OvertimeHK exclusive! A story (not) to tell: Inside Bulgarian Basketball

OVERTIMEHK EXCLUSIVE. A really disappointing story about one of our gamers, Viktor Vladov, and his experience pretty much at the end or maybe even THE end of his career.

While in eSports Vladov reached the Final of the DASD two years ago, to fall short just with 1:2 Wins vs one of world's best, "JLB2K" Jannis Neumann, who also has experience in the official NBA 2K League with Dallas Mavericks and also to loose against the same opponent, but in the European eEuroleague Final, Vladov has also made a good reallife basketball career in Germany.

Being in the renomee youth academy of BCL champion Telekom Baskets Bonn, and having made his way to a very tuff defender in the 2. Bundesliga, that brings NBA Draft Prospects and Euroleague superstars such as Jaleen Smith and others, and also played games vs BBL teams, and also to mention: Harlem Globetrotters on a one game deal with the Washington Generals and so on.

But in Bulgaria, things go really the wrong way.

Being at Chernomorets Bourgas (first division side in Bulgaria) four years ago, Viktor starts the training camp with the perspective to play the Center position although, Vladov has a height of 2.03m and finds most comfortable at the Forward spot, as he can knock down shots from deep on pick and pop actions as well, but also drive to the rim.

The situation is bad, as contracts were offered to him and signed, but never signed back from the president and always with a new offer on table with less offered money, till it went to offered contract with lines and no concrete financial statement in he contract. The point where the German-Bulgarian forward just left professional basketball to work in outsourcing companies with German language as native speaker (now at "Akkodis", former "Modis").

"I have to add something additionally to that some short background, so you might understand the Why: The headcoach at that time was the same one, who was coach of the U18 national team of Bulgaria, at the time i was called up for the national team (1990/91 born). I was the only youth player playing abroad at that time. Once before national team practice he called me to come to the gym two hours before practice, he wanted to speak to me, and asked me what I have brought him as profit for him, this are the words he used, as he clearly wanted financially to get something below the table. I acted like I did not know what he mean, so he told me before practice that in this case, he might reconsider his choice to take me the European Championships for U18 in Greece back than. The next practice I injured my ankle badly, so he knew he would not get any extra money out of this in any case. And now he was seing me again at practice, I think he reminded himself real quick but not immediately, I saw his reaction when he saw me at first practice and realized what he has done years ago. Maybe a reason, why they played me over and over with the contact."

At this time he made his way also as headcoach in youth boys teams, with a remarkable Second place in Bulgaria at U16 level and as Bulgarian Champion U19 Female, as assistant coach.

"Money was never a big point for me, but you have to respect my work and treat me with respect, so do I. You never get that in Bulgaria, when you have played years abroad. The last club even threatened me with hooligans, and wanted money, which they received, but which is most ridiculous, they also took my Instagram - because I had 14K followers. The question is what it was this about, people unfollowed after anyway.", said Vladov. Funny fact: the Bulgarian league is classified way lower in European Basketball than strong countries' second or even third divisions, such as German divisions are.

Two years later the German forward, decided to reestablish the basketball club of the traditional Bulgarian side: Locomotive Plovdiv, who do not had basketball do 60 years! Months after official re-branding, Plovdiv even played international games vs Skopje, which drew more spectators in the home arena, than any other Bulgarian team in the last seasons (except play-offs).

" I wanted to continue, but I gave signals that I can not make all the work on my own, we needed also sponsors. no player received more than 400 BGN at that point, we still were 3rd placed before I left. At he end of the season they were second from the bottom of the table. I was president, manager, social media PR, web designer, captain of the team, headcoach, player and... Bus driver at the same time. All I got out of this was gas money and only for games, not practices...and a lot of hate and disgraceful behavior."

Sad story, which was continued with the fact, that Viktor was also forced to pay money to the club, to be able to leave.

Now, Vladov is about to make a move towards CSKA Sofia, but he sees his job as first priority, so can not make every practice "I have a player pass and will help as player when needed, and when i am free. i can help them young players to develop with my experience, I can help with the second and first team, I am down, it is just not my first priority any more I am at the end of my basketball career.", added the German-Bulgarian.

Vladov will represent Barcelona in the Virtual Euroleague, the highest European 2K League.