Zoran Lukic: "I am only interested in success"
The head coach of BC "Nizhny Novgorod" Zoran Lukic, recognized as the best coach in the first season of ABC BEKO, summed up the performances of the team, ranked fifth championship of Russia and became a silver medalist of the Russian Cup.
- At the end of this season BC "NN" achieved excellent results, and many note the progress the team. And as the head coach of the team evaluates the season?
- Our work with the club began in 2008 when we started working in Nizhny Novgorod, with young people. After winning the Super League B we were able to build a team that started very confident in the Professional Basketball League.
This year, we managed to do everything they wanted, and even jumped over her head. The entire staff was focused on trying to make everything possible and make extremely high quality. We achieve results through hard work, working through "can not". And in the end turned out to be a very good season, and has developed a team, and I progressed as a coach, and the whole club, and even our fans with us. And this success will be hard to repeat in the coming season. Now, everyone expects that the same will show on this team that last season made a "small miracle". But I am not afraid. We will strive for the best.
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Zoran you were declared the best coach in PBL season. How do you comment on this decision?
- For me, the awarding of this prize was a big surprise. I am very happy with the recognition, and I want to note that this is not my merit. This is because of all the club - players, coaches, management, who understands what he wants, and purposefully moving towards your goal. It is the merit of my family that raised me for who I am, for now, and I try to educate my young players and develop them the best qualities that help us stand together and fight for victory.
In my opinion, the League, there are other coaches who deserve this title, but I am very grateful that the success of our team did not go unnoticed. However, this is a big responsibility that requires me to achieve success and work even better.
I know what I want to achieve as a coach, and we along with the entire group will strive for new heights and the formation of the club who really may be one of the leading clubs BEKO PBL. I do not know how long it will take, but this season we have developed very rapidly and, hopefully, not dwell on this, and will continue in the same spirit
- During the game you are very emotional, like yourself willing to go to court and show players how and what to do. Do you think the team understands that better, or just your temperament lets you know about yourself?
- You know, I'm an emotional person, himself a former basketball player, and of course I can not stand by and just watch, especially when something goes wrong. Anyway, I'm trying to bring my energy, give it to children ...
- How difficult is it to work with young athletes? Indeed, some even had to leave during the season ...
- Of course, it's not easy for any coach and any rights at all. Back in 2008 we chose our direction and try to play the young players and make sure that their talent brings results. After all, any talented player and can last a lifetime talented and promising, if not to work on yourself.
Not everyone understands this at once, and because of this, sometimes there are difficulties, but only a couple of people left in this season because of misconduct. This Akindele, who came to the point that one situation has placed himself above the coach, and we broke up because I could not let this happen. Also had to part with Dmitry Kulagin, in which, however, and so ended the contract with the club.
These are two players who really had any violations. In all other cases, the players just did not fit on some principles - quality of play, the internal state of a person and his character ... But this is not a tragedy. Any coach who says that the selection work carried out correctly, a bit disingenuous. It happens that the players do not understand the requirements of the coach and can not get used to the rules that are set to the team, such as Pavel Podkolzin. It was very hard. I tried to build a system in which it was difficult to fit, and at one point he simply said: "I can not."
A similar situation was with Vanya Plisnichem. We talked with the leaders after one game and came to the conclusion that the level of the game, which features on the site Plisnich Vanya, it can do and some of our young guys, the same Semen Antonov. In the end, Vanya went to Italy, where he completed his season in another team. At the same time we are given the chance to progress Semen Antonov, and he took them off.
Vukashin Aleksic had trouble adapting to the same became dissatisfied with his playing time. Keep disgruntled player on the team makes no sense. But after his departure, we have found his place Nemanja Protic. I'll be honest: I was not sure what we're doing the right choices, taking a player who has to have already changed two teams. We invited this guy back in the early season, but the players are trying to choose what they closer to find a more attractive option. But Nemanja has not happened, and in the end he still was in Nizhny Novgorod. He found himself in this team, happy with the choice and remain here.
As a result, by the end of the season we've got thirteen players who fit our system. I hope they stay here. Pavel Antipov, who was in our lease, would also remain in the "NN", but it is very important to find a team where he will get enough playing time.
I also want to help Sasha Stulenkovu who needs game time now. We climbed one step up, and it will be very hard to get game time in our team. But he has a very strong desire to progress, but it is very important. And he needs to find a team where he will get his playing time. No one can progress only through training.
- In your opinion, what worked and what did not work last season? What grade would you put the performance of the team's first season BEKO PBL.
- About evaluate better not ask me, and all of you - journalists, spectators, members of PBL.
