GER - Turkish coach Didin gets warm...

FRANKFURT (BBL) - Murat Didin left Germany in 2005 with plenty of bad feelings about his departure. That made his welcome to Deutsche Bank Skyliners all the more surprising.

Fans at the Frankfurt Ballsporthalle greeted the Turkish coach at the Skyliners' 76-63 victory over Braunschweig with chants and songs in Turkish.

The 51-year-old even grabbed the stadium's microphone after the game and addressed the crowd, saying: "It will only work (if we work) together."

Such a welcome was the last thing Didin could have expected after what happened following the 2005 season, when he led Frankfurt to the finals of the play-offs before losing to Bamberg.

Despite still being under contract, Didin bolted Germany in favour of his home club Besiktas Istanbul, a move few in Frankfurt understood.

Due to a number of injuries, the Skyliners stumbled to a 14th-placed finish last season, only saving themselves from relegation on the final day of the campaign.

This season, things have been better as Charles Barton had the Skyliners in the lower ranks of the play-offs. But four losses in five games starting in mid-February meant the end of Barton's time in Frankfurt.

Barton's final game on the sidelines was an embarrassing 81-48 loss at home to Brose Baskets Bamberg two weeks ago, after which Frankfurt players were booed by the home fans.

What a difference two weeks can make after seeing Didin's welcome.

"It's really nice to sense a welcoming atmosphere in Frankfurt. When I arrived, we met with the players and reminded them that this is the job of their life, and they have to fight for this club," said Didin, who signed until the end of the season at Frankfurt after reportedly not getting paid by Besiktas.

Didin, who joined the team last Saturday, said he felt coming back to the Skyliners was the right thing to do.

"After leaving Frankfurt two years ago, I had the feeling that I owed something to the Skyliners. Now it's time to make good on that," he said.

Skyliners managing director Gunnar Wobke said bringing in Didin seemed the best solution: "In our current situation we didn't want any experiments. And with Murat Didin, we know what we'll get.

"We had already worked together successfully and we know his strengths as a coach. He's a really smart coach, experienced and motivated."

Looking at the present and the future, things appear to be back on track for the 2004 champions and 2005 runners-up.

Braunschweig coach Emir Mutapcic said he noticed a difference in the Frankfurt team straight away.

"Frankfurt showed another face with Murat and played much better than in the last few weeks," he said.

The victory has the Skyliners at 13-12 and placed eighth in the German BBL - good for the final play-off spot.

Dave Hein & Hanns-Peter Lützig
FIBA