Among quite a few Hapoel Jerusalem fans, the month of March of 2020 marks more than just a date on the calendar.
This was the month when the corona virus broke out and changed the world as we knew it, taking with it hostage the sports events around the world, and of course not forgetting the basketball league in Israel.
That team assembled by Oded Ketch in the Arena presented spectacular basketball, gave its fans lots of reasons for optimism and caused them to have a sparkle in their eyes and big dreams, which were interrupted in one moment when the shelter went down and shut down the industry for a few months, a few weeks after the team won the state cup.
That lost spark is then linked to the epidemic and its effects on the team's financial situation, as well as the ability to attract the amount of crowd that filled the arena for big games just a few years before.
Even an attempt to bring back the spark by signing big names with a past in the NBA like Anthony Bennett and Thon Maker failed to solve the problem, until Aleksandar Džikić arrived.
When the hot-tempered coach signed in the capital, it was clear to everyone that he would build a squad in his image and likeness, which would be reflected in the selection of foreigners, who would match his style and play for the team in a cohesive squad without big names.
However, from the first moment and already in the opening practice of the Reds, it was possible to see that the real star is not on the floor but on the lines, wearing a unique vest that serves as his trademark.
Džikić, despite being a foreign coach, did his homework and arrived ready for the job.
As someone who grew up in the luxury clubs of Serbia, he understood the importance of the crowd in the club, and despite his tough appearance he expressed his love for the red crowd and spoke to his heart.
After the team's home games, the coach was able to visit the business house next to the entrance gates to the hall and the one that hosts the team's fans before and after games.
Džikić enters the store after every game, is welcomed by the fans, takes a picture with anyone who wants it and goes home.
The coach's roars into the microphone towards the crowd at the end of the home game against Bnei Herzliya, and his request to fill the stands in the upcoming game against French Dijon ("10,000 on Wednesday"), were the evening when the club began selling shirts with the Serbian's portrait emblazoned on them in the product store.
They soon became the most sought after product and were snapped up more than any other item, even more than team uniforms.
Dzikic with Cornelius, photo: Liron Moldovan
Adheres to subtleties
Despite his colorful character, Džikić is a quiet and withdrawn person, who is entirely focused on his profession.
The Serb came to Israel alone and spends most of his time on the floor, when he has little free time he spends in his apartment.
"I still haven't had time to get to know the city, maybe in the future I'll go out a little more," he shared honestly.
The Serbian requires his players to pay close attention to the small details, light or serious, and in many cases he even stopped training to teach his trainees subtleties that to a person watching from the side appear to be meaningless, such as the angle of entry to block the tall player or the position of the defensive player on a specific line of the field in the regional defense.
Between training sessions, the coach requires his players to maintain a proper lifestyle, avoid unnecessary physical activity, and minimize environmental factors that could distract them or harm their rest.
Noam Dovaret's injury was personally difficult for the coach, who saw the young guard as a personal project.
The coach, who also has a degree in psychology, used to criticize Dovrat a lot and even seemed to criticize him in games, but the player also soon realized that with the coach the message is the main thing and there is no intention of shouting to hurt him or his status.
Dzikich with Chomsky.
At first the composition looked strange, photo: Liron Moldovan
"I remind him of Serbian style"
Another example that can testify to the special relationship with his players is that of Or Cornelius.
The guard, who has come an impressive long way that started in the national league and reached its peak this summer, when he signed in the capital, was not initially marked as someone who would be a senior Israeli in the team.
But with Džikić, Cornelius got a platform from the first moment, as he is the only player in the team who started in the top five in all 14 league games.
Also, he leads the Israelis in the club in playing minutes with 25 minutes per evening, more than he received in Hapoel Gilboa/Galil.
"The coach demands a lot, and it doesn't matter if I'm a five player or out of the rotation. He wants me to work and improve, and makes sure to challenge me in his ways. He calls me 'Serbian'. I asked him once why he calls me that, so he replied that I remind him In the style of tough Serbian players," the guard said in a conversation with Israel Hayom.
"There are days when we finish a three-hour training session, and he tells me 'only after you hit 18 three-pointers in a row can you go home.'
Tonight, Džikić's apprentices will go up to the first match of the 16th round of the Champions League, a position in which the team has not been for three years.
The thousands of fans who are expected to come to support her will do it for five players on the floor, and one star who runs the show from the sidelines.
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