What went wrong? I will say frankly: I am sorry that I could not find common ground with Dmitry Kulagin. This is one of the most talented young players from Russia and Europe. But he chose another path, which does not coincide with the principles of our team. So we parted. But I am very sorry that this happened. I worked with Dima to CSKA before the arrival in Nizhny Novgorod.
Everything else that happened in this season - the progress of players, three children call the national team, the results of the season ... All is good, but I do not want to stop there. I'm not very interested in how things work in other teams, so can no longer comfort that someone is worse than ours. Important to me, looks like our club. I want to always strive for the better, and I want to aspire to and the whole team.
- Today we are talking about a good result, but the beginning of the championship was not very successful for our team. Then do not feel that you are threatened over the resignation?
- The club must have the patience to wait for good results from the young team, and follow the path chosen. No one coach does not want to lose the game.
Take a look: "Triumph" finish the season in last place standings and had fourteen lesions. The composition is similar to our there, but there did not send a coach to resign. To achieve good results, we must have patience.
And ahead of us before the season even more difficult, and our management will need patience. Of course, there will be some pressure, because everything has to be another way to look at our team. But I am not afraid.
I want to work so that after some time, even if the staff at the club will change in Nizhny Novgorod would still be a good team with strong traditions, and not void. It's a shame to see when the clubs are falling apart, and they remain empty.
- Whom would you call the main rival of BC "NN" in this season? And what will happen next, in your opinion?
- There is one competitor that we have not managed to win - it's situated near Moscow "Khimki". This is one of the downsides. All the other teams we had to beat.
The key, of course, was the game against CSKA Moscow. It is true, then after this rapid release of emotions, we lost a few games. But the guys feel confident, understand that they can defeat a powerful opponent. And, of course, I wanted to play for fifth place with a team of "Yenisey". We've doubled the home parquet almost missed the victory from the hands. But mistakes happen at all. In the end, we managed to win matches in principle "Yenisei" at the end of the season.
The most important rival for us, you can call the nearest competitors - Team "Triumph", "Yenisei", and next season we add to it, "Spartak-Primorje" from Vladivostok. While I understand that all you can expect from us the victories over the strongest clubs from the top of the standings. We will strive to do so.
- You come from Serbia. How difficult for you to work with Russian players? Often there is a national issue, or is taking full understanding?
- It depends on the coach. I'm trying to build a rapport with everyone. Just who can not work with those that do so much more complicated. But this is because the training of Russian players, there are drawbacks. Perhaps they are not planted the desire to work hard on themselves when they were still very young, sometimes trainers do not have enough enthusiasm to give these guys all the best, to seek from them a result, lead by example. I have all the newcomers is one main question: are you ready for hard work and ready to endure as a coach Zoran?
I only care about success. And I want to achieve it through work. Certainly in Nizhny Novgorod you can spend time in different ways. You can walk to nightclubs and restaurants, but it's not my choice. That way you will not get the result that I need. It is therefore important to find players who want to achieve serious results.
For example, I see a pattern as to why "Miami" did not become NBA champion. The answer is simple - excessive ambition. I do not bet on them. And not surprisingly, "Dallas" - a team that has the character - has shown successful performance and beat these "wizards."
- And at what distance you keep the players? Can someone make a phone call at night and say, "Zoran, sorry, tomorrow can not come to the gym?"
- There is no (smiling). But if you're interested in is not exactly a night call, but the very possibility to skip a training session, I will tell you that for me important reason. Even the coach can not do so without good cause, not just a player.
If the reason is that the player was tired - I'll look at his training schedule, how much time he spent in the classroom, so that could affect ... For example, Ivan Paunich not missed a single game. But one came and said: "Zoran, I feel very tired, I need a rest day." Of course, I went to meet him. And if the young man remarked on the eve of birthday and now he can not do anything, you can walk on. I do not need such a player.
- Is there a future in Nizhny Novgorod in the sense of the sport?
- Of course, now just need more work to develop children's sports, more to work with schools and pick up guys who could play sports.
Now the Governor Shantsev implementing a program of construction of sports and fitness centers in different districts. There are terms for various sports, including basketball. But it is very important that this was not the only Fox Hall and balls, but good coaches who will work with the guys and find the talented athletes who are able to engage in a professional manner.
- Do you like to Nizhny Novgorod?
- Yes, very. The only thing that confused at times - is the weather. I'm southern man, I love when it's warm, the sun shines. Nizhny Novgorod is similar to Belgrade, but there's more greenery and the temperature is now over thirty degrees. Although now I notice that after five years in Russia, getting used to the Russian climate and temperatures of over thirty degrees already feel uncomfortable.
But in general, in Nizhny Novgorod, I do not interfere. There is good room in which we play, there is a good training ground, mutual understanding with the leadership of the club. So here I am feeling good, and there is no need to look elsewhere.
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