Zahariev in the champion of Europe

Hristo Zahariev (photo: FIBA)

27-08-2007 00:37 | levskibasket.com

Hristo Zahariev will be the first Bulgarian to practice with greek team Panathinaikos. Talented forward will leave tomorrow for Athens and join the start of preparation of current champios of Euroleague. Personally the head coach of Panathinaikos, the best coach in recent European basketball, Serbian Zeljko Obradovic asked 16 years old Zahariev to start preparation with the team. He wanted to give a chance to the Bulgarian talent to practice with the team two weeks, then the management of the club will decide and eventual keep him. The family of Zahariev had a meeting with Obradovic and his assistant Dimitris Itoudis during the weekend and he said that has very good opinion about the Bulgarian player.
Zahariev already started preparation for the new season with the first team of Levski, after he had a short rest after end of European championship for juniors in Madrid last month. Ten days ago the management of Levski announced that they will not hold back Zahariev if he receive appropriate offer from good club from abroad. The offer of Panathinaikos is really respectable and very good chance for the rising young star.
“For me it’s a big honour to start practices with Panathinaikos,” said Zahariev. “Only invitation to go there for couple of weeks is big step in my development, I will give my best and hopefully will justify their hopes.”
Zahariev finished as second best scorer of European championship in Spain with 23.2 points per game. He received several offers from different clubs from France, Spain and Italy. However he put all of them away as his desire was to go to Athens and try his chance with champion of Euroleague from last year Panathinaikos.