SRB - Sakota abandons post as Serbia national team coach

BELGRADE (EuroBasket 2007) - Serbian basketball received another jolt on Thursday when Dragan Sakota announced he has quit as coach of the national team.

Sakota's status had been up in the air since the election of Dragan Kapicic as the new president of the Serbian Basketball Federation (KSS) on April 20 of this year.

Kapicic had publicly said he would consider replacing Sakota ahead of this year’s EuroBasket if he thought he could find a better coach.

Sakota did not pull any punches when revealing his decision to go.

"In a tough moment for Serbian basketball, with great enthusiasm and pleasure, I accepted the call of our Expert Council to take the helm of the national team,” Sakota said.

“The attitude of all members of the Expert Council, and all of our well-known coaches was that this was a new beginning, and that patience and hard work are crucial.

“The first step was the FIBA World Championship in Japan, and I took that giant and important step with great optimism and devotion.”

Sakota had replaced Zeljko Obradovic at the helm after EuroBasket 2005, when the hosts, then known as Serbia & Montenegro, suffered one of their most disappointing setbacks in many years in a defeat to France in the elimination round.

Sakota's young team that included Orlando Magic center Darko Milicic reached the last 16 at the World Championship but was beaten by eventual gold medalists Spain in Japan .

In the months that followed Japan, things changed.

“Support vanished very quickly, both from some of my colleagues and some media representatives,” Sakota said.

“I had waited for the election of our basketball federation to give my report on the first year of my work as head coach of our national team, and to have them evaluate it.

“I didn't want to do that while the old management was there, since I've wanted to explain plans to the new people in KSS.

“But, the anticipation (in the media) of my report started to become the main topic, and it was connected with voting for my resignation that should follow it.”

Because of the additional pressure, Sakota decided it was time to leave.

“I've analyzed the whole situation carefully, I've taken in mind everything, the atmosphere in the media, members of the new KSS Expert Council and, most important - the concerns of Serbian basketball.

“Therefore, I've decided to resign as head coach of Serbian national basketball team.”

One of the country’s basketball legends, Zoran Slavnic, has declared his interest in the post.

A Yugoslavia national team player, among his many achievements was a world title in 1978 and Olympic gold medal in 1980.

Slavnic played for Red Star from 1965 until 1975, and then for Spanish outfit Joventut, Yugoslav outfit Sibenka, Italian club Caserta and Partizan Belgrade, and as a coach he has led the likes of Partizan Belgrade, Red Star, Sibenka, Joventut, Bamberg (Germany) and Serbian outfit Atlas.

He has not coached since 2006.

Sakota did part with well wishes for the federation and his eventual successor, whoever it may be.

“At the end, I would like to thank all those who were truly with national team, to my assistants, media and all those who put Serbian basketball at the first place,” he said.

“I wish all the best to my successor, with the hope that Serbia will again be at the top of Europe and the world.”

Serbia are in Group A of the EuroBasket with defending champions Greece, Russia and the team that wins the additional qualifying tournament.

An Expert Council chosen by the KSS Executive board eight days ago which includes Ranko Zeravica, Bozidar Maljkovic, Svetislav Pesic, Dusko Vujosevic, Zoran Slavnic, Drazen Dalipagic and Ratko Radovanovic will make a recommendation on the final appointment of his replacement.

Darko Nikolic, Belgrade
FIBA