Bartzokas: "It’s a huge social intervention"
The coach of Olympiacos, Giorgos Bartzokas talked about the importance of the “Mondays’ Games against COVID” initiative and stated to be proud for everything the team Presidents have been doing.
“These Monday games are an excellent initiative of our team and we thank ERT for covering them because they give our fans an opportunity to watch the team as well as some guys that don’t get many minutes with the Euroleague. It’s a win-win. We get into playing rhythm competing against serious teams, like Kolossos and from there on we have a lot of messages that we wish to convey. I believe it’s a huge social intervention. I feel really proud about what the presidents have been doing on this aspect. It’s important for the people to become familiar with our great contribution to hospitals. I feel very happy to be a member of Olympiacos”.
Recently, the coronavirus ‘struck’ the ‘reds’. When asked to comment, he said: “Unfortunately, this is a sign of the times. The coronavirus simply cost us a game and quality during practice. That’s what the cost for us has been. Others have suffered much larger losses, they have lost people, so we cannot have a negative assessment on our part. We are very well aware of what’s been happening in the world. All the teams have been losing players and COVID is certainly this season’s Euroleague protagonist, because it plays a very large role as to the results. But we are happy now, because all four of our players are back now. Two did not play tonight, while the other two have started practicing and I believe they are going to be back soon… Plus Harrison and McKissic, who did not play tonight. I think that when we are all back together, we are going to be really good”.
On whether he thinks the team schedule to be ‘heavy’, he stressed: “I don’t think the schedule is heavy, what interests me is how well you prepare and how well you get to play at the game. If your team is healthy, then the schedule does not seem that heavy. If the team is not well, then it seems as if you have a mountain to climb. If we are in good shape we are going to be competitive and we’ll be getting results”.
Asked about the most positive outcome of the game, he replied: “The most positive thing was not the competition part! First of all, we got to see a very good organization, you helped with the TV broadcast, the club’s charity goals are very important… I felt it was a game that brings us out of our daily routine of too much practicing and at the same time, I feel very happy because it’s an important social intervention”.
About the game against CSKA in Moscow, he commented: “Let’s see how many players we are going to have available… We are going after this game. Olympiacos does not let any game go unchallenged, regardless of how tough the opponent is. We can be competitive everywhere. This is what the Euroleague proves this season, that everyone can beat everyone else”.