Sergey Kushchenko: We must not repeat last year mistakes

10.07.2005
Sergey Kushchenko and Shimon Mizrahi (photo cskabasket.com)
Right after the end of Euroleague Draw 2005/06 ceremony CEO of CSKA Sergey Kuschenko has comment its results:

- I think Group C is very strong, the strongest in fact. There are ix teams that are at a great level with organization, sportswise. We have two teams of the Spanish league and that is dangerous. Unicaja has been a very strong team lately and Real Madrid is just the champ in Spain. Ulker also will have a big budget and good players next season. CSKA and Panathinaikos were at the last Final Four.

I think that sums it up. There will be six teams fighting for five berths in the Top 16. Group A is maybe the lowest level group if that can be said in the Euroleague. The teams are all good but many of them have changed coaches, players... that always makes them be a little bit lost until they find their rhythm. And Group B is probably in the middle. It has the Euroleague champ, Maccabi, and the rest are also great teams. Lietuvos Rytas is a team with heart and strong personality and ambition. I think they will make the Top 16.


CSKA will hold the first game at home. Is it good?

- Of course. We are building new team and will play several games in Russian League before the start in Euroleague.

When the building of roster will be over?

- I hope that we will finish it in 10-14 days. Now our negotiations moved to the final stage. Now it is very interesting situation - local clubs have money to buy serious players, but there not so many free players to buy. Many of them have multiyears contracts or want to continue their career in NBA.

What can you say about tasks of CSKA for this season?

- We will determine our tasks after the end of the roster building. But today I can say that our main goal - to not repeat mistakes of the last year and bring team to the main games in the best form.