PRESS CONFERENCE OF DUSAN IVKOVIC IN BELGRADE

PRESS CONFERENCE OF DUSAN IVKOVIC IN BELGRADE Mr Dusan Ivkovic, made the press conference, in Belgrade s prestigious Sport cafe, answering on the questions about his new contract, signed with the most famous Russian club - CSKA Moscow. On the beginning Mr Dusan Ivkovic, informed the journalist that he has signed the new 3 years contract with CSKA Moscow. He explained that after publishing information about his new club, a lot of journalist called and asked many questions, and it was the reason for making press conference. Ivkovic, said, that the first contacts has been made during Final four in Bologna, but the first serious meeting took place in Belgrade, one month ago, when the new president of the team Mr Serguei Koutchenko arrived in Belgrade. But, in that time he was not able to come to agreement, especially because he was already in the contact with NBA club - Denver Nuggets. He explained that before the making decision he had to go to the States (last week) where he had excellent meeting with people from Denver and real possibility to start with NBA career. He explained that he decided to go to Russia, because he wants to be the coach to work on the court with the team, and to have responsibility, what s was not possible in Denver in the first season, and in the same time, the coaching CSKA, the club with great tradition, is big challenge for him. He said that he knows very well, respects and likes Russian basketball, and he hopes that during his stay in Moscow, he will be able to reach top European results with the team of CSKA, as well as to provide the first step in the renessance of Russian national team. He said that in the past YU national team always had one aim to beat Russian national team as the strongest opponent, but in the last decade it has been changed, and that he would like to recapture the glory of Russian basketball. He said, that in the first year it will be extremely difficult job, because the management of club is completely new, and its necessery to rebuilt the clubs structure, coaching stuff and off course the team. The idea will be to put the base from top Russian available players, to add them the most prospective players in the country, and after to sign some foreign players, and make strong team, which will be able in the first season to take back Russian champions title and have big role in Europe. He reminded journalist that CSKA finished this season on the 5th place in Russian league. After that he explained that club would like to organize Final Four in Moscow 2005, and to reach European title in home court, if it s possible. The agent of the coach, Misko Raznatovic, from Agency BeoBasket, answering on the questions of journalist, explained that new president of CSKA, Mr Serguei Koutchenko, is the author of the "Perm s miracle" (how he said). The man who took the club couple of years ago, and leaded him to top 10 teams in Europe. His great job in Ural, was the best recommendation for him to get a credit from Russian basketball people, and try to make the same with the biggest Russian club ever. Signing the contract with Mr Dusan Ivkovic, who is the first YU coach in the history of CSKA, showed to all basketball people in Europe, that something new and something big is going to start in Moscow. The negotiations with the club was long, but finally after was finished good, and the contract has been signed for 3 seasons. The most interesting question was about plans of Dusan Ivkovic to coach, maybe in the future Russian national team. Mr Ivkovic explained that he has coaching national team of Yugoslavia, and that even in the past many Greek players and journalist wanted to see him on the bench of Greek national team for Olympics 2004 in Athens, he has never promised and thought about coaching any other national team, and that he will not coach national team of Russia, for sure.