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?