Sports day after day | The manager of the basketball club “Spartak” Tsvi Sherf: I will be working 20 hours a day.

17.11.2009 An Israeli specialist arrived to Saint Petersburg from Tel-Aviv yesterday evening. Having checked in the hotel in 10 (!) minutes, new head coach of the red& whites in good mood hurried up to get acquainted with the team on the first training session. Nonetheless, Tsvi made an exception and answered the questions of “Sports”  reporter.

-    If a team has the difference of 0:5 in standings it means that it has great problems – Sherf began.
 – Now my task is to understand the team as soon as possible and to bring to light its problems. The first game we have to win is on Saturday. In short, I need time which I don’t have. I will be working 20 hours a day to understand the crux of the problem. My task will be relieved if we manage to win the first game as soon as possible. For the given period of time it is my main goal. I don’t want to make any further assumptions. After the Saturday’s match it will become clear to me in what direction to work.

-    In the course of your professional work have you ever faced the situation when a team starts with five losses?
-    I don’t remember there to be quite 5 losses but I took over teams in a grave standings situation. Now “Spartak” needs to follow the way of changes. On the other hand, I understand, that even though manager is an important ingredient of success it is far from being the crucial one. It is essential that players understand what they are required to do, that they feel the balance between defense and attack. When this balance is upset problems arise. That’s why my work is to bring this equilibrium back, reestablish winner’s morale, to develop the strengths of every player to the utmost.  
 
-    Do you plan to introduce new players to the team?
-At this stage I will be getting to know the team. The change of the manager is a certain shock for the team, and it needs to be taken into account. Now I will be watching every player trying to determine his strengths and help develop them. In fact, it is quite a long process but I will try to do it fast (smiles). In a word, everyone is equal and everyone has a chance to play in the first five.  But if I see that strengthening is needed I will speak to the authorities.

- How are you going to balance the position of the head coach of Israel select team with work in “Spartak”?
 - I don’t see any problems here since Israel select team trains in summer and does not require much attention the rest of the time. I  am happy to be able to work in such an ambitious club as “Spartak”. I know the tasks the authorities set and I like it.  It will be particularly difficult to play in Ankara. As for the Belgium team….I can’t say that it’s bad. They can show an outstanding play today and be a complete failure tomorrow. But all this is a future business, now we have to improve the situation in the Russian Super league 

- “Spartak” is soon to start playing in Eurocups. Would you, please, comment on our opponents in the group?
 - I think that currently the strongest European clubs are Spanish teams. Last year I visited the “Final Eight” in Turin and saw “Bilbao”. Then this club made a good impression on me but now they are experiencing problems in the internal championship, that’s why everything is possible. The Turkish team is no bargain as well.  Give me 5-7 days and the team will start winning.

Alexander  Yakobson.

By the way

Moscow didn’t believe Sherf.
It is Sherf’s second attempt to take Russia by storm. The first one was taken in autumn 2003, when the Israeli tried to steer the Moscow “Dinamo” at the invitation of the club president Evgeny Gomelsky. The managers of the white&blues set a difficult task to the specialist  - to impose fight on the flagman of the Russian basketball CSKA and to successfully approve itself on the European arena. He didn’t manage to execute the ambitious plans in spring 2004 – in the Russian championship semifinal CSKA defeated “Dimano”, and in Euroleague of the FIBA  it got only to the quarterfinal where it was driven out of the tournament by the Tel- Aviv “Khapoel”. Sherf left “Dinamo” before the next spring – even the impressive start in the Russian Superleague couldn’t save him (seven victories in a row), two painful losses to CSKA and club mates from Saint Petersburg along with unsuccessful start  on the group stage of ULEB Cup (3 victories, 3 losses) led to Shef’s  dismissal as early as  December, 16. “I can only say kind words about Tsvi Sherf. He is a highly experienced coach, he thoroughly  knows basketball, is a good psychologist and a very spirited coach by his nature. He took active part in the selection policy of “Dinamo” -  Evgeny Gomelsky, the ex president of Dinamo  told “Sport” reporter Alexander Kavokin. – He may not always had a good  rapport with “Dinamo” players but even after his dismissal we maintain good relations with Sherf. I think that “Spartak” contracted a very good coach.