Media day of the men's Czech basketball team before the World Cup qualification matches at home against France and in Montenegro., February 20, 2023, Poděbrady.
Poděbrady – Czech basketball coach Ronen Ginzburg had to make two changes in the nomination for the final matches of the World Cup qualification against France and in Montenegro. Pivot Martin Peterka from Strasburg and point guard Ondřej Sehnal from Nymburk dropped out of the team due to medical conditions. They were replaced by Sehnal's club teammate Luboš Kovář and Ondřej Švec from USK Prague.
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< p>“Unfortunately, Martin Peterka has some problems with his back. He appeared here, but after consultation with the team doctor, it was decided quite clearly that he will return to the club. He will rehabilitate there so that he can be in action as quickly as possible. We called Luboš Kovář in his place, assistant coach Jan Pospíšil told journalists before tonight's training session in Poděbrady.
“Ondra Sehnal has had a high temperature for quite some time and has not been feeling well for several days, so we were forced to call on Ondřej Švec,” added Pospíšil to the second change in the fourteen-member staff. The players started meeting on Sunday and were complete only today. With no chance of advancing to the summer championships in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan, they will welcome a certain World Cup participant France in Pardubice on Thursday and will play in Podgorica against Montenegro on Sunday.
The squad includes a complete newcomer, Jakub Slavík from Opava. In addition to Sweden, David Böhm from USK Prague, Ondřej Hanzlík from Girona and Czech-Canadian James Karnik from Geneva will gain further representative experience, Petr Šafarčík from Pardubice returns after a year.
“It is an ideal space for us to either renovate the old faces or introduce new ones. Ondra Hanzlík completed part of the training camp with us before the Olympic qualification. He was already part of the preparatory matches in Hamburg, Ondra Švec played in the last window. They are players who have some perspective for the future, they should take over the reins and have a bigger role in the national team,” said Pospíšil.
Pivot Patrik Auda, who is playing his third season in Yokohama, traveled from Yokohama at the end of the qualifiers. During the coronavirus crisis, he was deprived of some important events of the national team due to travel restrictions to Japan.
“I wanted to fly to all the windows during the season in recent years. The last time we had an agreement with (team manager) Michal I thought I would fly, but unfortunately I got injured and it wasn't possible. Now it was the first window in the years when the rules around covid or injury allowed me to fly, so of course I wanted to,” said Auda.
” For me, matches with that team, whether they're qualifiers or friendlies, mean a lot. I like the team here, there's always a great atmosphere. At the same time, I take it as a bit of a departure from the stereotype of the season. I'll gain new energy . And the other thing is that I could be home for a few days and see my family,” added Auda.
