The man-surprise

It was surprise and sensation for many people when the guard Henry Domercant signed the contract with Spartak. Basketball fans know American player who has Bosnian passport by his games for Moscow Dinamo. He is one of the most clever and intelligent basketball players. It’s the opinion of different people. He can be leader on and out of the court. He has very good, special sense of humor and players of Spartak started to understand this thing on the training court and in the dressing room.

-    Doctor, I call you at night, at 3 o’clock. You willn’t sleep in this time?
-    O, no. I willn’t sleep from 3 to 5.
-    Ok.

-    Henry, why you didn’t call me?
-    I hadn’t money on my telephone. But please don’t sleep this night.

It is one of the dialogs.

How Mr.Domercant appeared in St.Petersburg?

“My agent called me and said about interest of Spartak to me, then the sport director of the team spoke with me. The team has a lot of ambitions and the club have goals. They put together a good team with good players. It’s a good and interesting for me to try to achieve our goals, to have a result. I knew Zvi Sherf before, I met him in Bormio when I played in Efes Pilsen. And I have a lot of respect for him as a coach. And working with him is one of my reasons to come here”, - Henry says.

- You didn’t have a lot of time for rest in summer. The Italian championship was finished in the end of June, then you were in the team of Bosnia.
-    I don’t know if I have enough time for rest. Right now everything is good with my body. I hope everything will be ok later also and I willn’t have problems. Now I feel good. And I try to keep my body healthy because in other case I will be not to play.
-    You came in the team where almost all players are new. How it’s more comfortable for newcomer – to come to almost new team or to start to play in the team that it was before? Or my be it’s no difference.
-    There is plus and minus for both. Now everyone is learning together to come the team.
When somebody comes to a team old players teach him how to play here. Now this process goes not so fast in our team because we all learn how to play as a team. But the players that we have are good players and I think all of us will learn everything quickly.
-    How you can describe basketball of this Spartak? More speed or more tactics?
-    We use tactics and speed as well. And also we use our athleticism. It is very important in our play. The players in our team are good athletes in all positions. And I think then we can show the game from different points.
-    Did you discuss with Zvi Sherf your role in the team?
-    We spoke a little bit. I think I have a good role. He expects a lot of from me and he wants to see me as one of the leaders of the team on and out of the court. I continue to work hard, listen to coaches and I think everything will be fine.
-    On what position do you play? As shooting guard or may be as small forward?
-    I am not a small forward. I play as shooting guard and I can play as point guard a little bit. But I am ready to play in every position that coach says to me. From point guard to center. It doesn’t matter.
-    The rival of Spartak in the qualifying round of Eurocup is changed. We’ll play not with PAOK but with Galatasarai with the most probability. Do you have some changes in the preparation to the games because of this fact?
-    Yes, because different teams – different coaches, players, tactics. I have a lot of respect to PAOK and also Galatasarai. I know Galatasarai, I played with the team and I’m sure they know me very well.
-    Did such change of rival give difficulties to the team in the preparation?
-    I think no. First of all we have to concentrate not on the rival but on our team. We need to play better, we need to do what we have to do.
-    You came to St.Petersburg with your family. Say some words about it.
-    The God gave me a baby. She is my princess. Her name is Gabriel and she is one year old. My wife is named Alexandra.
-    She was TV journalist?
-    Yes, very good journalist. And she loved her job very much.
-    Did she teach you how to communicate with press?
-    Yes, she told me what I have not to say to press (laughs) and she asked me questions that press can ask me. Now we live in hotel and we are looking for apartment. The main thing in the apartment for us is the safety and good conditions for our daughter. The weather is not always good here and she will be at home for a long time.
-    You are famous as the player who plays piano. Is it so?
-    Yes. I learned myself. I love music. I learned to play piano and guitar.
-    Will you buy piano here?
-    I think now but I have keyboard and may be it will be sent here by FedEx or UPS.
-    There is the slogan in St.Petersburg now that St.Petersburg connects people. Can we say so about Spartak?
-    For sure. We have people of different nationalities in Spartak. It’s a very good situation for people to know each other, to know new cultures. Playing basketball we can learn new ideas, new philosophy. It’s great.
-    Will you miss something from Italy?
-    When I play everywhere I miss something. Because I spend a lot of time in the place. I have something new there and then when I left the place I miss something. Now I want to give everything that I can to St.Petersburg.
-    Spartak has 75th anniversary this year, this September.
-    In this case we have to do something special for the club.