympiakos: “They are our big rival, they are a very big team. We, as Panathinaikos, have taken steps forward in recent years and have closed the gap. The game will be very challenging, we will approach it with the seriousness it deserves. Of course, Olympiacos is the favorite, but we will go to claim the victory in any way, which will give us a serious advantage for the play-offs. If not, on the other hand, we’re fine with that, we’ll compete in the play-offs like last year and the year before and we’ll claim our championship chances there».

For the contribution of coaches like herself and Dimitris Andreopoulos to the renaissance of Amateur Panathinaikos: ““Building” means that nothing is accidental. There is industriousness and ingenuity in how the steps are made. Like in volleyball with coach Andreopoulos, who is a favorite, I have learned a lot from him and he is very experienced with great morals, he teaches morals. Very good work is being done, with very good partners. I’m lucky to have Lolita Lymoura, who does an awesome job on how the team is set up, she makes my life easy. We made a “body” of Greek players, where Lolita has made sure to make the first contacts, so that we can bring them to the team, in which they actually fit. Throughout the years we have done serious work on this and this is also visible on the field, in how they work every day in training, in how they have “connected” with each other and with us. This is reflected in the way we play, which attracts the fans, who have “embraced” us, the sponsors. It “unties”, in a way, the management’s hands to claim something more, so to speak. Nothing is accidental, everything is done after a lot of thought, ingenuity and a lot of work».

For the assumption of the Women’s Eurobasket 2025 by Greece: “It will definitely help a lot, it’s a big challenge. We have to wait and see when that event happens, but I personally want to see what that leaves behind, how we move forward. Already with the movements of the Federation, it seems to have a very great interest in promoting and promoting all this. I am optimistic that something much better will be done than in previous years».