Nenad Krstic takes over a failing hometown club in Serbia / News - Basketnews.com

Nenad Krstic will serve as the president of his hometown club Sloga Kraljevo. His first focus will be on developing the youth sector of the organization and reviving the financial situation of the franchise.

Credit: Stefan Jokić Credit Stefan Jokić

After resigning from his position in the Serbian Basketball Federation (KSS), Nenad Krstic will now try to revive his hometown team from extinction.

The former NBA and EuroLeague center will take over the Sloga Kraljevo club in Serbia and serve as the president of the organization's basketball section.

The club is currently in a very rough state financially. Protesting against unpaid wages, the team's players even refused to go to a Serbian Basketball League (KLS) match against Tamis Pancevo and received a forfeit of 20-0.

Following the event, the entire management of the Sloga team resigned.

"After the end of my involvement in the Basketball Federation, I didn't think about doing anything in basketball," Krstic told Mozzart Sport. "I watched some games but I didn't think about going somewhere or doing something related to basketball."

"Then the problem with Sloga happened which culminated in players not going to the game. After that, there was a call from the mayor of Kraljevo, whom I know well. We started talking about joining the club," the former player revealed. "In the end, it came to me being the president of the club."

Before joining his hometown club, Krstic served as the vice president of KSS but resigned in October of last year.

The club from Kraljevo has been known locally for producing young talents throughout its history. Most notably, Vlade Divac began his professional career in Sloga.

Krstic is not the first former player to take over his hometown club in recent history. Zeljko Rebraca became the president of KK Vojvodina from Novi Sad last summer. The team participated in the Radivoj Korac Cup mini-tournament last week.

"It's a good thing for basketball, not to talk about myself now, but Rebrača is a real example. It can be a great thing, especially in areas outside of Belgrade," Krstic said. "Of course, there's nothing without players on the court, but when former players are involved in those official positions, maybe it will attract someone. First of all, [the players can] see that the club is serious, that it is going in the right direction."

Krstic's first line of focus will be on the younger generation.

"I'd like to only deal with basketball matters but unfortunately there will be a lot more work regarding finances and organization," he shared. "That might be the number one goal but if we are talking about basketball, then it is the younger categories."

"My initial focus will be on the younger categories. They practically do not exist [here]. The juniors from Kraljevo play on loan in other clubs. The cadet team exists but the basketball school doesn't. That is something I will do first," Krstic told.

"The work will be difficult, Sloga have serious organizational and financial problems but we can solve everything if we're united," the former big man told Telegraf.

The club currently competes in the ABA League 2 and the Serbian Basketball League (KLS).

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