Serbia Basketball Team Gathers Without Four Key Players
The national team gathered in Belgrade as coach Dusan Alimpijevic named, for the first time, the players clubs refused to release. Jokic stays captain, France arrives at the Arena on August 20.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is not on the roster, yet he still stopped by. Serbia’s national basketball team gathered in Belgrade on August 13, and as the players greeted each other ahead of the start of camp, one man among them will not be wearing the jersey this summer. Houston would not release him. He came to greet his teammates, then left.
An hour later, at a table inside the Serbian Basketball Federation’s (KSS) hall, it was spelled out for the first time exactly who was missing and why. Federation president Nebojsa Covic, head coach Dusan Alimpijevic and Nikola Milutinov all spoke.
Who Is Missing, and Why?
Alimpijevic listed the absences one by one, without dodging the subject:
Micic did not get permission from his club, no explanation given. The picture is clear, no permission from Hapoel. Bogdan wanted to play for the national team, but Houston was against him joining, they want him preparing for a new season that matters to both them and him. It is similar with Petrusev, because Dubai objected, and that is tied to his health, he is still in the recovery process. Bogoljub is a rookie in Milwaukee and did not get permission to play even though there was a very strong desire to. They wanted him at their training camp, under their supervision. Topic’s health situation does not allow it, and if I have forgotten anyone, remind me…
So, four names, all sidelined by decisions from their employers:
- Vasilije Micic, without permission from Hapoel
- Bogdan Bogdanovic, without permission from Houston
- Marko Petrusev, without approval from Dubai, while recovering from injury
- Bogoljub Markovic, without permission from Milwaukee
The coach immediately added that this is not just a problem for this summer.
We have had this problem not since yesterday but for five to ten years now, through several generations, and the problem is with players pulling out.
On the same topic, Covic looked for a paper solution, asking players and their agents to write a club’s obligation to release players to the national team directly into contracts. His assessment of the gathering was brief.
All the players responded, that is proof of the cult of the national team.
Eighteen Names, Jokic Named Captain Again
The roster numbers eighteen players: Nemanja Dangubic, Aleksa Avramovic, Dejan Davidovac, Ognjen Dobric, Jovan Novak, Marko Guduric, Nikola Milutinov, Luka Mitrovic, Dusan Ristic, Nikola Tanaskovic, Stefan Momirov, Arijan Lakic, Nikola Djurisic, Nikola Jovic, Nikola Jokic, Mihailo Petrovic, Nikola Kusturica and Nikola Dzepina. Jokic again wears the captain’s armband in this window.
Jokic has been a talking point beyond the national team this summer too, after his agent Misko Raznatovic confirmed that an offer for him had arrived. That is set aside for now, since August brings four games in twelve days.
Milutinov spoke as a player experiencing camp with the new coaching staff for the first time.
I am extremely happy to be here. I am looking forward to working with the new coach.
What Serbia Faces Through the End of August
The schedule is tight and falls into two parts, friendlies first, then the games that count:
- August 20, friendly against France at Belgrade Arena
- August 23, rematch against France away
- August 28, Iceland at Belgrade Arena, second round of World Cup qualifiers
- August 31, Italy in Pesaro
Serbia carried four wins and two losses over from the first qualifying round. In the newly formed group, besides Iceland and Italy, Serbia also faces Lithuania, and three of the six teams will advance to the World Cup, held next year in Qatar.
Ahead of the France matches, the coach played down expectations for the result, but not for the atmosphere.
I heard there is enormous interest from fans for the France match. That makes me extremely happy.
Honestly, the two France matches say more about form than about the team’s real strength, since the roster keeps changing from one window to the next this summer. The real test comes on August 28 against Iceland, when points are on the line.
