Ainars Bagatskis talks about the horrors of war in Ukraine with tears in his eyes

February 27, 2022
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Latvian basketball specialist Ainars Bagatskis was in Spain with the Ukrainian men’s team, when the whole world was shocked by the terrible news that war had started in Ukraine.

The state of war in Ukraine has affected the Ukrainian basketball team led by Ainars Bagatskis, who had two games against Spain in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers – on February 24 in Spain and on February 27 in Ukraine.

The World Cup qualifier took place on February 24 in Madrid, Spain. There was a break before and after the game. The fans of the game from Spain expressed their support for Ukraine with applause, and many basketball players did not hide their tears. The Ukrainian national team lost this game to the guests. As war broke out in Ukraine and airspace closed, basketball players stayed in Madrid after Thursday’s game.

In a conversation with the portal Jauns.lv about the recent events experienced by the Ukrainian men’s national team, Ainars Bagatskis says that on the one hand, thank God that everything for basketball and national teams is over for a while. “In the regime we lived in Kiev, Ukraine, the last two weeks we were preparing for the team were not normal. It was practically impossible to prepare for a professional game. When we met, we just talked about what happened where and what the feedback was. All phones in hand and the latest news was searched. There could be no question that players were preparing for training or playing. Those were emotions. “

“I’ve always believed that professional sports start with how you mentally prepare yourself, how you literally prepare yourself to fight on the field. And if your head works in a different direction, there is only a shirt with a number and surname on the field, or just a body. , but the spirit is not … That ‘s how it all happened … So, as I said, maybe it’ s good that for a while everything is over in basketball and there is relative peace, “says the coach.

“What kind of peace can there be? After the game, we all stayed together in Madrid … Anxiety didn’t stop. One player found a new job. The players of one Ukrainian team went to the Czech Republic, where they will have home games. Although I can’t imagine how they games, because for the most part all relatives and families are in Ukraine …. “

“Thanks to good friends in Latvia, we arranged that on Monday night the players of the Ukrainian national team who cannot return to Ukraine, as well as the coaching corps, will stay in Latvia for a while. We were in Madrid until then. means – as a free moment, everyone grabs phones, talks and watches what is happening in Ukraine. Believe me, it is very difficult (Suddenly Ainar’s voice breaks and he begins to cry.). It is very difficult when the coach shows where his child is, when the head of the national team shows in the basement his child is sleeping, ”says the head coach of the Ukrainian basketball team with tears in his eyes.

Speaking about whether it is possible that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine could end, Ainars Bagatskis says that the whole progressive world has hope that common sense will prevail. “It simply came to our notice then. Can anyone logically explain why this is all happening !? I understand that there is a so-called “your war” and “my war”. But there is no reason here.

Ordinary people have lost their temper, possibly from theft and robbery. They have nothing left to do and they want to use their power.

I can’t explain it any other way. It is absolutely clear that if it allows to continue, then now it is Ukraine, but the next will be either us or others. Spanish journalists said that we, Latvia, will probably be next, and our nice and wonderful life will end. The aggressor must be stopped! Peace, freedom, independence and self-esteem – it is up to each country to decide. What is the battle going on now, what is the city now being bombed for, the country? What are people dying for now? Who can answer that for me? ” Ainars Bagatskis talks about the horrors of war.