The power of the 6th player in Kosovo

We often say that in team sports a very important role to any club success is connected to the fans. We have seen a lot of games, not only basketball ones, being turned by a great support by spectators and this has been underlined by coaches, players and management. Two days ago in Prishtina the local KB Sigal Prishtina hosted BC Rilski Sportist in a first Final game of EUROHOLD Balkan League. The gym was full and the fans offered a great support to their team. Their role in the team′s wins has been crucial as has been also of the fans of KB Peja as the team reached the semifinal. This is why the Sports Director of EUROHOLD Balkan League - Mr. Shay Shtriks, wanted to mention the atmosphere that was created during the games in Kosovo and to also underline the importance of the so called - 6th player in basketball:
 
"In each team we are always looking to find the best 6th player on the roster. I can definitely say that KB Sigal Prishtina and KB Peja have such a player and it′s the greatest and most fantastic fans that they have.

During my 30 years as a referee, with 20 of them international, I have officiated all over the world. I′m coming from a basketball country and I have officiated games with 11 000 spectators, games with 3 000 spectators and games with 50 spectators. I have officiated in the biggest arenas in Europe and also in the smallest gyms around. And now I can say that in very few places I have found such a great and correct support from spectators like in the sports halls in Prishtina and Peja.

We in EUROHOLD Balkan League are lucky, every night when we have games in Kosovo, to have such a fantastic and great atmosphere. Three years ago almost everybody warned us that in each game we′ll have problems with the basketball fans in Kosovo. On 20.09.2013 I saw the game for the Super Cup of Kosovo. It was really a difficult task to watch as too many broken chairs were flying between the fans of Sigal Prishtina and Peja and really no one was interested to see the action on the court. For the last 3 weeks though, during the Semifinal games in Kosovo and the first Final in Prishtina, I saw only basketball spectators - women, men, children, and all of them focused on how they can support their favourite team and they found the way to respect the visiting squad.

In Peja, after the team lost to Rilski Sportist, the spectators stood and paid respect in the most beautiful way to the visiting team that won in their home court. It was a great moment for the basketball.

Two days ago in Prishtina the gym was full more than one and a half hours before the game started. People were singing. People were happy seeing the two teams play. The fans supported Sigal Prishtina but they never went against Rilski Sportist in any bad way. The spectators respected the referees decisions. They knew that this is a Final game and their last at home for season 2014/2015 in EUROHOLD Balkan League so they gave their best. It was one of the best basketball atmospheres I′ve ever seen and I′m sure that a lot of basketball people that saw the game think the same way.

The basketball players and the management of both KB Sigal Prishtina and KB Peja are lucky to have such great fans and again, we in EUROHOLD Balkan League are thankful and appreciate the way and the respect which all the fans are giving to the matches in BIBL.

I do hope that in the upcoming final matches in the Kosovo league, the fans will continue to support the local team and the basketball game, and will also respect the players, coaches and referees. Let′s make the basketball game the best game in Kosovo and show all over the world that supporting your loving club can be done in the best sports way.

Thank you again great fans and I hope to see you all in Balkan League fore season 2015/2016."
 
 
" target="_blank">VIDEO OF THE PRESENTATION OF KB SIGAL PRISHTINA AND BC RILSKI SPORTIST AND THE MVP AWARD OF DARDAN BERISHA