Erolld Belegu: We are very thankful to BIBL

Mr. Erolld Belegu is the president of Kosovo basketball federations which last month became FIBA′s newest member. Few days ago they held a special celebration in Prishtina and here is what Belegu had to say regarding all this:

- What does this day and March 13 mean for Kosovo basketball and for the country in general?
- First, having in mind the whole situation, it was a very very happy day. We were informed in the evening before and by 10 o′clock everybody was tweeting, including the president, the prime minister, other ministers, other people, Facebook was all on to this. So basically for 24 hours we lived with this, let′s say success, because after 24 years of isolation we finally managed to become a member of FIBA. From one side this is kind of a political victory, not over someone, but victory for us, and on the other side it′s also a big obbligation for us. While we were competing in the Balkan League we were under a little bit of a stress if some flag of Kosovo will be somewhere, or this or that, because of the restrictions. I think that from now on we can really concentrate on only one thing - how to play the game.

- How important for the recognition was the fact that two years ago Balkan League accepted two teams from Kosovo?
- Now it′s time to play and the first that allowed us to were the Balkan League. We are very thankful to BIBL - to Mr. Assen Christov, to Mr. Shay Shtriks and also to mr. Lubomir Kotleba who supported first this idea. I know that also other federations supported us and it was very very important and at a crucial moment for Kosovo basketball.

- What the future holds now for Kosovo basketball?
- First I hope that we′ll have two finalists in EUROHOLD Balkan League and I think that will be another success after the recognition. First I wish the Balkan League to be as strong as possible next season and I wish that our teams will continue to play in it. For us as a federation the most important thing is the national team. Because being the president of the federation until now we had to deal with local league, then came the Balkan League, although it was mostly dealt by the clubs. Now though as a federation our obbligation is to deal at international level and now we are going to see where really Kosovo basketball is.