It’s been already four months since Dusan Ivkovic became the head coach of CSKA. In that time all of the fans and journalists have had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the biography of the Yugoslavian guru. And there was little information about another legionnaire coach. We decided to fill you in and introduce you to CSKA assistant Ivan Eremic.
- "When did you first meet Ivkovic?" was the first question to Eremic.
In 1973. At that time I had just started to play basketball, and Ivkovic was my first coach in the Belgrade club Radnicki. At that time he worked with young players, and after that - two years later - he went to Partizan, and we went our different ways.
- Did you stay with Radnicki?
In the 72-73 season Radnicki became the Yugoslavian champions, but didn’t get their medals. To few played in the main roster. After that I had a very serious injury and was forced to quit basketball and become a coach at age 19. In the beginning I worked with the youth teams at Red Star. I had some success, awards and titles. After that I began to coach men’s teams. I lead the Belgrade team Beovuke from the lower division to the first national division at that time. After that I became coach of the Yugoslavian Junior National team and worked with OKK Belgrade. I spent several years in the lower leagues with teams such as Stari Grad, which was the select Serbian youth team. And my last job before CSKA was with the Libyan national team, with which I won the Arab country championship. I have worked with Dusan as an assistant on several occasions. I saw how he worked while he was in Greece. So you could say that we stayed in contact and remained friends.
- Is it normal for Yugoslavia that you became a coach so early - at age 19?
I didn’t have any other choice. I love basketball very much, but I couldn’t play. The doctors categorically forbade me. But now I have 20 years of coaching experience.
- And were your internships at Olympiacos and other clubs with Dusan extended ones?
No. Only about 15-20 days apiece.
- So as a coach this is the first time you’ve really worked together with Ivkovic?
Yes, and it’s a great honor. To me he’s the number-one coach in Europe. And I’m not saying this just because I’m his assistant, but because I truly think so. For me, just the fact that he asked me to work together with him is a great honor.
- In your time in Russia, have you learned anything new for yourself about Russian basketball? Maybe it revealed to you some new players?
When we arrived we didn’t know much about the teaching system here. But we had plenty of information about the players. Personally, I have followed the Russian national team closely over the past 10 years. Here I’ve personally met many talented players such as Monya and Khryapa, not to mention Panov, Bashminov and the Pashutin brothers.
- And what about the rest of the teams? In your opinion, are there a lot of talented young Russians?
This year I was at the European Championships in Lithuania and watched the Russian national team. I can say without a doubt that Russian basketball has a great future.
- Recently the opinion has been increasingly expressed that talent is not a problem in Russia, but rather that there is a lack of coaching. What do you think about this?
I’m not used to your coaching system. In Yugoslavia it’s done differently. The school there is based on clubs which train their players for themselves from the very beginning. Here the switch from school to clubs happens at a very late stage for your players.
- And is there difference for you between working in Russia, Libya or some other country?
No. Right now I’m working for CSKA and all of my thoughts are focused on this team. But I am a professional and can work in any country. It’s my bread and butter, and it’s what my family lives from.
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