BASKETBALL – Bahrain’s senior men’s basketball national team players have given a good first impression to newly signed head coach Slobodan Subotic, the Greek-Slovenian tactician has shared.
Subotic began working with the kingdom’s squad on the court in practice sessions this week at the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) Arena in Um Al Hassam Sports Complex.
The coaching veteran of more than three decades says that he has been impressed by what he has seen from the team so far, describing Bahrain’s internationals as ‘very professional’ while displaying a high ‘basketball IQ’ – traits that he says are essential as they move forward together to raise Bahraini basketball.
“I am very excited that I am here in Bahrain,” Subotic said in an interview published on the BBA’s social media page. “I am happy that the federation gave me this opportunity to work in the country.
“My first impression after working a couple of days now with my players is that they are very professional – they try hard, they practice hard, and they make my job much easier.
“They understand basketball, and this was some kind of a surprise for me, how they catch everything we ask of them immediately. I don’t need to explain much, and that means they have basketball IQ. It is much easier working with players like them.”
Subotic highlighted that he will be stressing on the importance of defence as one of the major points during his early days with the national team.
“The thing I always like to do, as this philosophy has brought me results and titles, is defence,” Subotic said. “I translate this to the players and I explain that if they don’t accept this, we will not do something big.
“They understand, they take this message very seriously, and they showed me from the first day they will follow this.”
The 69-year-old former shooting guard/small forward says that he is embracing the pressure that comes with the job of taking over the reins of a squad that represents a very passionate, basketball-loving country.
“I like to live with pressure, so this is very good, and this is also good for my players,” he expressed.
“This is not my first time here. I came here playing against Muharraq and Manama last year, and also one time before for a friendly game, so I know this country, I know the city, it was a pleasure and they like basketball.
“We will do our best because, as I said three days ago to the BBA members, Bahrain now is 75th in the Fiba rankings, and I will be very happy after a while to see my team in a much better position.
“I am not a coach that promises many things, but I will try to bring my European philosophy to the players, the team, and the fans, and to make them enjoy and be proud of the national team of Bahrain.”
The nationals are gearing up for a series of major competitions in the coming months – the first of which is the opening round of pre-qualifiers for the Fiba Asia Cup 2029, to be held in Dubai, the UAE, from August 24 to September 1.
Bahrain are also scheduled to compete in the men’s basketball tournament at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4; and then, if qualified, the second round of Fiba Asia Cup 2029 pre-qualifiers, slated for November 23 to December 1 at a yet-to-be-determined host venue.
Bahrain’s current 18-man roster is their preliminary squad for training. It is expected to be trimmed to a final list for official play.
The team includes Mustafa Hussain, Muzamil Ameer Hamoda, Ahmed Salman, Mohammed Buallay, Ahmed Bindayneh, Mohammed Juma’a, Ali Jaber, Mahmood Abbas Isa, Ali Hussain, Ahmed Alderazi, Emran Ashkanani, Abdulqader Thani, Hamad Faisal, Mohammed Ghazi, Ali Mohsen, Hassan Fahad, Nader Shaker, and the returning JaKarr Sampson.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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