M. Balčiūnas confirmed on Tuesday that there is no exact name yet to take over the helm of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team.
“I think that both you (journalists) and us (the federation) have the same names in mind. Several discussions and meetings are taking place. The decision will not be taken in haste, although it is clear that it must be prepared before the elections. The work is in progress”, said LKF general secretary M. Balčiūnas to the journalist of the portal lrytas.lt Erik Petrikas.
Many basketball experts say that Vilnius “Ryto” coach Giedrius Žibėnas, San Antonio Spurs coaching staff member Darius Songaila and Istanbul “Fenerbahce” strategist Šarūnas Jasikevičius are claiming to replace Kazi Maskvytis as national team coach.
However, lrytas.lt sources assure that on Tuesday evening, after the official LKF press conference, M. Balčiūnas also met with R. Kurtinaičius in Biršton.
“Delfi.lt” journalist Vaidas Čeponis assures that the general secretary of LKF offered R. Kurtinaičius to become the national team’s strategist.
It is also believed that R. Kurtinaitis, who is now coaching the Azerbaijan club “Sabah”, did not say “no”, although there were other opinions a few weeks ago.
“First of all, I really wouldn’t mind the FIBA windows, because my club will play in the FIBA Champions League,” R. Kurtinaitis said to the “Krepšinio svnidu” program about the possible offer to coach the Lithuanian national basketball team at the time. – But this is a difficult question. Yes, the prestige of the state. We talk to our friends, they all say that it is an honor to lead the national team. But I say – it’s a responsibility.
I haven’t worked in Lithuania for a year and a half, and high-ranking people from Azerbaijan called me, they allocated money, we created a club.
We won the championship, we are preparing to compete in the international arena, and I am just now saying that I have been offered to coach the national team. It doesn’t happen that way.
I’m not weird, I’m an honorable person. I was trusted – another country trusted me to carry its flag. I was free for a long time and could do something, act, but now I’m busy.”
2024-08-22 02:42:28