Athens is the most important and relevant club in the history of national basketball. It had teams and players that marked an era. But for a few years it has been going through a crisis from which, at this moment, it seems difficult to get out. In this context, Felipe Lábaque, president of the ‘Greek’, this week called a press conference and stated: “It is the most difficult moment in the history of Athens.”
The days passed and the echoes of ‘Felo’s’ statements still lingered. For this reason, PROFILE CÓRDOBA spoke with the leader a couple of days after those statements, to deepen some of the harsh concepts that he said at that time.
Why did you call that press conference?
-I summoned her for the transcendent, so that everyone knows the truth and from the main source, which are the managers of the club. All the effort made by the leaders did not result in the sporting part. We made every effort: we brought players that the coaches requested, we changed coaches, everything was done, but the results are in sight. For this reason, during the week we held a meeting with the players, in which the entire board was present, and then we held that meeting with the journalists.
—He spoke of the “worst moment in the history of Athens”. I guess it must hurt to say.
—It is that there is the main reason, because I am used to always telling the truth, my life is like that in all aspects and in fact that is why I did not continue in politics. This is the reality of Athens. It’s not that it hurts, for me this is terrifying. I come from the club’s family, I am the son-in-law of the founder of Athens. The club is 84 years old and has never had an election. I’ve been calling and calling for a while, I’m already big, I want to retire from the presidency and nobody wants to take it. Athens is very difficult, because the resources are not obtained as in other clubs, it does not have official support, it does not have a football club behind it, everything is on the back of Felipe Lábaque, and more than once you have to make your own contributions to be able to solve this. It’s about time someone took over.
“And what’s up?” Can’t find a successor?
—No, I can’t find it and I keep rowing. It is an excessive effort. We brought the best coach in the League and he also clashed with the squad. That coach asked for the most expensive player in the League (referring to Sebastián González), Morrison and we brought him. He was 15 days and left. I want everyone to know the truth. I don’t read the networks, but I do know that they criticize me a lot and it is a total injustice, for all the effort we are making. In two months we will be inaugurating a stadium that will be a model in every sense, for 3,500 spectators, there are things that happen at the club and nobody knows it. I want to invite these people, in good faith, so that they can see how Athens is managed and how the resources to be able to live are obtained.
—You were able to tell me in another interview for PROFILE CÓRDOBA that you expected a successor to arrive, but he still hasn’t appeared.
“It’s like I said, I’m not hiding anything. We are 20 members in the Board of Directors and I am tired of saying who wants to take this. And it is not that they are not capable, they cannot do it because they are in their productive stage and in Athens they will not be able to collect a peso. CD members work pro bono. How do you get young people to spend all day in the club and not for rent? What is happening is serious. That’s why the criticism is unfair. Not only have I been saying for years that I am seeing who happens to me, but I have also said that Athens cannot participate in this National League with the costs that are managed. Everything has gone haywire. A player charges 2 million pesos per month…
Do you have government support?
—The provincial government, from the first League to the last, always helped. But they have assigned an amount for this sport and they distribute it among the different clubs, but they do not make any exceptions with Athens, which is professional. I’m not criticizing them, I think they’re right. The support of the Province does not reach three percent of the budget of Athens. Later, the Municipality allocates 0 pesos to basketball. Yes, the mayor (Martín) Llaryora helped us twice for the stadium, and they are also right, they can’t give us for basketball, because if they give us they have to give it to everyone.
—Is it a responsibility or an obligation for you to be in this Athens?
-Both. Yes, I want to leave the presidency. But as long as I can walk I’ll keep going to see Athens.
“The historical ones pass to kilometers of the club”
‘Felo’ Lábaque spoke without a cassette with PROFILE CÓRDOBA. At one point he stated that he asks “the media to support us, to disseminate, to encourage people to go to the field.” In this sense, when asked if the club’s historical figures have approached to help in some way or to encourage at this complex moment, Lábaque stated bluntly: “Nooo, none. Neither! They pass miles from the club. Nobody comes near the club. The only one who goes and helps me is Bruno, then no one else.
“Marcello?” The ‘Pichi’?
—No, Marcelo never came back; Neither did Pichi. Nobody.
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