UKR/CAN – Canada’s Olu Famutimi takes center-stage in Ukraine

YUZHNY (Superleague) – Canada international Olu Famutimi made some headlines last year by playing at the EuroCup All-Star Game in Cyprus and later representing Canada at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The excellent defender is now raising eyebrows with Ukrainian outfit Khimik Yuzhny.

Famutimi poured in a game-high 19 points, adding seven rebounds and three steals, to lead Khimik to a 64-61 triumph over Pulsar on Saturday.

Famutimi gave this interview to Oleksiy Naumov on behalf of FIBA.com.

FIBA: Olu, your team went through some big changes in recent days. The club axed Goran Cakic, Sasa Bratic, Marton Bader, Jarrius Jackson and Olexandr Korochkin from the roster following a heavy EuroChallenge defeat at Galatasaray in Turkey. What are your feelings about the whole situation?

Olu Famutimi: As a player, I’m going to keep on playing regardless of what the situation is. They were real good friends to me and I’m going to miss them. But everybody always tells me that’s how this business is and that’s how life is, so you just have to keep on playing.

FIBA: You took the initiative every time Pulsar got close to Khimik. Did you have any special instruction from the coach?

Olu Famutimi: That’s what the coach wants us to do from now on, especially me and [Wykeen] Kelly and [Andriy] Agafonov. We have a lot of players that have never been in this position, so we have to take the initiative and go ahead and produce, especially in those crucial minutes.

FIBA: You tried to cheer Olexander Sabutskiy up after he made some bad mistakes in the deciding moments, which could have cost you the game.

Olu Famutimi: At that moment, I was disappointed, but I also thought we still had a chance to win. So I had to actually embrace him to let him know that “Okay, you messed up, but next time you can’t do the same thing again”. Right now, they are still young and have the potential to be superstars in the future, so it’s better for them to learn it now.

FIBA: What are you thinking about during the pre-game warm-ups? Also, do you listen to the national anthem of Ukraine?

Olu Famutimi: When I first came into the league I could not understand what it meant. I still don’t. I really don’t think about anything other than the game, especially before the game.

FIBA: What has the experience been for you here in the Superleague?

Olu Famutimi: It’s been great. I don’t think during my career of basketball that I had fans that were as supportive as these. They came out here, drove 12 hours just to see us play even though they knew that we had a smaller team (roster) than before. So I just thank God that he put me in this position.

FIBA: Dijon Thompson of Azovmash named you as the most difficult defender to play against here in the Superleague in his recent interview. Who is it most difficult for you to guard and who is it most difficult to play against.

Olu Famutimi: [Ukraine international] Serhiy Gladyr is the most difficult to guard. He’s very good. Just give him a split second and he’ll shoot. He’s very talented. The person that guards me… I don’t know, I don’t notice them. I think the most competition I have is actually in practice, because my teammates see me every day and know what I’m going to do. Offensively in real games I don’t really pressure myself into scoring. I just shoot when I have to, pass when I have to. That’s how I play.

FIBA: High-flying is your trade-mark. Did you have to work hard to be able to do that?

Olu Famutimi: It’s all natural, that’s what God blessed me with and I try to use it to my advantage.

FIBA: Well, good luck to you, Olu, for the remainder of the season.

FIBA