The president of the Basketball Federation of Serbia, Nebojsa Covic, was a guest on Radio Television of Serbia’s morning program and spoke about the collapse of the Eagles at Eurobasket 2025.
Covic pointed out that Pesic had to cancel team practices several times so the players could recover.
“The coach was canceling practices because the players were unable to train. Jokic was hit by a virus, as was Nikola Jovic. We had injuries. Avramovic bruised his heel, Bogdanovic before that, Micic went to the championship ready-unready,” Covic said at the beginning of the guest appearance.
The president of the Federation indicated that the goals were as high as possible, but that they had experienced failure.
“The ambition was great. This is a failure. An analysis will be made. Pesic is the coach until September 30, and we are already talking with him. He did not fall from the sky. What happened last summer—to maintain continuity. Pesic stayed, the players stayed. There was one change. Davidovac did not leave, but Vukcevic did. It’s all the same as last year,” Covic said.
He stated that it was realistic to achieve the best result, but since they did not, Covic believes that this summer was unsuccessful and that major cuts are needed.
“I am not saying that it was not realistic for the national team to achieve the best result. What if we had won silver or bronze. That would not have been enough for us again. As soon as we have such results, it means that we had an unsuccessful summer, and that means that certain cuts are needed,” the president of the Federation pointed out.
Covic also spoke about which players should be expected at the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers, which start in November, as well as about the future of Svetislav Pesic.
“So, besides us in the group are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey and Switzerland. From that group, three teams go further, with the points being carried over. We cross with the group of Italy, Lithuania, Britain and Iceland, from which three teams also go. And now from that new group of six, three teams go. This means we have a window now in November, then we have a window in February, then in late June, early July, and then again and we finish the qualifications, we need to gather the national team. Who will play in November? From this national team, from this squad, well, I’m not sure if one or two players can play. If the clubs will release them… The NBA players certainly won’t. Those from the Euroleague, I don’t know, I don’t believe it. Who will play… What kind of continuity do we have there… So, in any case, whether Pesic is here or not, he must be a man who will help in something that is continuity and his possible successor, if we get to him. If we don’t get to him, he will have to do that job. The vast majority will not be able to play in November,” Covic pointed out.
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Source: Kurir; Photo: FIBA