“I left home and it’s important for me to say sorry”

Despite the night curfew in Athens and the country’s corona restrictions, Oded Katash’s Greek experience is still very hectic – and the coming period will be particularly busy. “There is no choice, you have to adapt to a crazy schedule,” says coach Panathinaikos in an interview from his apartment in the Greek capital.

Katsh (46), whose family will join him at a later stage, managed to go out last night with his team to an away game in the Greek league, which ended in an 89:98 victory over the bottom team Larissa. Tomorrow he will fly to the Euroleague game against Real Madrid, which will take place on Wednesday, will return for another game in the same frame against Valencia, and will first meet the top team Promitaas in the local league.

The transfer of the coach of the Israeli national team to the Greek luxury club, with which he won the Euroleague as a player, was very fast. “I did not expect to receive such an application,” says Katsch. “It does not make sense to leave a club like Hapoel Jerusalem in the middle of the season, but then you understand that there is a special situation here. Unlike players who receive offers to upgrade, to penetrate the club of Euroleague coaches is something that does not happen much, so I did not want to give up.”

So much so that he did not want to give up, as Katsch reveals here, that he decided to give up quite a bit of money that would come down from his future salary in Greece. He paid himself half of the 100,000 dollars that Hapoel Jerusalem received as compensation. “It’s part of the business,” the coach says, “and it’s fine.”

Beyond the professional leap, there is also a risk here. You came to a glorious club that won six European Championships, but crumbled financially, and suffered from capricious and failed management this season in the Euroleague.
“I know and know everything. Since Zeljko Oberdovic no coach has been a huge success here, but now I feel much more due to the role. I know what I want and am willing to bear any outcome. It’s not that other teams would come to me in the summer and place me “Among the favorite coaches. It was clear to me that my chance could only come in a special situation, and that happened thanks to my connection with Panathinaikos.”

You returned to the place where you reached the peak of your career, and on the other hand also the place where you ended it due to injury. A sense of deja vu?
“There is no audience that can give you these feelings, no walking the streets, and no contact with fans. We are quite closed in isolation, but from the club I hear the mutual excitement, from people I played with or were in the club while I was, and some became senior officials, Like Dimantidis, Albertis and Claitsis. “

What is the difference between Hapoel Jerusalem and Panathinaikos?
“Expectations from the name Panathinaikos are high. Everyone understands that in the situation that has arisen, there is a gap in the ability to realize them. The two lowest budgets in the Euroleague are us and Alba Berlin. It is pretty clear to everyone that Pana’s audience is very influential, also on budgetary interest. And it’s pretty clear to everyone that the goal is to take a championship and a trophy in Greece. “

But in the absence of Olympiacos from the league, the double is actually a required thing.
“Taking a championship and a trophy is something that needs to happen, even though a trophy is more tricky.”

After the basketball association decided to continue as coach of the team, which has already secured its promotion to Eurobasket next summer, Katsch reveals that its two games next month will be his last in office.

“In the age of windows, there is a clash between the Euroleague and Fiba, and as I see myself in the next stage of my career, this is a situation that will not be possible for me at the moment. I will finish the contract in October, leaving a last window of games that was important for me to be a part of after four years. To finish something I was proud of. “

Can a Euroleague coach not be a national team coach?
“Not for long. In any case, we have already qualified, and these are two games for the record.”

Feeling we have ‘Run out of gas’ emotionally as a national team coach, heading into the next generation’s boom?
“Not to be missed. I feel it was a great and proud privilege in the process we did.”

Are you ready for the Euroleague level?
“The significant change for me is the intensity. The years in Jerusalem have prepared me for this thing. I look at Panathinaikos and can say that in daily conduct, working with Eyal Chomsky and Guy Harel is completely a top Euroleague level.”

There were also those who criticized your decision to leave.
“I fully understand this, it’s also part of the set of feelings I had, so from the audience’s point too it’s okay. I apologize to those who were hurt, and it’s important to me that they read my explanations here and understand. It was a decision made with a heavy heart. “Not only sorry, but also thank you for all the experiences in Jerusalem, and thank you to those who sent me embracing and understanding messages.”

You had a very fast connection with Jerusalem.
“It’s a family. An element that comes from the top of the pyramid and is expressed in the fact that they are making a real family revolution there. It’s hard to find such connected fans. We’ve built big things professionally in the last two and a half years, and in the locker room, and my heart is still there. The team is currently no less than any other preparation of mine. “

In the European Champions League, this has not been a big success this season.
“It was very difficult for me to lose in my last game as Jerusalem coach, after we were significantly led against Turk Telecom. I more than ever want the team to win tomorrow in France and advance to the next stage.”

Last year you had a great team in Jerusalem, which ended without titles because of the Corona.
“In European basketball, the Corona hit Hapoel Jerusalem more, and at the Euroleague level at Anadolu Zero. We had a crazy synergy and a chance to make a historic season. I was one player’s gap from doing that. This is a team I would go to the Euroleague with.

Can the team you had last season in Jerusalem compete at the level of Panathinaikos?
“In the Euroleague and Panathinaikos, I would go with them everywhere.”

You had a great term in the capital, with two trophies, but you did not succeed in the championship time of the championship or Europe.
“I agree. Anyone who wants to look at things this way – no problem, just keep in mind that the Final Four and the Cup are knockout games. So there is no big difference, and we made two trophies. In Europe we are unlucky with injuries. As a coach the way was important to me, and here we were “Dominant, with a chance to compete for degrees. This is a success for me.”