Bedri Meric, the Turkish head coach of the Sheki basketball club, has given an interview to the club's press service.
Meric discussed his transition to Sheki, expectations from the championship, and the club's goals.
- Last season, you coached Gence. Now you’re working with Sheki. What can you say about this transition?
- I had a great season with Gence. Due to a lack of players, we couldn’t make it to the playoffs. I know Sheki from last season. The only game they won was against us in the second match. That loss coincided with the time we lost our playoff chances. The American players had lost motivation, so it felt like our season was over. When I came to Sheki, I liked the city. The Olympic Sports Complex provides a comfortable environment for us. In basketball, the city isn’t very important; we are professionals. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether I work in Sheki or Gence. I just do my job.
- This season, there was a change in the limit for foreign players in the championship. How will this affect the level of the championship?
- The level of the championship will rise. Firstly, the number of teams increased from 10 to 12. We will compete in Group B. With the 4+1 system, I believe we will see more qualified foreign players in the clubs and higher-level games this season. I don’t think there will be large score differences like last season. Local players will also work hard to secure a spot in the starting lineup and will have good opportunities to improve themselves.
- Sheki will start the championship with a game against Guba. What can you say about this team, which played under the name Jalilabad last season?
- Yes, I know the Guba team. Head coach Shahriyar Asgarov and his assistant Zaur Pashayev are there. There’s no need to talk about Zaur; he has contributed to the Azerbaijani national team and is one of the best local players in the championship, playing in the guard position. I know they have transferred 4 foreign players, including some Americans I know. It’s a strong team, and I believe they have improved through their preparation games. We will start the championship with a tough match.
- Guba played 4 friendly matches, with 3 losses and 1 draw. Why didn’t Sheki play any friendly matches?
- Honestly, we need a little time. Our foreign players joined the camp late, and we had injury problems, which delayed some of our transfers. Unfortunately, we couldn’t play friendly matches because we didn’t come together as a full team in time. This is a negative aspect for us. However, I believe that after 1-2 matches, the team will find its rhythm.
- The club has officially announced 8 transfers. Are you satisfied with the level of foreign and local players?
- We transferred Ercan Donat from Turkiye as a local player. He is also a member of the Azerbaijani national team. I believe Ercan will strengthen our team. We also have players who play in the youth teams of the Azerbaijani national team. Our local players from Sheki will remain in the team. We will try to utilize all of them. As for the foreigners, the Nigerian players from last season will stay with us. In addition, we have brought in 5 new foreign players. Our new legionnaires are truly talented players. They will make their mark in the championship with their skill levels. As long as we continue to support them, I am confident we will create a better team day by day. We will see Sheki in the playoffs this season.
Idman.biz
