DUBAI (UAE) - It has been challenging, to say the least, for Miodrag Perisic in laying the foundation of what he wants to build in Shabab Al Ahli.
We have so much space to upgrade this team. But we must be very patient about it.
The Serbian bench tactician assumed the head coaching position of UAE's top basketball club before 2024 ended and in between their 2024/2025 FIBA WASL game versus Al Ahli last Monday, he only had about 20 days into his term.
He's been with his new team for almost a month, yes, but they have yet to go through significant practices as the focus, for now, is on the games, juggling their busy schedule playing in the pan-regional contest and in the UAE League as well.
"Honestly, it's very hard for me because I joined this team 20 days ago, and this was only our seventh game. We don't have time to practice," admitted Perisic, who joined the organization after parting ways with another Dubai-based club, Al Wasl.
"Usually, I believe in the work. Usually, I believe in the practices. The games mirror practices," he added. "We have more games than practices in these 20 days."
Make no mistake, though. The 52-year-old isn't complaining whatsoever. He's only speaking about the situation with Shabab Al Ahli, and the straightforward mentor is actually thrilled in this fresh start with the inaugural BCL Asia runners-up.
Because they have been succeeding thus far. In their first seven games with him, they won six, including a 91-88 escape of the Bahraini side in WASL on their very own stomping grounds at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall.
Not only did they stay at no. 2 in Group A of the Gulf League with a 4-1 record but that win against Al Ahli also gave Perisic a triumphant league debut.
"It is what it is. It's most important that we won six out of seven games, but I think this team can do much more, and can do much better," he offered.
There has been much excitement with Perisic joining Shabab Al Ahli and that's warranted. In moving on from Oualid Zrida, the team now finds itself under the tutelage of one of the most revered coaches not just in this region but outside, too.
Known by most fans as the concurrent chief think-tank of the Lebanon men's team, some remember him as the one who steered US Monastir to the Basketball Africa League championship in 2022, where they beat Petro de Luanda in the Final.
One of those elated to have him on board is Hamed Lateef, with the rising star maximizing every opportunity to pick the brain of Perisic, who began his coaching career in 1999 and went on to find success in Lebanon, Bahrain, and Tunisia.
And he's been showing that he's applying what he's learning. Against Al Ahli, he delivered a WASL personal season-high 25 points on a 56.2-percent clip from the floor, alongside 4 rebounds and 2 steals - all without committing a single turnover.
"It's been amazing. It's a good experience. We are learning from him a lot," stated the UAE men's team standout. "We'll see what will happen next."
There is indeed a lot to look forward to with Perisic now at the helm for Shabab Al Ahli. But as exciting as it may seem., he'd rather focus on the present, particularly on the work that they all need to put in firstly before looking far ahead.
"We really need time to practice, to introduce ourselves much better, to understand what we want. So along the way, I hope we'll be better," he said. "We have so much space to upgrade this team. But we must be very patient about it."
FIBA