Koloko Visa Delay, Illness Hit Red Star Before Real
The Cameroonian center is stuck over a visa and may arrive only on game day, while Navarro hopes Motley and Medarevic recover by Thursday at 9 pm.
Ibon Navarro stood in front of the media before the trip to Madrid and began listing who is sick, and Red Star’s travel list already had one empty seat. Christian Koloko did not leave with the team because of a visa problem, so ahead of the game at Real Madrid on Thursday, November 12, at 9 pm, it is unclear whether the center will arrive in time at all.
The 26-year-old Cameroonian was supposed to fly out with the rest of the squad on Wednesday. According to Mozzart Sport, the club tried to fix the problem, but the embassy was closed that day because it was a public holiday. Red Star then appealed to the EuroLeague, asking that Koloko be allowed to arrive a day later and still play against Real. According to the same source, he should reach Madrid on Thursday, the day of the game, and it has not been confirmed whether he will play.
What do we know about Koloko’s visa?
Koloko has played three EuroLeague games for Red Star, averaging eight points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He stood out most against Bayern: in under 14 minutes he put up 12 points and five blocks, with no turnovers. In his debut against Maccabi he played 16 minutes and had six points and three rebounds.
It is not the first case of its kind at the club. In late December 2021, Ben Bentil joined the red and whites late because of passport and visa trouble, when the team was coached by Dusko Ivanovic. In September 2024, Mike Daum could not play against Dubai, the first game in the history of the club from the Emirates, but Ioannis Sfairopoulos counted on him in the following games.
Motley and Medarevic miss training
Koloko’s visa is not the only hole in the rotation. Navarro explained that two players are ill.
“Jonathan has a virus, he couldn’t train today. Vojin has the flu and is not with us so that he doesn’t infect anyone, I hope they will be ready by tomorrow. All the players who are here will travel to Madrid, unless someone gets sick in the meantime,” Navarro said before departure.
He was referring to Jonathan Motley and Vojin Medarevic. The first missed training because of a virus, the second was separated from the team because of the flu, and how serious it is will become clear only once the team gathers in Madrid.
Madrid, where Red Star does not win
Red Star has lost its previous five road games in the Spanish capital, and in the last two the margin was more than 20 points. With a 7-3 record, the red and whites are still ahead of Real, who stand at 6-4. Navarro, a former Unicaja coach, also knows what a defeat looks like when the win is already in hand.
“I have played in Madrid many times. I had a three-point lead and two free throws with four seconds left, and I lost! Anything can happen there, regardless of the score and the time on the clock. We have to be ready for that,” the Spanish coach said.
He described the opponent this way:
“It will be a very tough game, teams with that kind of history always know how to compete. They have that DNA. We know what kind of basketball they play, they are very dangerous and we cannot relax for even two minutes. It will be a very athletic and physically demanding game, and we will need mental strength to stay in it.”
How does Real see Red Star?
The hosts are not arriving problem-free either. Real coach Pedro Martinez is missing Facundo Campazzo, Theo Maledon, Gabriel Deck, Usman Garuba and Mikael Jantunen through injuries, while Chuma Okeke should be ready. Martinez does not underestimate Red Star all the same.
“Red Star is fantastic on defense, and on offense they play at a very good rhythm. They have excellent playmakers with great offensive quality. They are extremely physically strong and are currently one of the best teams in the EuroLeague,” Martinez said.
He singled out three players: “Jones and Carter have huge scoring potential, while Koloko is a very athletic center who does many things well. They have won eight of their last nine games and it is clear that a very difficult job awaits us. Still, on our court we believe we can beat anyone.”
About his own squad, he said that “the players who are not here are missing”, but that he believes those who are available will “take a step forward and help us be competitive”. A packed schedule cannot be an excuse, he insisted: “We have no right to complain. We are privileged to play so many games. We have to find a way to be competitive, regardless of the problems we have.”
What comes next
Red Star goes to Madrid with two question marks in the rotation and one in the paint, to a court where it has left empty-handed five times in a row. The answer comes on Thursday, November 12, at 9 pm, when Real Madrid and Red Star play their Round 11 EuroLeague game.
