Rio Olympics the target set for new Lebanon coach Matic

BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Championship/Olympics) - Veselin Matic has been appointed coach of Lebanon's national team.

His mission is to win titles in 2015 and to qualify Lebanon for the Olympics for the first time in their history.

"Our team is ready," Lebanese Basketball Federation president Walid Nassar said to FIBA.com. 

"We have a very, very good team (of players) this season. If you have a good team and a good coach, the work will be easier for both sides. They can help each other."

He held the reins to Lebanese side Sagesse in a spell that began in 2008 and ended in 2009.

Matic then became coach of Iran's national team and led it from 2009 through the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.

He steered Iran to the top of the podium at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship and then coached them at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Turkey.

His Iran team suffered an upset at the hands of Jordan in the Quarter-Finals of the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.

"We have a good coach, a good team and so we can join forces to reach our target," Nassar said. 

"Hopefully, we will be the champions of WABA (West Asia Basketball Championship) and Asia (FIBA Asia Championship). To reach the Olympics, this is our target."

Nassar says the national team committee that interviewed Matic was thorough.

"I'm convinced," he said. "I trust the committee of the national team and I let them have the freedom to do the evaluation. 

"Personally, I’ve had good feedback. He he has a good portfolio and the history is good." 

Matic has not only worked as a coach but also done clinics.

His familiarity of basketball in West Asia was a huge selling point.

"Definitely," Nassar said, "because the coach leading the Lebanese team should be aware of the culture, the education, the history of the participations of the region. 

"Since Matic knows Lebanon and Iran, he knows the competition and in addition to this, the report the committee wrote for me, he is aware of all the details in our (Lebanese league) championship. 

"He knows the players by name, by positions, the clubs, so this gives the committee good feedback for his knowledge, interest and concern."

When asked about the players at the disposal of Lebanon, Nassar answered: "We have the players that are qualified for the national team. 

"We have a lot of names but the coach is the one who will decide and as the president, I will not allow anyone to interfere with his choice. 

"No interference, no politics and only the coach, according to the performance of each player at each position. I will do my best."

Nassar believes there are two formidable teams that stand in the way of Lebanon and the Rio de Janeiro Games.

"For me, we have Iran and China," he said. 

"This is our main two teams that really will be serious competition but in all cases, I think that Lebanon this year in terms of the technical level, the players, etc ... I think we should benefit from this."

Nassar stressed the players in the national team set-up have a huge desire to put on the Lebanon jersey this year.

"All the players are excited and are waiting," he said. "They are in the middle of the Lebanon Championship and they know very soon we will call the team. 

"In Lebanon, due to the region and the wars, all the Lebanese are eager to raise and put up the Lebanese flags internationally." 

As for the specific timing of the preliminary squad announcement for WABA and the preparations for that event, and the FIBA Asia Championship, Nassar said: "The committee will talk to the coach next Monday during our board meeting to define the schedule, the events."

The venue and date of the WABA Championship has yet to be announced due to the conflicts in the region.

FIBA