Some Cibona players haven't been paid this season at all / News - Basketnews.com

Cibona's head coach Josip Sesar revealed that some players haven't been paid this season at all, saying that some members of the roster haven't received salaries for five to eight months of their work. The club has around €5 million in debt.

Credit: ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic Credit ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic

Cibona Zagreb got defeated by KK Split in the ABA League yesterday. Following the match, the Croatian team's head coach Josip Sesar had some sad news about the club's reality.

"Players who waited until the last moment to come to Cibona are playing here. They had a great desire to play for Cibona. At the start of the season, there were some talks about whether we would be able to get one victory. Then, after a couple of opening victories, there were some talks that we could go to the playoffs," the coach started off.

"No, we need one more victory to stay. The goal before the season was to stay in the ABA League - to avoid the last place, and second to last would be great. The second goal is to get into the top four in the championship," Sesar said.

The legendary club has a serious amount of debt on its hand. As reported during the summer, Cibona has accumulated debts of around €5,000,000. Former player of the club and current Croatian national team coach Aleksandar Petrovic even did a fundraiser to help and save the team.

The problems have not gotten away, the coach let the media know during the post-game press conference.

"You know what kind of situation the club is in, it was questionable whether it would be there or not. Do you think it doesn't affect the players? There are people here, some of whom have not been paid for five or six months, and some for seven or eight," Sesar revealed.

"I need to say that. These guys need support and need to be positive at this time. Those guys don't get into the stories about all this," the coach continued. "I know, it's not easy to put out all those fires, but the guys are sensible and know what it is. It is in my interest to protect them, what we have done so far is more than anyone here expected from us. I am open to criticism but what I have shared with you should also be said."

Tportal notes that Cibona haven't been able to reach an agreement with the city of Zagreb regarding financial aid. On top of that, the Croatian outlet writes, the new leadership that came in last summer hasn't been able to significantly change the previous situation that put the club on the brink of extinction.

Cibona have four outstanding cases in FIBA's Basketball Arbitral Tribunal against players just this last season - Donatas Sabeckis (€30,000 in salary), Luka Zoric (€35,000), Fran Pilepic (€9818), and Roberto Kovac (€7042).

With 7 wins and 12 losses, Cibona are currently 9th in the ABA League standings. MZT Skopje are the last team in the tournament with just 3 wins and sit in the last, 14th place.

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