Hapoel Jerusalem has a very, very tall task as they open up their Basketball Champions League 2021/22 campaign when they welcome Pinar Karsiyaka on Tuesday at 21:00 at the Jerusalem Arena.

The Reds will look to get their continental campaign off to a strong start with only 6 groups games in what can be described as a “Group of Death” by some. With Karsiyaka, Manresa from Spain and Arged BMSLAM from Poland, Oren Amiel’s squad will need to finish in one of the top three places in order to have a chance to advance to the second round of games.

This means that there is a sense of urgency from game one instead of the old format of 14 games where a loss here and a defeat there could be compensated. That is no longer the case which makes Jerusalem’s journey that much harder.

Karsiyaka comes into Israel with a squad fully loaded to make a run at the title, a roster that looks like Jerusalem’s from a number of years ago. Scoring star Bonzie Colson, Amath M’Baye, Akil Mitchell and James Blackmon are just a number of names that are threats to beat you game in and game out. Add former Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Michael Roll to the mix and head coach Ufuk Sarica has quite the team to contend with.

This is not going to be an easy first game in Europe to begin the 2021/22 campaign.

“We’re excited to start another season,” Amiel began at the pregame press conference. “We have a responsibility as we play against a very strong team. They have a tradition in this competition with a coach who has been with the team and they have continuation. It’s hard for me to say how prepared we are. We will contend and we will see what we can do.”

The head coach continued talking about the test in front of the squad and how his team is still getting to know one another, “I’m happy and content with our squad and the players that we have brought in but we still have to come together and play better as well. There’s no magic, just hard work on and off of the court. It’s not easy work and it’s not something that can come together in one day, it will take time.”

Retin Obasohan who is very familiar with Amiel after being one of his players at Nymburk in the Czech Republic feels that the club is ready to roll for Karsiyaka and that each an every game will be critical, “We are extremely blessed to play the game of basketball. The Champions League is a tremendous league and with the format every game is do or die. So I think we are very aware every game is important and at the same time every practice is important.”

“That way we can make the best preparation,” Obasohan continued. “Play Jerusalem basketball, truly. At the end it’s our team against theirs and we want to be better at what we do versus what they do so that’s the most important thing.”

Amiel wants to get as deep as he can with the team but also acknowledges the challenge of building his team from scratch in order to compete in a league that has drastically improved, “I believe that we can and that’s our goal. There’s a difference in a season that’s 14 games long than one which is so short and every game is crucial. I hope that we will come together as a team as quickly as possible.”

“I’ve been in the Basketball Champions League from the first day and the quality of competition is nothing like it was in its first year, from the quality of the play to the level of the teams. It’s an excellent competition. This group is very tough and very competitive. Everyone can beat everyone else and it’s going to be a battle,” Amiel said.

For some of the players on the squad this will be their first foray into European basketball. From Thon Maker to Kaiser Gates and Anthony Bennett who may be on his way out of the team once his short term contract is up following the game, this will be an eye opener but Obasohan stated that its best to just be themselves and not overthink the game.

“First and foremost we stuck to our preparations. I think once you have played any game of importance you think you need to do more, be more and try to be different. So I think the most important thing is to be ourselves and bring the best effort we can.”

Captain Adam Ariel also referenced the new players and how they are fitting into the squad,” We have a lot of quality and potential. We still have to one together and tomorrow we begin. Of course when a player comes from abroad without any European experience they need to learn some things.”

However, the keys to a Jerusalem victory may be Amiel himself as well as the fans explained Obasohan, “Coach has experienced a lot of success I think his resume speaks for itself and I think as leader that’s very important, I think for me and all the players we feel that he wants us to pay attention to the details realize what the big picture is.”

“From the day I got here the excitement and the energy the fans gave towards the team is something that I have never experienced before. So being here for two months now and having played a variety of games it’s really really special and I’m looking forward to come here tomorrow and see a sea of red and putting on a show for them.”