CRO - Vujcic back to boost Croats

ZAGREB (EuroBasket 2009) - Croatia have welcomed back Olympiacos star Nikola Vujcic as they get their training camp under way ahead of EuroBasket 2009 in Poland in September.

Vujcic made his first appearance at a national team event since leaving the team in 2005, much to the delight of coach Jasmin Repesa.

"It's good to be back," said Vujcic. "As far as I can see, nothing has changed here."

The 6ft 11in center is a veteran of four EuroBaskets, and although he no longer has youth on his side, he believes he can play a major role in Poland.

"I said that I would come back, and here I am," he said. "Not as a veteran who needs to prove something, but as a player in his best basketball shape who can help his team."

However, the 29-year-old is refusing to set targets for the team.

"A medal with Croatia is something I've always dreamed of," he said. "But I won't talk about that before the European Championship. We've always had the potential to do great things, but during my career I've learned that in sport you need a bit of luck, too."

Repesa cannot wait to deploy Vujcic in his team as Croatia face Israel, Greece, and Macedonia in the preliminary phase of EuroBasket.

"In one chat, Nikola has shown great desire to come back to the national team," the coach said. "I'm convinced he can help, just as he is sure what he is capable of. Vujcic is the type of player who can play inside, outside, stretch the defense and with his perfect understanding of basketball, there's no doubt we have added a new dimension to our offense."

Croatia will hold camps in Zagreb, Crikvenica and Rogla before playing two pairs of games, first against Poland in Poznan and then against Slovenia in Porec.

After further tournaments in Bamberg and Ankara at the end of July, Repersa will choose his final 12-man squad for the tournament.

"We are at the beginning now, and the first of all we set outself the goal of being better prepared physcially then everybody else," he said. "But the most important thing is to keep creating team spirit."

FIBA