Vujošević: Belgium is dangerous, we must not assume victory in advance

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Head coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national basketball team Duško Vujošević said today that 'Sarajevo optimism can be as thick as Sarajevo fog' commenting on public expectations ahead of the upcoming qualifying match against Belgium on Friday, N1 reports.

The match against Belgium is scheduled, we remind, for Friday at 8 PM, while on February 25 they will play against Russia in Perm.

Vujošević emphasized that the national team is working seriously, but also warned about the quality of the opponent and the seriousness of Belgian basketball, which is expanding.

'- Due to the competition system, these qualifiers are held between the obligations players have in club competitions, so in most or a good number of countries the Cup final was on Sunday, so we practically gathered in full strength yesterday afternoon. First, I must say that all those who were invited responded, that the health condition is mostly good, there are some players who are carrying normal fatigue and injuries from the championship. The medical staff is doing everything possible, but we have very little time to prepare a match that is tactically quite complex - said coach Duško Vujošević.

He spoke about the quality of the opponent, who did not start the qualifiers well, so the match in Sarajevo is of exceptional importance for them.

- We are playing against a team that is athletically capable, has a lot of switching, they also switch to zone defenses, they have moments of aggressiveness and pressing, they have shown zone pressing in some matches. Belgium has improved a lot in the last ten years, has a serious league. The national team has been working for a long time under the leadership of a coach with great experience. They started somewhat weaker than expected. They lost at home to France and away to Russia. It wasn't smooth, they had a 15-point difference at some point. They arrived in Sarajevo on Monday, are staying at a hotel in Ilidža which has its own hall. We are facing an opponent who is backed against the wall. After our possible victory, they travel to France and if at that moment they were at 4:0, they would practically be eliminated from the qualifiers - said the coach at the press conference.

Then he 'warned' against excessive optimism that often limits local teams on the court.

'- Sarajevo optimism can be as thick as Sarajevo fog, that this is a match that will be won. It is really difficult to declare any team a favorite. That optimism that does not stem from good analysis does not create an obligation for me and does not burden me - he added.

He called on the audience to fill Skenderija.

- The greatest support is the support of the audience, I expect a full Skenderija and that energy to be transferred to the players, to win this match which is extremely difficult to win. It is not possible to win this or any match in advance - emphasized coach Vujošević.