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Any news from Bahrain? It seems they already naturalized CJ Giles, is he going to be part of their NT? Are we going to see Bader Malabes?
Bahrain to sign Serbian coach
BY PATRICK SALOMON , Posted on ยป Tuesday, June 25, 2013
BAHRAIN is set to sign respected Serbian basketball coach Sasa Nikitovic as national team head following the sudden U-turn of Bahraini tactician Salman Ramadhan, who was earlier expected to take the helm.
This was confirmed last night by Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) technical director and national teams manager Ahmed Ali.
Nikitovic will now sign a new deal of undisclosed length, and he will be guiding Bahrain in the upcoming Fiba Asia Championship in Manila, scheduled to take place in August.
"We have sent coach Sasa our contract offer and we expect him to sign any day now," Ali told the GDN last night.
Ramadhan had earlier made a verbal commitment to signing with the BBA and returning as head coach of the kingdom's national team, but in a sudden and unexpected move, the veteran Bahraini coach signed with Kazma Club of Kuwait instead.
"We believe it was a case of him having multiple offers on the table and taking the one he felt was best for him," Ali said. "I'm sure he did not want to turn down the national team at first, but in the end, he thought about it and chose to stay in Kuwait.
"We have found a replacement in coach Sasa, and we have been very impressed with his CV.
"We have also asked around with our contacts in Serbian basketball, and they all spoke very highly of him. He has plenty of experience in his country at all levels of basketball. We ourselves know a few Serbian coaches who have coached here in Bahrain, and we know they have good knowledge in the game."
Ali said that Nikitovic was one of five coaches being considered by the BBA, with other coaches being considered coming from the US and elsewhere.
Nikitovic has coached Serbia's national team at the youth level. His first task as Bahrain coach will be leading them to a solid finish in the highly competitive 2013 Fiba Asia Championship, which will be held in the Philippine capital from August 1 to 11.
Bahrain have been drawn in group 'D' for the competition alongside Kazakhstan, Thailand and India.
Bahrain qualified for the continental showcase with their runner-up finish in the GCC tiff. They represent the Gulf alongside the Qataris and bronze-medallists Saudi Arabia.
Nikitovic will be yet another foreign national taking over Bahrain's national basketball team. Bahrain was guided to last season's GCC silver medal by Lithuanian tactician Mindaugas Zukauskas, and before that had American Erik Rashad in charge.
Nikitovic will be joining Bahrain's national team along with assistant coaches Hussain Qaheri and Hassan Makki, both of whom were originally set to assist Ramadhan but will now stay on.
BY PATRICK SALOMON , Posted on ยป Tuesday, June 25, 2013
BAHRAIN is set to sign respected Serbian basketball coach Sasa Nikitovic as national team head following the sudden U-turn of Bahraini tactician Salman Ramadhan, who was earlier expected to take the helm.
This was confirmed last night by Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) technical director and national teams manager Ahmed Ali.
Nikitovic will now sign a new deal of undisclosed length, and he will be guiding Bahrain in the upcoming Fiba Asia Championship in Manila, scheduled to take place in August.
"We have sent coach Sasa our contract offer and we expect him to sign any day now," Ali told the GDN last night.
Ramadhan had earlier made a verbal commitment to signing with the BBA and returning as head coach of the kingdom's national team, but in a sudden and unexpected move, the veteran Bahraini coach signed with Kazma Club of Kuwait instead.
"We believe it was a case of him having multiple offers on the table and taking the one he felt was best for him," Ali said. "I'm sure he did not want to turn down the national team at first, but in the end, he thought about it and chose to stay in Kuwait.
"We have found a replacement in coach Sasa, and we have been very impressed with his CV.
"We have also asked around with our contacts in Serbian basketball, and they all spoke very highly of him. He has plenty of experience in his country at all levels of basketball. We ourselves know a few Serbian coaches who have coached here in Bahrain, and we know they have good knowledge in the game."
Ali said that Nikitovic was one of five coaches being considered by the BBA, with other coaches being considered coming from the US and elsewhere.
Nikitovic has coached Serbia's national team at the youth level. His first task as Bahrain coach will be leading them to a solid finish in the highly competitive 2013 Fiba Asia Championship, which will be held in the Philippine capital from August 1 to 11.
Bahrain have been drawn in group 'D' for the competition alongside Kazakhstan, Thailand and India.
Bahrain qualified for the continental showcase with their runner-up finish in the GCC tiff. They represent the Gulf alongside the Qataris and bronze-medallists Saudi Arabia.
Nikitovic will be yet another foreign national taking over Bahrain's national basketball team. Bahrain was guided to last season's GCC silver medal by Lithuanian tactician Mindaugas Zukauskas, and before that had American Erik Rashad in charge.
Nikitovic will be joining Bahrain's national team along with assistant coaches Hussain Qaheri and Hassan Makki, both of whom were originally set to assist Ramadhan but will now stay on.
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