Dikoudis: “If you want to play in Eurobasket in September, you have to help for that”

The Head of the EEC National Teams, Municipality of Dikoudisspoke to EOK WebRadio taking stock of the November “window”. The once great ace addressed the ongoing problem in European basketball since they cannot find FIBA and Euroleaguebut also in the need to boost the “official favorite” all players when healthy and available. He said in detail:

For the two matches of the November “window”: “In the second game, we put on a very good performance, we had the ‘must’, we had a greater concentration, a better competitive commitment. We showed defensively that we have more potential, got a boost from the crowd and got a win relatively easily. It was a valuable victory, because we needed it so that we would not get into adventures. The ending of the “window” left us with a sweet “taste”. In the first match we didn’t deserve to win, let’s be realistic. We started very impressively, but in the remaining 25 minutes we were not what we should have been, we were sloppy, we couldn’t cope with the hard play of the British and we fell behind. In the end we came close to the score, but we weren’t as good as we needed to be to win. We play against experienced teams that have cohesion, teams with professional players who have been together for years. No match is easy in the “windows”. We got an important victory and we are looking at the “window” of February to “lock” the qualification”.

For not interrupting the EuroLeague in the middle of qualifiers: “It is very difficult to build a team. You don’t know per game what roster you will have, which players will be available, what chemistry will exist between them. On the organizational side, it is very bad that this continues to happen. It confuses the players, the fans. Last year the “window” of February, which was held with all the internationals present, was a great success and the attendance of people at the stadiums. That should be a guide, but we took a step back again, we again went to a four-day qualifier together with EuroLeague. Many are complaining, players, coaches, people and a solution must be found, what is happening is wrong. In the next “window” the Euroleague will be interrupted and I hope that will be a guide so that we don’t go back to the same thing again. People want to see the national teams as they are, their protagonists, and there should be no obstacles to that. I think a week off twice a year won’t be such a big deal.”

On how this affects players: “A lot has happened in recent years, we’ve seen players play two matches in one day, travel on the same day to play in less than 24 hours in another country. A recent example is that of Sengelia. We saw things that are neither nice nor right being done in basketball terms and conditions. We have to manage it, it has to change. And for the players it is something difficult. They are people too, they are professionals, they are paid by clubs. I think that, despite the fact that the conditions are difficult and there are two or three days that trouble you and put you under pressure, the athletes should find a way and give their presence to the National team. The national team is fighting for something big, for a qualification in a big tournament and you should be there. It’s not easy, but when you’re international, you wear the national flag, you’ve won this and you’re given this great honor, it’s a great responsibility and you have to be able to back it up.”

About the different faces we see in the “windows” of the National Team: “I want to focus a little on the children who may not be in a pan-European team, but whenever a national team call comes, even for a training session or a participation, they are there. This is great, not necessarily for the young guys who have the future ahead of them, but for the guys who are 30+ and are at the “windows”. It is important, because some of them participated in a big event without expecting it, but also those who did not participate helped the team reach them. Many times we take for granted that every summer we will play in a major tournament, but we see that there are many resounding absences of traditional teams from the major tournaments. There are no more chaotic differences in the teams, all over Europe they play high level basketball, even the “small” countries. When I was playing there was no Belgium, but I remember 2 years ago we played in Belgium and saw a team with a beginning, with an end, with quality, with athletes. I have been impressed by many countries, for example Finland, the Czech Republic. There is no easy game.”

On how players should respond to similar difficult circumstances: “It’s not easy to be on these dates anymore, that’s what I understand. But to be there, to claim, to activate a whole mechanism in your country in favor of basketball, in favor of the National team, is a big deal. There are resounding absences from big countries in the big events, countries with many medals and successes, but we are there and I consider it a success. Being there, trying to bring a distinction and develop the sport. The national team is a joy, an honor and, by extension, the development of basketball. In 1987, basketball took off in the country and that’s what we try to do every summer by being present. A qualification will not come by itself. If you want to play in Eurobasket in September, you have to help for that. No one else will do it for you, we have to do it, the players play and are the protagonists”.