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Alexander KrasnenkovPresident of the Russian Basketball Federation
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Russian Basketball Federation Announces New Head Coaches
- Selection Process
- Female Team's Choice
- Male Team's Selection
- Katsikaris's Club Commitment
- Concerns and Contingency Plans
- Team Objectives and Performance Expectations
Russian Basketball Federation Announces New Head Coaches
Yesterday, the Executive Committee of the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) officially appointed Fotis Katsikaris of Greece and Alvydas Vainauskas of Lithuania as the head coaches of the men's and women's national basketball teams, respectively.
Selection Process
Despite the anticipated announcement, the selection process was extended due to thorough deliberations among the Executive Committee members. After almost five hours of closed-door discussions, President of the RBF, Alexander Krasnenkov, emerged with the new coaches.
Female Team's Choice
General Manager of the women's national team, Oksana Rakhmatulina, explained that Vainauskas was not the sole candidate under consideration. Other contenders included Pokey Chatman, Naty Heikkova, and Anatoly Myshkin. However, after extensive debate, the Executive Committee opted for Vainauskas, who will continue to serve as coach of the Kursk Dynamo club.
Male Team's Selection
For the men's team, Katsikaris was selected over Sergei Bazarevich. The RBF preferred Katsikaris's experience, as he currently holds the position of head coach at Spanish club Bilbao Basket. Vasily Karasev was also considered but was ultimately excluded due to his commitment as head coach of the Russian student team.
Katsikaris's Club Commitment
The appointment of Katsikaris raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest with his Spanish club. However, Katsikaris has exercised a clause in his Bilbao contract that allows him to suspend his club duties for international tournaments, effectively avoiding any direct overlap with his RBF responsibilities.
Concerns and Contingency Plans
Despite the measures taken to avoid conflicts of interest, Krasnenkov acknowledged that the Spanish league could potentially challenge Katsikaris's contract with the RBF in court. In the event of any legal challenges, Sergei Bazarevich remains the designated backup option.
Team Objectives and Performance Expectations
The RBF has set clear objectives for the national teams in 2013. Both the men's and women's teams are expected to contend for medals at the European Championships and secure berths at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. While the RBF recognizes the importance of results, they will also consider the quality of play when evaluating the coaches' performances.
