BUL - Bulgaria say good-bye to Pini

SOFIA (EuroBasket 2011) - Pini Gershon guided Bulgaria to a surprise appearance at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.

Now the country is looking for a new coach.

Bulgaria’s Basketball Federation has announced that the Israeli boss, who is the coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, is no longer in charge of the national team.

Gershon had wanted to remain involved with Bulgaria with the aim of having another prominent coach help him and while the federation attempted to accommodate him, the right solution could not be agreed upon.

Bulgaria’s Basketball Federation president Mr. Mihail Mihov said: “We worked for two years very well with Mr Gershon. That was the reason for me, and the whole staff of the federation, to insist that Pini Gershon stay with the national team.

“But Gershon wanted to be a head of a big staff with another head coach who would take the responsibility for the preparation of the team.

“That was a good idea for us, so we agreed. He offered us Sharon Drucker, who has worked with Gershon in Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“He is a well known name in European basketball, a good specialist. We agreed with him, but Drucker declined the offer for personal reasons.

“The next suggestion of Mr Gershon was Oded Kattash.

“This suggestion didn’t fit with the ideas we had. The Bulgarian national team is not a school for coaches.

“When we last met with Pini Gershon, I asked him to take the team for another qualification cycle.

“He decided something else, so we respect his decision.”

Mihav says there is plenty of time for Bulgaria to find the right coach.

“There are nine days to the draw for EuroBasket qualifying,” he said.

“The preparatory work with the national team will start in February, the real one – in June.

“So we have a lot of time for reaction. We have some alternatives for other coaches.

“For sure, we will have a smarter and better team this year because of the work of Pini Gershon the last years. We sincerely thank him.”

After taking over at the end of 2007, Gershon led the team the following summer to a second-place finish in EuroBasket Division A, Group A, behind Serbia and ahead of Italy, Finland and Hungary.

That earned the Bulgarians a trip to EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.

At last year’s tournament, however, Bulgaria were overmatched against Group D opponents Turkey, Poland and Lithuania, losing all three games.

Gershon first became interested in the job because his grandfather was born in Bulgaria.

He told National Darik Radio: “Thanks to all people that helped me these two years in Bulgaria; the people that helped to bring success there. I love them, now I know – I have a real family in Bulgaria, real friends.

“I wish all the best for Bulgarian basketball.

“I did my best to help.

“I thought there was a lot more I could do, but sometimes you have to make a decision. If there is anyone who needs my help – I will be there for him.”

FIBA