IRI – New coach Matic embraces challenge of keeping Iran on top

TEHRAN (Basketball Federation Islamic Republic of Iran) - A lot of attention has been on Iranian basketball since the national team captured the FIBA Asia Championship title to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

Coached by Rajko Toroman, Iran provided plenty of evidence that they have the potential to be a leading side on the continent for a long time.

Following the Beijing Games, Toroman departed for the Philippines and that opened the door for Iran to appoint Veselin Matic as the new coach.

The national side appears to be in good hands with Serbian Matic, who answered Jeff Taylor’s questions for FIBA.com.

FIBA: Veselin, when did you first hear that you had a good chance of becoming the new head coach of Iran? Did you know your predecessor, Toroman?

Matic: Six months ago, I heard about the opportunity that Iran needed a new head coach. Of course I knew Mr. Toroman.

FIBA: Why is it attractive for Iran to appoint a coach from Europe and specifically from the Balkans?

Matic: As you may know, Nenad Trajkovic was the coach of the Iran national team in 2002 and after that Vlademir Bosnjak replaced him. After a short break, Toroman achieved the biggest success for Iranian basketball. So it seemed logical to continue along the same path and follow the same school of strategy. Iran is an up-and-coming basketball country and what I usually like to say is for the moment, Europe is closing the gap on the NBA. But also, Asia is reaching the same position with Europe. Middle East countries invest a lot in basketball and this will pay off. Iran is one of the best.

FIBA: Iran didn’t win a game at the Olympics, yet some would argue that the national team has taken a step forward and improved since the last FIBA Asia Championship. What do you think?

Matic: Of course Iran has improved. They played 30 plus games in three months to prepare for Olympic Games. For some countries, this is the number of games for the whole season. Iran played in Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, (Rocky Mountain Review) Summer League, Australia, Diamond Ball and Olympics Games and this has surely had a positive impact on Iranian Basketball.

FIBA: What is your impression of the pool of young players who could break into the senior team now or in the future? Does Iran have a lot of young talent?

Matic: As you know, Iran has a lot of young talents in basketball. During the past five years, Iran got one of the first three places in most of FIBA Asia Championships in different categories. Every generation has one player around 210cm and the national team is based on players who are mostly born between 1984 and 1986. These factors shape a very young and promising national team. We have to also consider the presence of four to five players each year in (FIBA's) Basketball Without Borders program who are usually among the best over there.

FIBA: Does being champions of Asia bring unwanted pressure to Iran ahead of this summer or is it a positive for you and the players?

Matic: Basketball games are based on positive pressure. There is no good team or player who is unable to play well under pressure. Always the hardest way is to stay on the top and for Iran, the players have to prove that they are good. This is a challenge for them and also for me.

FIBA: Have you spoken to Iran’s Olympic center Hamed Ehadadi or seen him play since he went to America? Do you expect him to return to Asia a far better player after his experience with the Memphis Grizzlies and in the NBDL?

Matic: I have known him for the last five years. Since that time, I looked at him as a world prospect. I compare him with (Serbia great) Vlade Divac. Certainly playing in the NBA and D-league, back and forth, is a big experience for him. He's now back in our national team camp practicing with the other players.

FIBA: What does this challenge mean for you personally, to coach a national team and to do so in a foreign country?

Matic: I am a professional coach and this is my job. "Make the best" is my motto. Today we have a lot of foreign coaches in different sports coaching national teams. Organize well, prepare and just do it.

FIBA: Who are the coaches that you look up to the most, and the ones that you learned from the most?

Matic: I know a lot of them. Most of them are Serbians and I worked with them in the national team or in clubs. Just to name some, Mr. Pesic, A. Nikolic, Zeravica, Lucic, Vujosevic, Minic, Piva Ivkovic, B. Rajacic - all of them helped me to better understand the game.

FIBA: What areas of the game do Iran need to have great improvement in to make the next step and to be able to compete with the teams they lost to at the Olympics?

Matic: Like all other countries, the balance between good players, individual quality and team strategy. Today the game is faster and physical and we have to have a balance between all the three factors.

FIBA: Predict whether or not we will see Iran at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Matic: Iran certainly has the quality and improved a lot but the other Asian countries have also improved. It's very tough to stay on the top but we will do our best.

FIBA