In an interview with the club, Janari Joesaar spoke of how joining Dziki Warszawa fulfilled his goal of staying in Poland as he continues his basketball career.
Janari Joesaar is well-travelled in basketball. Understandably, after two successful seasons with Anwil Włocławek, he wanted to stay in Poland for his next step. The Estonian got his wish as Dziki Warszawa have signed him for the upcoming season.
The following interview with Janari Joesaar was conducted by Damian Juszczyk of Dziki Warszawa and has been lightly edited.
An easy choice
Damian Juszczyk: How do you assess your last two seasons in Anwil Włocławek, and what was the reason for your decision to come to Dziki Warszawa?
Janari Joesaar: These last two years have been a good experience for me. Obviously, I got hurt in the first season. But in the second year, I went back. The team had the same coach and some of the players as well. Unfortunately, the season didn’t go as planned, but overall, it was a good experience.
I had a talk with the coach early in the summer. Firstly, I did say no. I wasn’t too sure about accepting the offer right away. But I wanted to stay in the Polish league. After a while, I started thinking about what the coach said, and I started believing him. It was to become a bigger challenge for me and a more significant role than before. In the past, I have had a similar type of role throughout my whole career. That is why I decided to accept this challenge. Hopefully, all this season will go as planned.
A second home
It is your third year in a row in Poland. Do you feel well in the league, in the country, or maybe you have some private reasons to stay?
Pretty much everything. I like the league, it is very competitive. It is also close to home – friends and family can visit me easily, but of course that wasn’t the main reason. I like the country too. There is still a lot more to discover. I haven’t really played here in a bigger city, and I was excited about that as well. But the main reason why I chose Dziki Warszawa was the very satisfying offer from here, the opportunities and what’s coming this season. I hope we are going to have a great time.
You played in Estonia, Germany, Spain and Poland. How do you find the Polish Orlen Basket Liga compared to the other mentioned leagues?
Spanish is a top league in Europe. But I didn’t have that much experience while playing in Spain, so it’s hard to draw comparisons. The Estonian-Latvian league is also competitive since they combined the league a couple of years ago. Germany is a good European league too. In Poland, the league is pretty similar to the German competition.
BallinEurope is ramping up its YouTube game this season. Subscribe to our channel now for player exclusives, analysis videos, and much more.
Setting expectations
With Anwil you got 7th and 5th place (however, the expectations were bigger after winning the regular season). Everyone would be more than happy if you keep this tendency to finish 3rd with Dziki Warszawa, but in reality, TOP 8 would be a good goal to achieve.
We have to set our goals high. Before the season, every player and team wants to win the whole league. Being in the TOP 8 would be a minimum goal for us. And if it is already there, we can see how it goes. But it is too early. We just need to go day by day, grow as a team, and see where it takes us.
A big part of the team stayed for the coming season. Is it an extra challenge for you to come and join the team, which is quite solid?
Always, a few players stay, even for a couple of years. Obviously, it is a challenge for a new player to come and find your place and role. But it’s fun. It is a part of my experience as a basketball player.
BallinEurope has a book, a real life actual book called I Like it Loud, and you can buy it on Amazon now. It’s here as a book and here in Kindle form.
Leaning on experience
Your international experience might be useful for the club in the European competition for its historical debut. Would it be a difficulty to play also in the European North Basketball League, or maybe it even helps to keep the rhythm?
Whatever works for any team. There are teams that are more focused on the local league. But I’m sure that any extra games are fun for players to compete in. As well as going to different countries and exploring everything. I’m sure it will be just a positive thing for us.
What do you expect from the coming season of the Orlen Basket Liga?
I want to do good, and the same is true for the team and for the organization. I’m here to do everything that needs to be done and to help this team grow.
Life beyond basketball
Not everyone in Warsaw knows you from the private side. What do you like to do outside the court, and how do you spend your free time?
Since I’m in a foreign country, I don’t have all my friends here. I like to spend the time with my girlfriend. Go out somewhere, go to the movies. I also have the hobby of disc golf – you throw discs into the basket – in my free time, mostly during the summer. Fortunately, there is a disc golf course in Warsaw as well. So I’m going to go and check it out.
Leave a Reply