Expert team decides: Teletović will not play in Perm due to health condition

The Bosnia and Herzegovina basketball team plays its first EuroBasket qualifier against Russia in Perm, where team captain Mirza Teletović will not travel, reports the Patria news agency.  

The journey to Perm is very long and arduous, lasting more than 10 hours in total (Sarajevo - Belgrade - Moscow - Perm), so the expert staff of the basketball team decided to spare Teletović due to his health condition and save him for the upcoming matches ahead.

-Given that our captain suffered a massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism less than two years ago and is still on regular injection premedication when traveling for more than two hours (for journeys longer than two and a half hours, he must self-administer injections in the stomach, editor's note), the advice is to avoid sitting and long journeys, especially flights, as well as stress that could cause thromboembolic incidents, explained Mr. sc. dr. Amir Omebrbašić, the doctor of the Bosnia and Herzegovina basketball team.

Mirza Teletović believes that his teammates on the national team will compensate for his forced absence with their undeniable quality.

-I believe we can make an excellent impression in Perm, and certainly in the remaining matches against Sweden and Russia on home soil, we will give our all to qualify for the EuroBasket. Due to my health condition, in consultation with the expert staff, we decided it is best for me to skip this long journey so that I can be 100 percent ready for the remaining qualifiers, says Teletović.