Betsirovic: “My second house Panathinaikos – I wouldn’t go to Olympiacos, it would be as if I were to betray my principles”

A big interview with the Serbian “Sportsklub” was given by Suni Betsirovic.

The former GM of Panathinaikos Aktor, in his statements, referred to his presence in “Clover” and all he lived as a player, but also as a member of the club, whom he described as his second home, ruled out the possibility of going to Olympiacoswhile referring both to his new start to Zenitas well as for the upcoming Eurobasket and the National Slovenia.

In detail:

You have said goodbye to Panathinaikos three times. Was this time the most difficult goodbye?

“Undoubtedly. As a player I wanted to go to a new environment where I would have a bigger role. As an assistant coach I knew I was dependent on the first coach. But now … even today I feel a bitter taste. From the very first year we have achieved with Panathinaikos what many dream of. We were European and Greece champions. And the second season was successful, having reached the Euroleague Final Four again and won the cup. It is true that we have failed in the finals of both the Euroleague and the Greek Championship. If I do the report I have to be satisfied. I was expecting that we would find a common place to continue our cooperation, but … the evolution surprised me a little. So is sport. So is life. “

It is no secret that Athens became your second home. “The team was structured for the next three years. I have always been working with the thought that I would be in Panathinaikos for five or ten more years. I feel Athens, Panathinaikos is a family for me, my second home. Some episodes, however, have led to not being part of the club anymore. “

Green remains your color? “No doubt. I have compromised with the past. They are waiting for me new challenges »

Supposedly, if you had a suggestion from Olympiacos? “No. Let me stop your query here. The answer is clear. I would never do it. If I did, I will betray my moral principles. I repeat, the finale of my story with Panathinaikos was not as I wanted it. But the club gave me a lot. And I gave a lot to the green family. That’s why there is no amount to entice me to go to Olympiacos »

You talked about new challenges. You found them very quickly. Zenit St. Petersburg? “I was not looking for Zenit, Zenit found me. Certainly the most decisive factor was Aleksandar Sekulits, with whom we have always had an excellent relationship. We often discussed players. Many times I gave him friendly tips. And this time, quite by chance, we were talking about a player and from there the idea was to go to Zenit as athletic director. I admit that I had almost accepted that I would spend a season without a job. But when the proposal came, we quickly found common ground. “

The Russian associations remain isolated. Wasn’t this a deterrent to your decision? “I am by nature optimistic. So I didn’t think much about it. The professionalism of the club was drawn to me more. I am excited about reaction speed and organization. I don’t hide that I like the intense Slovenian presence in the coaching team. I am already in everyday contact with the administration. “

The goal is clear? “CSKA is the biggest opponent. The eternal opponent. Unix and Lokomotiv are also dangerous. We are targeting the top. “

One of the missions of a sports director is finding a coach. You go to an environment that already has a coach. “Aleksandar Sekulits is a great expert, now mature for the highest level. For years he has been a coach of the National Slovenia, in which one of the top players on the planet is competing. Throughout this period he maintained the confidence of the players. When public opinion partly turned his back, the players supported him. With their desire and energy in the last qualifiers, they clearly showed that they were playing for him. I am convinced that it is also an excellent choice for Zenit. So now we build the team with character players. “

He has been criticized by coach Sekulits, mainly on issues of leadership and strategy. If you were asked then about your point of view, would you defend him? “I would lie if I said he didn’t make any mistakes. But I would defend him. Why? First of all we must understand that Slovenia is not a basketball superpower. If we remove Luca Doncic and Naturalise center, only Stepelic is at the Euroleague level. And yet Slovenia qualified again at the Eurobasket, bringing new faces to the forefront. Basketball also changes. Players now have the first reason. All of us who grew up in an environment where the coach was strict and was constantly shouting, we find it difficult to accept. But in Europe we are approaching the American model, where the coach acts more as a manager. “

The next challenge for Slovenia is Eurobasket 2025. What are the expectations? “Let’s be realistic and honest. Luca Doncic is an excellent player. He can judge on his own. It can take us away, maybe to the end. But basketball is a team sport and Slovenia has not filled all its positions to such an extent that it is constantly competing with Germany, Serbia, France … Fans should be happy even with the knockout qualification. If anything is possible? This will depend on the form, health and availability of the roster. “

Do Doncic’s relationship with National surprise to you? “Luke deserves a deep respect for his attitude towards the National. We often forget that it is a global star. It faces daily pressure and stress. Have you ever thought if it could just go for a coffee in the city center? Immediately people will gather for photography or autograph. And that’s why we need to appreciate even more that it is exposed and helps the National. He is a separate personality. And we didn’t even talk about his basketball abilities. We don’t have to say anything – they say everything on their own. “

Did you see him recently? “I saw several photos of him and heard that he lost more than 10 pounds. I look forward to seeing him again in action. First with the national jersey and then in the NBA. Now we will see the real Doncic, maybe the top European player. ”

Are Jokic still products from the old Yugoslav school or are they now belonging to a new generation? “The school you are talking about is based on basketball bases. They both have them. But they evolve with athletic intelligence, technical training and the Balkan basketball temperament. Both have this “something” from our own area. “