Dubai: Dubai Basketball, the emirate’s pioneering professional basketball team, has embarked on a pivotal training camp in Koper, Slovenia, as they prepare to make history by becoming the first team from Dubai to compete in the prestigious ABA League. This intensive training period, running from August 19 to September 2, is seen as a crucial step towards establishing Dubai as a formidable presence in European basketball.
As Dubai Basketball gears up for its groundbreaking debut in the ABA League, the Slovenian training camp stands as a crucial step in its pursuit of success. The camp’s focus on rigorous training, competitive matchups, and team-building exercises is designed to prepare the squad for the challenges ahead, ensuring they enter the ABA League as a cohesive and competitive force.
Coach Golemac's vision for success
Head Coach Jurica Golemac has expressed his enthusiasm for the training camp, emphasizing its critical role in the team’s development. “This camp is crucial for us to gel as a team and gear up for the season,” Golemac stated. “Even though we’ve only been together for a short time, I’m already seeing impressive signs of teamwork. The tough training and competitive games we’ll face in Slovenia will be essential for our development.”
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This camp is not merely a preparatory exercise; it is a transformative experience designed to build team unity and cohesion ahead of their historic debut in the ABA League, which features elite clubs from Europe’s Balkans region.
A day of unity and high-intensity training
On August 20, the entire first-team squad united for a full day of training and competitive play, marking a significant moment in the team’s journey. With only a month remaining before the season opener, Dubai Basketball is set to engage in four high-intensity matches against top European rivals: KK Dinamo, Buducnost, KK Split, and KRKA.
These matches are expected to test the team’s readiness and further hone their skills as they prepare to face the rigorous demands of the ABA League.
Looking ahead
Following their intensive training in Slovenia, Dubai Basketball will return to Dubai for a week of final preparations before participating in a pre-season friendly at Coca-Cola Arena on September 10. The team’s journey will then take them to Sarajevo, Bosnia, from September 14-16, where they will compete in the Mirza Delibašić tournament.
This event will see Dubai Basketball face off against Cluj from Romania, with the potential to challenge either Dinamo Sassari from Italy or KK Bosna from Sarajevo.