Itoudis: “Building human relationships”

Dimitris Itoudis made his first statements as the coach of the National Team, at the EEC WebRadio and the show “First Pass” with Nikos Bourlakis.

In his initial statement, Dimitris Itoudis said: “As I said in my personal position, I want to thank Mr. Andrei Vatutin, the organization of CSKA Moscow, but also Mr. Vangelis Liolios and the Federation. But also the people who supported his own candidacy for the National Team. I do not know if it was a dream, but it was something that when you make it in your mind you live it. I said that in my statement, many of us can create in our minds the world we want to live. It was one of the pieces I wanted to be a part of and you give me this huge opportunity – honor and undoubtedly great obligation and responsibility».

For the work he has in front of him with the National team and for how the rebirth of Greek basketball will come through the “blue and white”: “We have the example of 1987, that generation of Giannakis, Fasoula, Gali, Christodoulou and all the children and the coaches were the trigger for many of us to be drawn to basketball. May the next generations, the generations that we will all manage together and try to do something good for the homeland for basketball, be the next generations that will bring other children to the sport, in the open and indoor courts. To love the sport and become healthy fans. If not the next athletes of the National team, to become healthy fans who know what basketball means and the regulations. When you know the rules well, you can watch the sport much better».

And the Federal Coach added that one of them knows the importance of them rules of a sport: «In a little while I will attend a hockey match of CSKA and through google I am looking to find the regulations to follow it better. What I want to conclude is that the more healthy fans we have who know the rules and harmonize with the sport – of course this is difficult because we have different rules in the NCAA, NBA and Euroleague. So if we make a basketball, like football one, then it will be easier for people to watch it».

For balance to find in the National team: “The first thing I want to do is build human relationships with both the athletes and the staff. Today (19/3) we will have an online meeting late at night all together, because some of the children have obligations with their groups. We must not forget that this effort is of people who will be deprived of their vacations in the summer to put their talent for the National team».

For what he would say to Dimitris Itoudis in his first steps for the point he has reached now: “Evolution is undoubtedly daily. At least that’s how I see my own course. If I start looking back I mean that somewhere there I have reached the end and it is time to retire. I do not recall these moments. I try to learn from mistakes, from a book, from a documentary or an interesting video that I will see. Evolution and information are daily. The fact of the “self-created” has to do with karma, but also with the circumstances. I knew that for every door that closes, another one opens. So the door to football was closed for me, when a coach kicked me out because of my hair and pushed me into basketball. Every denial finds a new beginning. What I say in several seminars is that we will all fall into our own lives, whether personal or professional we may fail. But it makes us stronger. Better to fall ahead and keep going».

For his personal relationship with the football coach, Pep Guardiola: «I am honored by the fact of the friendship of Pep Guardiola, who is an excellent coach and seeks in general and penetrates the field of basketball and draws evidence. So we draw a lot of information from other team sports».

Closing, Dimitris Itoudis sent his own message for the National team and Greek basketball: «I want to build personal relationships with athletes. Let me talk to them first, with the broad context in which they will be called up to the National Team. The National Team is a personal choice of everyone to come and put themselves. Beyond that it is very important to build personal relationships and chemistry. A team that is either in the Euroleague or at a national level where the duration is shorter, interpersonal relationships are very important before professional ones. I believe that everyone who will be present will have enough appetite. We will put ourselves for the common good and we will always try to keep in mind that 11 million in Greece and as many others who are abroad will be with the National team in any appearance».

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