The giant of Yugoslav basketball, the European champion from 1979, Bosnia from Sarajevo has returned to the regional scene. For the first time after the 2017/2018 season. the team from Sarajevo plays in the NLB ABA2 league and wants to become a member of the AdmiralBet ABA league in due course, where it last played in the 2009/2010 season.
In accordance with the ambitions, last season's BiH Cup winner started to form a respectable team during the summer, but before the players, the focus was on the coaching position. Therefore, the management of the "students" appointed the Montenegrin expert Zoran Kašćelan, who successfully led Borac from Banja Luka for two years, and before that he was the coach of the Sarajevo Spurs. Kašćelan coached Lovćen and Podgorica in Montenegro, and he also worked in women's basketball, where he was coach of the Lovćen basketball team, selector of the cadet national team and assistant to Robert Injiges in the A team. In an interview for "Vijesti", the 37-year-old from Cetinje talked about his involvement in Bosnia, club and personal ambitions, as well as Montenegrin basketball.
"I was attracted by Bosnia's clear ambition. I felt that the club is growing organizationally from year to year. The last two seasons have seen a serious growth trend, which I like. I also believe that my career at this moment requires a club that is ambitious, such as I am also ambitious. Let's go to a higher level together," said Kašćelan in an interview with "Vijesti".
And before talking about Bosnia, Kašćelan once again pointed out that he was satisfied during his mandate in Borac. After all, the club from Banjaluka, with Kašćelan in the 2022/2023 season, after a 20-year break, won a place in the finals of the BiH championship, and repeated that result in the previous season.
"I like to emphasize that I had a fantastic time in Banja Luka. We had good results. Borac was a springboard for me and I will always emphasize that. It's a nice story - apart from basketball, I'm satisfied with how I was received and accepted in Banja Luka. I'm with Borac reached a certain level - after 20 years we were in the final of the BiH League, twice in a row, we confirmed several young players and that recommended me to Bosnia."
He embarked on a serious project with Bosnia. The club wants to grow year by year and one day reach the AdmiralBet ABA League.
- We are not strictly burdened to qualify for the ABA league in the first season. The first season should be our foundation. Bosnia is a big club, on good foundations it is building something that should go to a higher level. The organization is at a very high level. In the previous season, the trophy was won in the Cup. Against Sutjeska, we played the first game of the NLB ABA2 League in Sarajevo after six years. I am sure that the appetites of Bosnia and mine are above that. However, we want to take it one step at a time. The project is not intended to be short-term. The people who run the club are aware that it should grow gradually. Bosnia and Sarajevo are eager for basketball at a higher level," says Kašćelan.
From this season, the "students" are in the NLB ABA2 league, in group B with Vojvodina, Sutjeska and Rabotnicki. In the first round, they lost to Vojvodina in Novi Sad, and then they defeated Sutjeska in Sarajevo.
"The group is by far the strongest. Vojvodina, Sutjeska and we are in the narrow circle for the very top. The new competition system is specific, there are a lot of matches and it is evident that these three teams will decide on placement in the second phase. I would like it to be Bosnia, but Vojvodina is perhaps the first favorite of the competition, because of the continuity and quality of the roster, while Sutjeska is also a quality team. Victory over Sutjeska will mean a lot to us. We have ambition and desire, but also Vojvodina and Sutjeska have equal chances to advance to the second stage. "
He also referred to the playing staff of Bosnia, which was formed before the start of the season.
"We tried to make a younger, physically strong team. All three Americans (Andrewood, Lutete and West) that we hired have room to improve, hunger and ambition, which we want to have in every player. We know that we have quality, but for the quality to translate into a result, some things need to be sorted out. We have good domestic players - Delalić, Zubac and Šalić. That's a good basis, along with young players, like Gutić and Podojak he is 22 years old, he is a young player. There are basketball players who still need to develop and prepare for this level of competition."
Kašćelan has been working in BiH since 2021, he points out that the league there is very difficult to play.
"I am convinced that the BiH league is the most difficult to play in the former Yugoslavia. There are many quality teams, the game is physically tougher and stronger than people expect. It is more demanding than in other leagues."
Along with his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he also follows the events of Montenegrin club basketball.
"The investments are huge, there is no dilemma. We have standard clubs in the NLB ABA2 league, three stable and good teams in the AdmiralBet ABA league. The future is the feather of Montenegrin basketball. Their goals are always the highest. It is demanding to play the Eurocup and fight with the Euroleagues for the top ABA League. Sutjeska and Podgorica have been competitive teams in ABA2 for years, Teodo has made a good team with a lot of local players. I would like Lovćen to have an even better situation and I believe it will get better there as well."
I am happy with the direction my career is going
During the conversation, Kašćelan pointed out that he has great ambitions, but also one dream - to one day be the coach of Montenegro.
"I want to develop. I do not hide that my ambitions are the greatest, but I am aware that nothing comes overnight. I am satisfied with the direction my career is going and I believe that coming to Bosnia and the additional pressure of leading Bosnia will prepare me for greater level. I always emphasize that one of my goals is to one day be the coach of my country, because that is the greatest honor that someone can have."
In Sarajevo and Bosnia, they appreciate what the people of Montenegro have done
People from Montenegro left a big mark in Bosnia. When the Sarajevo team defeated Emerson from Varese (5:1979) and won the European title on April 96, 93, captain Žarko Varajić was on the field (he scored 45 points in the final, which is still a record today, and at that time the three-point line was not existed), Boro Vučević and Ratko Radovanović, who was born in Nevesinje and grew up in Nikšić. Bogdan Tanjević was on the bench, and the famous Vukašin-Vule Vukalović was at the head of the project. It was a wonderful night in Grenoble - Bosnia became the champion of Europe and achieved the greatest success in history.
Several decades later, the club embarks on a new, ambitious project, and this time a Montenegrin is part of the "student" system. Kašćelan does not hide that he is glad that the leaders of the team from Sarajevo decided on him.
"I'm glad. In Sarajevo and Bosnia, they appreciate what people from Montenegro have done. Vule Vukalović built and built that system. Part of that story was the greatness of Montenegrin and European basketball. I want me, as a Montenegrin, to leave a deep mark in Sarajevo and Bosnia," Kašćelan concluded.
Bonus video:
