Basketball team ahead of match against Russia: They are favorites, but we will not give up

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Bosnia and Herzegovina basketball team is set to start the qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The first opponent of our selection is Russia, which will be a guest in Skenderija on November 24, and on that occasion a press conference was held, addressed by coach Duško Vujošević and national team players Džanan Musa and Elmedin Kikanović.

- Every serious country has serious sports. Sports in Europe, apart from football, are not profitable. Just as education and culture are not profitable, but they are important for the presentation of the country. When it comes to the duel with the Russians, we coaches are in a very strange situation. In this constellation of forces, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a chance against Russia. We have come to a situation where we cannot do our job. Because of the relationship between FIBA, the NBA and others. We have come to a situation where we play important matches literally with four days of training. We are fielding a completely new team compared to the one from the summer. The Russians are missing three players, that is our opportunity.

We will fight. I am bothered by the creation of false optimism. I have always been a skeptic and a worker. In this time we have, skepticism is growing, but I see here a great opportunity for these young guys, but also for Sarajevo to see a spectacle. The players responded with great enthusiasm, they want to play for the national team. In these two or three training sessions we had, they showed maximum commitment. I would ask journalists to leave Musa alone. He should be allowed to play. Everyone should give their maximum.

The Russians are favorites, we will fight and it is possible that we make a surprise. We are more focused on building our own game system, we have four days to prepare it. Russia often plays better without Shved, so sometimes, especially at the European Championship, they performed better without him on the court. The Russians are absolute favorites regardless of the fact that they are missing three players, they have made such an agreement that they have assembled a team they think will be sufficient to achieve a positive result. In our team, no one is there as a favor by their presence, everyone has put themselves at the service of the team - said the coach of our national team, Duško Vujošević.

After Vujošević, Elmedin Kikanović and Džanan Musa addressed the media.

- The situation is specific for both coaches and players. In previous seasons, we spent up to 40 days together before the official appearance. The situation is what it is, for us as well as for others. We all arrived motivated and through these training sessions showed our maximum. It is up to us to adopt everything the coaching staff asks of us through training. We are playing against a serious national team, which will be reinforced by players who play for CSKA. A difficult task awaits us, and I believe that with the help of the fans and a good atmosphere in the team, we can achieve a positive result - said Kikanović.

Our best player, Džanan Musa, pointed out that Russia is a big favorite, but that sport is unpredictable.

- The coach and captain have said most of the things, many players have taken a break, but we arrived motivated for this match. Russia is a big favorite, but sport is unpredictable, we will give our maximum capabilities, the system is such that preparations last four days, however FIBA decided so - said Musa.

The match against Russia will be played on Friday at the Mirza Delibašić Hall at 18:45.