Kirilenko: "Thanks to FIBA's New Competition System, more fans in different regions of Russia get to see our players"
MOSCOW - The World Cup Qualifiers are less than two days away and former Russia national team star turned Russian Federation President Andrei Kirilenko can't wait to see his team play at home
MOSCOW (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers are less than two days away and one person who cannot wait to see his team play at home is former Russia national team star turned Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) President Andrei Kirilenko.
In 2002-03 - the last time that in-season national team games were held in Europe, to qualify teams for FIBA EuroBasket 2003 - the versatile forward was in the early stages of what would turn out to be a stellar NBA career.
Looking back on his playing days, the former FIBA EuroBasket winner and Olympic bronze medalist points to missing out on the opportunity of playing meaningful official games at home, in front of his fans and family, as a major regret.
"AS RBF PRESIDENT, I'M REALLY HAPPY AND PROUD THAT RUSSIAN FANS WILL AGAIN HAVE A CHANCE TO WITNESS THE NATIONAL TEAM PLAY OFFICIAL GAMES - AND NOT JUST ONCE A YEAR BUT MULTIPLE TIMES." Kirilenko
"In all my years as a Russian national team player, I’ve been missing home games. Of course there were some preparation friendlies before major tournaments, but they can't be compared to any real competition," he told FIBA.basketball.
The 36-year-old, however, is excited that thanks to FIBA's New Competition System, Russian fans now get to watch the national team play regular home and away games once again.
"Now, as RBF President, I'm really happy and proud that Russian fans will again have a chance to witness their national team play official games - and not just once a year but multiple times. The new FIBA calendar grants us a great opportunity to promote and popularize basketball.
"Last year, we had a great experience with FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers here in Russia. Sell-out crowds created a great atmosphere at the games in Perm and Krasnodar. And there are more beautiful and basketball passionate cities in our huge country."
Russia open their China 2019 Qualifiers away to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, before hosting Belgium in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday, November 27, in front of a sell-out crowd.
"WE ARE HAPPY THAT THE FIRST-EVER RUSSIAN NATIONAL TEAM GAME IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD HAS DRAWN SO MUCH INTEREST WITH THE LOCAL FANS. IT SOLD OUT SO FAST, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE GAME." Kirilenko
"We are happy that the first-ever Russian national team game in Nizhny Novgorod - and our first home game of the World Cup Qualifiers - has drawn so much interest with the local fans. It sold out so fast, two weeks before the game. Considering the situation, with our colleagues in Nizhny Novgorod, we have tried to find ways in which to increase the venue's capacity by opening additional sectors of the arena that were not previously used in basketball configuration. We will announce the additional sales shortly.
"It's great that more and more basketball fans in different regions of Russia get to see the nation's players with their own eyes."
FIBA