Partizan Belgrade in the 2021/22 season is a huge focus of interest in European basketball, although it will not play in the Euroleague.
The return of the great master Zhlimir Oberdovich and the quality staff he has built make it one of the attractive things of the season ahead.
Last week, it became even more interesting for the Israeli fan with the addition of Yam Madar.
Responsible for all this upheaval is the 42-year-old president Ostosia Mialowicz - a businessman, entrepreneur, politician and for the past four years the big boss of the Serbian club.
In an exclusive interview with "Israel Today", he provides us with a glimpse of one of the most intriguing clubs in Europe where the young Israeli coordinator will play.
How did you manage to bring a coach of Oberdovic's size to a club that does not play in the Euroleague?
"Jeliko and I have been friends for many years. From my first day at the club my ambition was to bring him back to where it all began (Partisan was the first team that Oberdovich coached and right from the start he took the European title with him).
Zeljko is a big fan of the club, and our ambitions at the moment have been integrated into his ambitions - to bring Partisan back to the top.
I am proud to be the president of a club that a basketball legend coaches. "
Mialovich, Photo: Partizan, Official Website,
What effect does the return of Zeljko Oberdovic create?
"The main winner is a partisan, but no less profitable is Serbian basketball as a whole, which was previously in a kind of question mark. Even the Adriatic league has lost its guaranteed ticket to the Euroleague. I am sure its arrival will have a positive impact on the Euroleague. Serbia is one of the most important basketball centers "But in this way it will be even more important."
It was recently quoted that Partisan is one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
"Thanks to tradition and achievements Partizan is a basketball brand in Europe with wonderful fans that are rarely seen in the world. Now, players see us as an attractive team to reach because we have the best coach of all time in the Euroleague. They also want to come because of the club's great ambitions."
"Serbia is crazy about basketball"
There are quite a few rivalries in European basketball, and one of the biggest is of course the city of Belgrade between Partisan and the Red Star.
Despite the huge rivalry Mialowicz sees the big picture and thinks the two teams deserve to be in the Euroleague together.
"Serbia is a country that is crazy about basketball and is its number one industry. The games between us and the Red Star fascinate the media. These are games of 20,000 spectators, and in the end the sport lives off advertising and broadcasting rights. I think Serbia's two big clubs together can add a lot to the Euroleague."
Zeliko Oberdovich with his players, Photo: Partizan Belgrade, official website,
Partisan wants to return to the Euroleague whether it is through the Eurocup (the two finalists will win a ticket to the Euroleague in the 2022/23 season) or through winning the Adriatic League.
To that end, she built the big and ambitious project.
"Returning to the Euroleague is of course at the top of our ambitions. We will fight to get the right results to get us there. However, the results are not guaranteed to anyone. We will work step by step to achieve them."
And now to the sea of Madar.
Despite his young age, 20, the Israeli recently received one of the biggest compliments a young basketball player can receive when Oberdovich chose him to play for him.
Mayalovich claims that despite joining the stars this summer, the club's base was and remains the young players.
"Stress is a big part of the matter"
"If we want to be competitive we have to take the best young people there are," he explains, "We will prove to everyone that this model is the most successful and stable. Madar is a great prospect, a great promise, a player who works very hard and of course very talented. "Well in Europe, I believe he will have a great opportunity to learn and develop significantly. I am very pleased that he came to us."
And how do you see his decision to reach you?
"I think he made a big decision by choosing us. Our club has produced a lot of great players who came out of Partisan, and I'm sure Madar will be one of them. His arrival at Partisan is a much more natural move than it seems at first glance.
"Israel and Serbia are friendly countries and many Israeli companies are investing in our country. Maybe some of them will join us as sponsors. A young Israeli player and promises that playing partisan will strengthen the commitment between the people and the two countries."
How do you think he will withstand the great pressure he will have?
"Stress is a big part of the matter. When he gets used to our pace, the great expectations of the great coach who coaches him and the great support of our many fans, he will know he has succeeded."
Yam Madar.
Coming to a big team, under a great coach, EPA photography,