NYMBURK (Basketball Champions League) - A key ingredient to the phenomenal success of perennial Czech champions CEZ Basketball Nymburk is that the club has not developed a sense of entitlement, despite its 12 consecutive titles in the country's NBL league.

Nymburk have been earning their success on the basketball court, year after year.

The organisation does not conceive a different way of doing things. Therefore, when they were presented with the Basketball Champions League (BCL) project, they felt it was absolutely fair to those who aspire to follow this path.

"The most attractive aspect of the BCL is that participation in the competition is decided by sporting criteria," explained CEZ Nymburk Executive Director Ondrej Simecek.

"Locking a group of privileged clubs into a system is not appropriate for Europe, without wanting to draw comparisons with the US, because we have a different perspective.

"We cannot forget about the principles of sport, we need to have a system which gives a fair chance to everybody.

"As a club we believe that every team should have the right to earn a spot in European competitions. This system has proved it works very well in soccer, so it can work for our sport as well," explains Simecek.

As a club we believe that every team should have the right to earn a spot in European competitions. This system has proved it works very well in soccer, so it can work for our sport as well. - Simecek

For a club which takes pride in its sustainable structure and is as meticulous as Nymburk, the Basketball Champions League also had to make practical sense.

"From a business point of view, we cannot overlook the possibility it offers to cover all the expenses with the prize money that will be distributed to the clubs. That is an absolutely amazing aspect," said Simecek.

In the current tough situation, each club in Europe is counting every penny, so having the chance to increase the budget is a great help. - Simecek

 

"In the current tough situation, each club in Europe is counting every penny, so having the chance to increase the budget is a great help.

"People might look at some European powerhouses and think that they have absolutely no financial issues, but it's not true.

"In this economic climate every club has a harder time securing funds from sponsors. It is not healthy for a club to rely on one person who maintains it as their hobby."

Nymburk know a thing or two about longevity and sustainability.

The club was established in 1929, helped patiently to create a basketball culture in the town and entered its current glorious era at around the turn of the century, after visionary Nymburk-born lawyer Miroslav Jansta became president and owner.

Despite all the domestic success they have enjoyed, they resist the temptation to fall into complacency.

"Being overly happy with yourself is the road to hell and nobody wants to go there," Simecek said jokingly.

"Playing in Europe is very important to us and to every other club. You get the chance to compete with different teams and compare yourself to them, it gives you the chance to bring bigger-name players, you get to show your name around Europe.

"In business terms meanwhile, the more visible you are, the higher chances to attract sponsors you have.

"By playing in Europe you get more time in the media, you generate awareness and sponsors want to be associated with success.

"There are no guarantees for next season but our goal is to be better every year than we were the previous one.

"This challenge is our engine."

Nymburk want every Czech club to be able to partake in this process because they face a common challenge in their effort to develop the sport further in the country.

"Czech basketball overall is striving to prove that it is an attractive sport in its own right," Simecek said.

"People turn into fans during childhood and you normally see children in the Czech Republic playing football or ice hockey on the street or their back yard, imitating their idols.

"The ultimate goal of all of us, the stakeholders of Czech basketball, is to walk down the street and also see kids aspiring to be the next Jiri Zidek, the next Jan Vesely, the next Jiri Welsch.

"Basketball is for the people, not for managers."