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Not only Lithuanian and foreign basketball players, but also coaches continue their colorful and unique career in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL). One of the most stable and well-known specialists in the championship is the Serbian, who leads Panevėžys Lietkabelius for the third year in a row. Nenad Canakas.
During the pandemic, while the match unfolds without spectators, N.Čanak can really replace the “sixth player” of his team: the 204 cm tall specialist is the tallest of all the coaches in the Betsafe-LKL championship, he has 19 years of professional basketball experience and 8 years working in a coaching position.
Throughout Čanak’s career in Serbia, he maintained a very close and beautiful relationship with the Partizan team in Belgrade, where he signed his first professional contract in 1993, when he was a minor.
Subsequently, N. Chanak began his career as a legionary, during which he mixed six different countries, joining in the gaps, as he puts it, the most expensive Belgrade team.
But while still playing basketball professionally, N. Čanakas clearly knew how his life would unfold after playing the last game. Between training and competition, the basketball player managed to complete the training course and learn the subtleties of this profession; as he says, there was no question about this movement then or now.
In 2010, Chanak was still playing in Cyprus, but it was in this sunny country with stunning beaches that he realized it was time to retire. While playing in Cyprus, N.Canak experienced that unpleasant feeling, but unfortunately close to all basketball players.
“It just came to our knowledge then. You always think that you can still play at a high level, but other people don’t believe it anymore (laughs, aut.). It’s hard to admit that you are not what you were anymore,” said the LKL coach. .lt, Lietkabelis.
N. Čanakas spent his last year as a professional in a team called “Železničar India”. For Lithuanians, this might seem like an extremely exotic end to their career in India, but in this case, as the manager assured with a smile, India was just a small town in Serbia.
After graduating from his career, N.Čanakas became the director the same year. assistant coach on the Mega Basket team. He proved himself and the coach headquarters of the Serbian U-20 national team, and after this experience he joined his life team, Partizan, very soon.
In 2017, for the first time in his life, N. Čanakas became a boss. as a coach – symbolic, but this position was entrusted to him at the same club in Belgrade, where at the age of 17 he ran onto the field for the first time and made his debut in men’s basketball.
It is true that the friendship with Partizan did not last long. It was full of different emotions and colors, it was also marked with the Serbian Cup trophy, but it ended up far from being the most beautiful form.
“After a painful defeat, I no longer felt the support of my organization, I had to change something, I made the decision to resign,” recalled N. Chanakas.
As soon as N. Čanakas resigned from the “Partizan” team, practically that same night, as the coach himself says, he was called up by the then owner of the “Lietkabelis” Jonas Vainauskas. Serb now recalls that the first and only call was enough to convince him to come personally to Panevėžys that day.
“The same night, the agent told me that he was interested in a club in Lithuania, which is playing in the FIBA Champions and Betsafe-LKL leagues. Soon Jonas Vainauskas called, he already knew who he was. In fact, we don’t need a lot of conversations , I agreed to join the team almost at the same time, ”said the coach.
And although N.Čanakas already calls Panevėžys and Lietkabelis home, the stuntman has a quiet but very clear dream next: to one day train the ALBA team in Berlin. According to N. Chanako himself, ALBA has no equal not only in Germany, but also throughout Europe.
“ALBA is the best organization in Europe, I say it with courage (…) Without a doubt, this is my dream. Forming ALBA would be a dream come true. I don’t have NBA dreams, I have an ALBA dream, ”said the coach bravely.
– Trainers, first of all, how are your days during this quarantine?
I do very simple things: we have a lot of training, I watch videos at home, I analyze the opponents, I prepare for the matches. Those days run, everything around basketball, I don’t feel much difference, everything is similar.
– You played the last match of the championship against Nevėžis-Optibet and won it by 29 points. It’s not hard to remember that last year, after the loss, you talked to the same team about the biggest shame of your life. Are you still thinking the same way?
I keep thinking the same way. Really. There is never a problem losing a single game, but when you don’t react to anything, playing backwards from what it should be is a tragedy. Those games were a nightmare, without defense, but without communication, without enthusiasm. It was a very, very bad show. I guarantee that I haven’t felt much embarrassment in my career. I’ve said it before, now I’m thinking the same.
– And what do these fluctuations show: the same team, but completely different scenarios?
This year we also lost to Kėdainiai. I don’t know why, but at the beginning of the season we didn’t look good, far from it. The most important thing is to keep working, there is nothing miraculous in basketball, following the same rules, you have to work, then defend, run, leave, talk. Without these things, basketball would not be basketball.
– You said there are no easy games in LKL. And when did you first feel it? How long did it take you to assess the general level in Lithuania?
