22/06/2015
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FIBA Europe Legends Game marks return to action for Natasa Kovacevic

GYOR (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Over 30 legendary names of European Basketball will suit up for a very special game in the Hungarian capital Budapest, this coming Saturday, 27 June. 

Names that have hundreds of basketball titles collected among them are set to participate in the first-ever Europe Legends Game, organised by FIBA, to mark Natasa Kovacevic's return to competitive basketball.

Serbian international and current FIBA Youth Ambassador Kovacevic, is making a remarkable comeback, almost two years after a tragic accident that resulted in the amputation of her leg.

On Monday in Gyor, FIBA Europe Executive Director Kamil Novak presented the project to EuroBasket Women 2015 accredited media.

"We have assembled a list of coaches and players with a big collection of medals, but everyone is only there for one reason and that is to enjoy the day on Saturday because Natasa is the star," he said.

"For all of us it has been amazing to learn about Natasa as a person, since before we only knew the name and the face - but through her different activities including her being our FIBA Youth Ambassador, we have learned about her personality.

"Her family should be very proud to have such a daughter who can deal with such a situation and we are also proud of her. That is why so many legends of the game will be there on Saturday - to support her."

For Kovacevic, the game is more than just an opportunity to be on the court.

She said: "It is very exciting to be involved and to be talked about in the same breath as all these legends, so it is such an honour for me. And as I will be playing for both teams, I know I will win anyway! But this Legends game is not just in my name. It is about those people that were lost and for their families. This must never be forgotten.

"After the accident, if somebody had told me that after 18 months I would be back in Gyor then I would have believed them as it is like a second home to me. But if they had said I would be back talking about playing again, I would have called it crazy. I want to thank FIBA and the Serbian and French Federations who have helped work as a team to get me a new prosthetics leg which means I can play basketball again."

Andras Fuzy, the President of Uni Gyor, who was also at the press conference added: "The accident was a tragedy for the club and for the whole of our city. Yet after only one-and-a-half months when we went to see Natasa in Belgrade, she was already filling us all in with positive energy - and that is how we were able to finish the season. Natasa is a role model and we will all be in Budapest on Saturday and hope that from now on, it truly is a new start."

The game will be played in the Budapest Sports & Events Arena, the EuroBasket Women 2015 Final Phase venue, on 27 June. The tip-off time is set for 18:00 and the entrance is free.

The players will be split into two teams (White vs Blue) and Natasa will play one half with each team.

The final rosters will be confirmed and announced 24 hours before the game.

Go to EuroBasketWomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

FIBA