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CROATIA IS LOOKING FOR THE WAY
OUT FROM BLACK TUNNEL
by Zeljka Visosevic
What can we say about Croatian basketball at the moment, today, in
near past and near fitire? Tought question, tought answer. Actually it's so hard to say something positive, because whole basketball in my
country is in big black hole.
What can we say about this season in Croatian basketball? Could we tell something positive because at the moment we are not see anything
bright in near future. If I have right to tell something about it, this last season is total disaster in Croatian, ones upon a time, the most
popular sport with lot OT Trophies (but unfortunately in long past).
So, I will try to describe situation in Croatian basketball from
my point of wiev, but I must say that lot of journalist in my country
will agree with my opinion. Last summer, some people which is looking
only for their own interests and not interest of Croatian basketball, young players and our future at all, make decision about new league
together with some peoples from countries of former Yugoslavia. They agreed to build new league with few teams from those countries and, as
they tough, playing 'interesting and quality' league. Croatian basketball federation (CBF) gave green light to this idea, without any
explanation. But, everybody know why they did it. Some peoples still had big power in our league and from that point in CBF, so when they say
that something is like this, everybody are agreed. That's the reason why
situation in CBF is in total mess, why CBF doesn't have any influence or respect in Europe - on the most important functions are sitting peoples
who doesn't have any connection with basketball and who doesn't' care about anything. That's very sad.
After that agreement four Croatian clubs - Cibona VIP, Split
Croatia osiguranje, Zadar and Triglav osiguranje Rijeka - started to play in this league which is calling Adriatic (Goodyear) league. Other
teams from Croatian league (8) stay in National championship and play total different league. After the regular season, those four teams from
Adriatic league will participate in second part of Croatian league with other four the best team. This part will start at the end of March. This thing what they did to our national
championship total killed everything good and for lot of people
interesting in Croatian basketball. Actually, those eight teams are playing some kind of league which isn't interesting for anybody, you
can't find anything for read about it in our newspapers and they are playing in empty halls. On the other side, Adriatic league didn't get those expectation which people from the top are
expected, actually on my own opinion everything is fall down. This
league is not interesting either, people doesn't care for games and everything is looks like is falling apart. Situation is alarmed,
somebody should take some steps immediately, because our future is unsecured. Another thing which is making me angry is that nobody care about young players, about future, National team who didn't make
anything good on international scene in last seven years. I don't know were this way is going us, but I'm am sure that former players, which
played for Croatian national team, have wish to help, they have some kind of visions, they had important international experience, they
played in foreign countries and they know how people are working there. But I don't understand why those
'big heads' in CBF doesn't want to gave them opportunity to prove. Stojko Vranković said ones that he is ready to help, but everything is
stay only on his words, because all doors in our CBF is closed for him.
Why? Only people in CBF knows that.
This uncertain situation we can describe from the European
scene, too. Clubs from Croatia had very bad season in Europe and three
very bad happenings marked everything and put big black point on our country. FIBA made sanctions for Cibona and Zadar because their fans
make incidents on those games against teams from former Yugoslavia. After great start, when Cibona wim international Tour in Ljuljana, she
were looking for good shape all season, she lost too many games even she was talking at the end of the season that she will be on the top. We had
little hope at the beggining, but after few games every peace of our
hope was break down. Spahija goes away, Repeša comes, but nothing changes. Cibona is not in second part of competition, just like Zadar,
who made the worst score in Europe. Lot of players were circulated in those teams until the season begging. On the other side Split CO goes
into new season with young players from their own garden, but they doesn't have coach who will made result, who will had all lines in his
hand and tried to do great job with those players, like Repeša did last season. They made part in second part of Saporta Cup. This season on the
branches of our teams we saw some new names, coaches who never take the
team in big games, so, maybe, that's one of the reasons why everything is looking so bad. Croatian have good coaches but they are working in
other leagues. What's the reason. Bad situation in our basketball were
hit them long away from home.
I must say few words about Croatian National team. Once again we fall down on international scene, this time on European championship in
Turkey. That result made mark on whole season in Croatia, on whole
basketball. Again we didn't do anything good, and after that disappointing story we chance head coach (Spahija replace Petrović) and
start from the beginning once again. Spahija for now made good job in European qualifications and we will see what will be going on in future. I have hope that once we will have warm
sunshine on our side. When they day will come?
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