The Basketball Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina is left without Aleksandar Lazić and assistant coach Zoran Petković ahead of the trip to Lithuania, where the Dragons await the next World Cup qualification matches.
As confirmed to N1, their departure was not a sporting decision but the result of alleged pressure from Milorad Dodik, who asked national team members playing for BC Igokea to leave.
It is important to emphasize that the duo did not leave the national team; rather, they were under heavy pressure to do so.
Lazić Set Off with the Team but Did Not Continue the Journey
On Saturday, Lazić, along with the teammates and coaching staff, set off by bus from Tuzla to Belgrade. The plan was for the team to continue the journey to Vilnius from the Nikola Tesla airport.
However, before reaching the airport, the situation changed. The SNSD President, Milorad Dodik, contacted the people from the national team and requested Lazić’s return to Laktaši.
Allegedly, he was told that, if he remained with the national team, he could get fired from Igokea, the club he plays for.
In the end, Lazić did not continue his journey to Lithuania.
Petković Also Left the National Team
Zoran Petković, who also works for Igokea as the coaching staff assistant of the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, found himself in a similar situation.
He also left the team, and Istraga.ba reported that both were faced with the possibility of losing their jobs at the club if they stayed in the national team.
According to the same source, pressure is being put on other Serbs playing for the BiH national team.
Banner in Tuzla: Alleged Reason for Reacting
The reason behind this move is a banner appearing at the stands during the match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy in the Mejdan hall, Tuzla, which marked the death of the finally convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić.
On Friday night, Bosnia and Herzegovina achieved a major victory against Italy, and Lazić scored seven points.
The Dragons should arrive in Vilnius today, where they will play a qualification match against Lithuania on Monday.
Lazić and Petković have been part of the national team system of Bosnia and Herzegovina; thus, their sudden departure represents a serious blow to the team ahead of the important game, N1 writes.
