Each and every one experienced something really special today at OAKA. Zeljko Obradovic returned and all Greens honored him, in a way only they know and can. And in two parts.
The first one was when Obradovic stepped on the floor for the first time. He didn't come from the locker room 13 minutes before the tip off as he used to do for 13 years. He delayed a little bit more. He stepped on the floor 10 minutes before the tip off and as it was expected an apotheosis began from the stands with the well known song, with his name becoming a song again. He was embraced by fans, all photographers went crazy, the cameras followed him all the way to the opponents' bench. The background for all these was a huge portrait of his with the expression "King is back". He stood there, staring at it and he couldn't stop looking at it. He raised his hands, returned the clap to the fans, he touched his heart with one hand and raised the other, he vowed, he thanked the fans with his own way, he was moved. It was clear that everybody remembered".
The second part took place before the beginning of the second half. Pavlos, Thanassis and Dimitris Giannakopoulos honored Zeljko Obradovic, offering him special gifts. But it was something more than this. It was the respect for everything he is and everything he has offered. And along with all these the honor from the fans. A true apotheosis for Obradovic, that only become bigger when he addressed to the fans.. He began in English, but then, he who hasn't spoken Greek for 13 years he spoke in Greek: "You understand how difficult this is for me. I want you to know that I love you very very very very much... Thank you!"
Panathinaikos thanks and honor him too...
PHOTOS