I knew where it came from. I knew that Lithuania is a basketball country, I always respected this country’s basketball, even when I was not here. Sometimes you find yourself playing against the team at the bottom of the tournament table and you may think it will be easy. But no, the LKL is not like that, here all the teams know it and can play well, my team and I have experienced it more than once. Well maybe it’s easy for “Žalgiris” here, there’s no easy duel for everyone else here.
– You have been working at Panevėžys for the third year. Three years in a club for a coach these days should mean a good, close relationship. What is the connection between you and Lietkabelis, what do you give the club and what does the club give you?
Now I can boldly call Lietkabel my home, my team. Of course, no coach would be on the team for three years if he didn’t feel good here. I feel very good here, I can already call the club leaders and other positions my friends. We are not just collaborators, we are friends.
– And between coaches and players, in your opinion, what is friendship?
– All for one and one for all. Everyone here is the same. Sure, I’m a coach and it’s a must, but we’re all here together
– You mentioned that you heard several criticisms about Panevėžys before your arrival. And did you really have to face at least one unpleasant situation while you were here?
Absolutely not, I would never feel anything unpleasant at all. I feel really safe and comfortable here, my family likes it too. Only the best words about Panevėžys.
– Coaches, and where are your children’s careers? Are you interested in basketball?
My children are huge fans of Lietkabelis. I’d say maybe even the biggest fans on the team. They both play basketball, they are interested in him, but I have never done it and I will not pressure him, they will choose this path if they want. The oldest son is already clear that he will not be a basketball player because he is studying at the university, interested in other things. The younger ones train more, but so far I do not promise anything, here is your complete choice. In fact, I don’t even think about it much.
– Try to remember 2018. How do you find a coach working in Belgrade in Panevėžys, what is your story?
I trained the Partizan team. There were good sections with him, but also worse. After a painful defeat, I no longer felt the support of my organization, I had to change something, I made the decision to resign. The same night, the agent told me that he was interested in a Lithuanian club, which played in the FIBA Champions League and in the LKL. Soon Jonas Vainauskas called, he already knew who it was. In fact, we don’t need a lot of conversations, I agreed to join the team almost at the same time.
– Was one call enough?
Yes, one call was enough. He just wanted to work as a coach, at that moment it seemed like a new challenge, a new opportunity. I also appreciated the level of basketball in Lithuania, I really wouldn’t consider it for a long time. Now I can say that I really do not regret this decision.
– You started playing professional basketball when you were 17 years old. How do you feel now, as a coach? Is it worth it for young talents to start a career at this age?
In Serbia, this was perfectly normal practice. Many of us turned professionals when we were minors. It was like this with us: you have to prove something before the age of 23. If you can’t anymore, you can’t anymore. Now everything is changing a bit, young players turn professionals later, they are already older. This is probably due to the fact that every year there are more and more expectations for teams and clubs. After all, there are sponsors, leaders, they want results, nobody wants to wait, a good game is needed here and now.
– But how to motivate young people in this case?
You need to find a balance. It’s no good throwing a 17-year-old into the fire and into professional basketball if he is obviously not ready for it. There are exceptions when it comes to a really talented player. But what to look for is how to raise the young without dismantling the core team system. On the other hand, young people must have time, they must have confidence in themselves. Here’s a philosophical question (laughs – aut.).
– You have mixed many different countries during your career. And what experience left the best memories?
Without a doubt, the best country was Germany, the best team, Berlin ALBA. I spent two years there, everything was at the highest level. ALBA is the best organization in Europe, I say that with courage. I also liked Cyprus: the beaches were sunny and warm. It’s true, then I realized that it was time to finish my career. It was an interesting and memorable year.
– If you call ALBA the best organization in Europe, maybe you dream of working in it?
Without a doubt, this is my dream. Forming ALBA would be a dream come true. I don’t have an NBA dream, I have an ALBA dream.
– And how did you realize that it was time to retire from professional basketball?
It is definitely not that easy. You always think that you can still play at a high level, but other people don’t believe it anymore (laughs, aut.). It is difficult to admit to yourself that you are no longer what you were. But already while I was playing basketball, I knew that I was going to try to become a coach, so it was not a kind of surprise, I just finished playing and started a new stage.
– Your last matches were played on a team with the word India in its name. Maybe you have had to stay in India at least once, if not, which countries attract you the most?
No, lost in India. The city you mentioned is a small town, a cozy little town. Anyway, I am not the one who thinks a lot about traveling, everything in the Mediterranean suits me.
– If you had to name one or more Lietkabelis basketball players that you like the most as professionals? Separate myself from the personality, but look only at work …
– Nothing personal, but I will not highlight anything – I like all my players, because these are my players.
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