A memorial service for the death of celebrated basketball coach Duško Vujošević was held today in Belgrade, and his family, friends, numerous current and former players, coaches, and public figures said goodbye to him.
The legendary Partizan coach, the first coach of the Montenegrin national basketball team, passed away last week at the age of 68 after a long and serious illness.
At the beginning of the commemoration in the Belgrade City Hall, a short film about Vujošević was shown, which ended with his words: "It would be fair if only beautiful things were remembered. We will all laugh," accompanied by the song "Pamtim samo lijepe dane" by Gabi Novak.
The gathering was first addressed by poet Sinan Gudžević, who stated that he was there at the request of his family and pointed out that he had known Vujošević for 40 years.
"In three weeks in March and April of this year, death took Božo Koprivica and Duško Vujošević from this world. JSD Partizan can never compensate for the departure of these two. Partizan cannot be imagined without Duško Vujošević," said Gudžević, pointing out that Vujošević gave more to Partizan than Partizan gave to him.
Gudžević also spoke about Vujošević's love for painting and literature, but also his struggle with diabetes.
Writer Vida Ognjenović said that today we say goodbye to a man of "oceanic humanity, a gentle heart like a dove, and a wonderful soul in whom every friendly pain could find solace."
"How can we accept the departure of our Duško, a man whose friendship was a shelter for us from all evil, whose example reminded us in everything of what is good, what is bold, what is right, what is unique. We made excuses to him for our mistakes, we begged his forgiveness when we fell into some kind of misdeed, we felt guilty before him for even the slightest deviation from what is honorable, humane and true. These were the strongholds of his personality," said Ognjenović.
As she said, the example of Duško Vujošević "was a reminder that being a man is a serious obligation."
"I called him a storm of kindness. When we walked with him, we arrived at our destination stronger. I don't know a man who carried his divine gift with ease, I don't know a man who would embrace more warmly and listen more carefully, I don't know a man who would throw himself into the whirlpool more quickly to help," she said.
"He leaves today to train players for the heavenly games. Travel, Dule, my beloved friend and brother. Now even the sky is not your limit. And we do not recognize the past, you are, you will be and you remain," concluded Ognjenović.
Petar Peca Popović also addressed the audience, emphasizing that for him Duško Vujošević was "an example, he was a fairy tale creator, he was a builder and an incorruptible man."
"For years, he was the caretaker of the nest from which future basketball legends would take flight. He was able to do all of this because he dreamed like a child, thought like a scientist, analyzed like a psychologist, worked like a technologist, loved like a poet, and decided like an honorable judge. In doing so, he won his authenticity forever," said Popović, emphasizing that he did not only create players, but also people after his career.
He stated that he was a man who spared no expense and that it cost him his health.
"Thank you, Dule, for even existing here," said Popović.
On behalf of the Basketball Association of Serbia, Vice President Nenad Krstić spoke, saying that we are saying goodbye to a man who holds a special place in the history of Serbian basketball.
"His legacy is not only in trophies, but in people, in all the players who represent Serbian basketball today and carry part of what he taught them," said Krstić, who also recalled his first meeting with Vujošević on Zlatibor.
"He made people out of players, who believed that boundaries are only pushed when you give more than you think you can. On behalf of Serbian basketball, thank him for everything he did," added the former Partizan basketball player.
Partizan president Ostoja Mijailović said that Vujošević was not just a coach, but a man with attitude, character, and a man who never chose the easy way out and who always spoke the truth, no matter how much it hurt.
"I was lucky and honored to know him. His words were often the strength to endure and move on. Dulet's love for Partizan was a lifelong commitment, a part of his identity and his soul... Today, not just a coach is leaving, not just a legend, but a man who shaped generations and left a mark on everyone who knew him," said Mijailović.
The commemoration was attended, among others, by Željko Obradović, Aleksandar Đorđević, Predrag Danilović, Žarko Paspalj, Jofre Lauvergne, Vanja Marinković, Novica Veličković, Miroslav Berić, Dragan Todorić, Saša Pavlović, Ivo Nakić, Zoran Stevanović, Uroš Tripković, as well as Boris Tadić, Rasim Ljajić, Dejan Tomašević, Branko Ruzić...
Also present was the president of the Basketball Association of Montenegro and the head of Buducnost, Dragan Bokan.
Duško Vujošević will be buried later today in the Alley of Meritorious Citizens at the New Cemetery in Belgrade.
The Basketball Federation of Montenegro will also bid him farewell at a commemoration in Podgorica tomorrow.
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