"Put the Israeli basketball player at the center" | Israel today

"When I was a kid, everyone told me to give up on my dreams" • "We need to be part of the decision-making process" • "Senior players in Israel are afraid to admit it is difficult for them" • Oded Shashua retires from basketball and begins his role as CEO of the players' association • Interview

• Encourage amusement.

  "The Israeli basketball player should be at the forefront"

  Photography: 

  Udi quote

Although he sat at home like most people in the State of Israel, a busy summer passed for Oded Shashua - on an emotional and practical level.

"After a basketball career that lasted 20 years, he decided to retire, and at the same time was appointed general manager of the players' organization. The goal: to take him on a new path.

" When we entered the first closure, I saw that I was not hungry to play and train, so I decided to retire. " Israel Today "," This decision was very difficult, because you actually understand that it is no longer this and that you can be real with yourself or lie to yourself and the next group in which I will close.

I do not know what would have happened if not for the corona, but one of the positive things about this epidemic is that you connect to yourself and can hear your natural voice speak.

That voice told me to retire.

"

" I had a challenging journey.

In parts of it I expressed myself and in some parts not.

I'm proud of myself, because from where I came from and in relation to the things I received as a child - it's not at all obvious.

"When I was a kid, no one told me I could be a player. I was always the lowest on the team and without prominent physical data. Almost everywhere I was told to give up my dreams, but my commitment to the goal and the fact that I did everything I needed to do made me jump. And to be in the top of Israeli basketball for many years.

"I could have made a much bigger career and gone much further if it wasn't for fear that was what motivated me.

I had to afford to dream bigger dreams.

That's one of the reasons I want to help young players, because I know what I was missing.

Amusement (38) talks about helping young people, he means it. In recent months, new winds are blowing in the organization's management, and selected players. The management - like Guy Pnini, Oz Blazer, Yaara Yitzhaki, Lee Kapitolnik and others - are pushing for drastic changes and the establishment of a full shell for Israelis. The move should lead to amusement.

"One of the first things we want to emphasize is women's basketball.

It is important for us to bring him back to the center of the stage.

Today there are a lot of wrong things being done, like the fact that the league lasts half a year at most.

We need to make the league longer and more interesting.

"In addition, our goal is for every Israeli player to know that he has all the help he will need from senior players, to be mentors for young people. "In everything possible. The career of basketball players is not long, and in the end they should come out with tools that will allow them to continue living and progressing. We are looking for sponsors who will support this process."

Amusement on the right as an actor.

"There are many things to fix" // Photo: Alan Schieber

Amusement is aware of the unhealthy discourse that exists between the players' organization, the league administration and the basketball association.

"There are many things we need to fix for the Israeli basketball player to be at the forefront, because unfortunately we are not there yet. We need to trust the Israeli players more and put the focus on their development. We have a talented young generation, and we need to make sure he gets the right opportunity, the reward. The hope is that we will create a positive dialogue with the union and the administration and stop with the media that is done only through the media

. B.I.

The organization of the players is a professional factor, and in fact the body that lives the game from within, so our voice needs to be heard.

In my opinion, in a combination of these three bodies, Israeli basketball will get to better places. "

In recent years, in parallel with his playing career in the National League, amusement accompanies players mentally, and he points to an important problem." The perception in Israel is that successful players and people are always on top.

This creates a lack of awareness about the vulnerability that exists in them.

Even the players themselves are less allowed to show that they are vulnerable and admit that they are under pressure, that it is difficult for them and that they do not know how to deal with it.

"In my experience, I can say that the mental aspect makes up at least 80 percent of a player's success. I've seen a lot of not the most talented players who were much more successful than talented players - just because they were mentally strong. Fortunately, in recent years there has been a bit more openness on the subject. On the mental issue and emphasis is placed on it. "