BASKETBALL: Rowan Callaghan
BOBAN PETROVIC has played basketball in almost as many countries as the sport is played in, and for longer than some of its current stars have been alive. Now the massive Yugoslav is bringing his offensive and defensive skills to the Johannesburg Spartans, as well as loads of experience.
Petrovic is Yugoslavian, as he is quick to point out, not Serb, not Croat just Yugoslav. “The old country, that is my country,” he says. Like a soldier of fortune whose homeland has been destroyed, he seems destined to wander the earth doing the one thing he is been good at — playing basketball.
In Europe he has called Belguim, Spain, France and Italy home at one time or another, and even more exotic places like Kuwait and the Arab Emirates have paid for his services. The total number of countries he has served so far iss been a whopping 38, excluding South Africa.
His acccomplishments read like those of an ageing mercenary (he certainly must be as proud of his medals). A gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, silver in 1981 at the European Championships in Prague and bronze at the Columbia World Championships in1983 are some of his greatest achievements. But none of today’s fans will remember much about those games. To them 1980 is as far away as 1940.
These days Petrovic plays to a totally different crowd as he dons the white kit of the Johannesburg Spartans. Very few know who he is or his past glories. All they want him to do is play, and play well.
Petrovic has not disappointed them so far. He helped his team win the first Premier Basketball League (PBL) championship last season and has consistently posted high scoring and rebound displays. He collected 15 rebounds and scored close to 30 points in a game against the Cape Town Cougars earlier this year to emphasise his value to the team. There is some sign that the years have taken their toll, however, and Petrovic is the first to admit this. “I have more in my head than in my legs and body,” he says.
His performance in Egypt earlier this year suggests, however, that his legs and body still have a lot of life in them. The Spartans were in Egypt to play against Egypt Air, one of the top Egytian teams. “He was outstanding. There the media knew him from his great days. He was unstoppable.” Terry Pretoritis, Spartans team manager, says proudly.
At that game the big forward collected about 12 rebounds and scored at least 24 points. That was an inspired performance, carried out possibly because he was playing in front of people who knew how great he was. Pretoritis believes that Boban has very few weaknesses. “He is an excellent three-point shooter, very unusual for tall people. He’s also a good passer and an excellent rebounder,” he says.
Petrovic will have to wait a while before he can deliver any other such performances, as a broken toe is keeping him out of the game. He cannot wait to hear the crowds shout for him again as he sinks another three- pointer or powers his way to another rebound because for Petrovic basketball is like air. “Basketball is my life. I’ll play all my life, with anybody, even if it’s my son,” he says. Just like the veteran soldier of fortune will always be seeking a war, Boban Petrovic will always be looking for a court simply because he has known nothing else all his life.