KK Sloboda Užice

Košarkaški klub Sloboda (Serbian Cyrillic: Кошаркашки клуб Слобода), commonly referred to as KK Sloboda Užice, is a men's professional basketball club based in Užice, Serbia. The club currently participates in the Basketball League of Serbia. The team play domestic home matches in the Veliki Park Sports Hall.

For the football team, see FK Sloboda Užice.
Sloboda Užice
NicknameThe Ere
LeaguesBasketball League of Serbia
Founded1950 (1950)
HistoryKK Sloboda
1950–1962
KK Sevojno
1962–1972
KK Raketa
1972–1976
KK Prvi partizan
1976–1991
KK Užice
1991–2001
KK Forma Play Off
2001–2004
KK Gradina
2004–2006
KK Sloboda
2006–present
ArenaVeliki Park Sports Hall
(capacity: 2,200)
LocationUžice, Serbia
Team colorsWhite, Red and Black
              
General managerRatko Radovanović
Head coachVladimir Lučić
Championships1 Second League
1 Regional League

History

The story began in November 1949 when a group of high school students become interested in basketball. Soon they played two friendly matches, and in January 1950 the first basketball tournament was held in Titovo Užice. Same year two basketball sections were formed, one at the City Gymnastic Society, and the other at the Sports Association "Prvi partizan". Later on, the basketball players from the City Gymnastics Society moved to the Sports Association "Sloboda" to form a new basketball section. Also, female team was formed then. In 1953, basketball section has grown into a Basketball club Sloboda.

The sudden rise of the club begins in 1957. In January 1958, on the traditional basketball tournament organized by the Crvena zvezda, the Sloboda players showed a great perspective. Also, the first time since its inception the club participated in the Basketball Cup of Yugoslavia. Basketball club Sloboda since then has been constantly in the 3rd tier of Yugoslav basketball competition - SR Serbia Republic League.

In 1962 under the patronage of the Copper Mill Sevojno, basketball club changed its name to Sevojno. In 1972 the club changed its name to Raketa (English: Rocket), after moving to Rocket Sport Society. Four years later, in 1976 the club changed name in Prvi partizan, which was maintained until 1991. The club's greatest success was the participation in the Yugoslav First Federal League in 1988–89 season. Playing along with the great basketball clubs such as the Partizan Belgrade, Red Star Belgrade, Jugoplastika Split, Cibona Zagreb, Olimpija Ljubljana and many, the club has achieved 11th place.

Due to the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia, the club continues to compete in the FR Yugoslavia First League. In the 1991–92 season, the club achieved 7th place, but the next season it was relegated. From 1991 to 2006 the club changed its name four times. By 2001, the club was called Užice. Then from 2001 to 2004 - Forma Play Off and from 2004 to 2006 - Gradina. After 53 years since its inception the club has returned to its original name - Sloboda.

In the 2006–07 season club become champion of the Serbian Regional League and achieved promotion to the Basketball League of Serbia B. The club spent two seasons there and due to poor results in second season it has been relegated. In the season 2009–10 the club competed in the Serbian League, but they agreed with the Mašinac to replace rank because of difficult financial situation in Kraljevo. The Sloboda moved to the Basketball League of Serbia and BC Mašinac moved to the Serbian League and received a fee of 5 million dinars.[1]

In his debut season in the highest men's basketball competition in Serbia, the Sloboda has been ranked 9th, with 12 wins and 14 defeats.[2] Next season the club has ranked a place lower than last year with 11 wins and 15 defeats.[3] In 2013 the Sloboda achieved a big success in recent club history gaining spot in the 2013 Radivoj Korać Cup quarterfinal against Serbian powerhouse Partizan.

Home arena

The Veliki Park Sports Hall is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Užice and it has a capacity of 2,200 seats.

Supporters

The organized supporters of the Sloboda Užice sports association are known as the Freedom Fighters. Besides a football club, they also support the Sloboda basketball team.

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Sloboda Užice roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
PG 0 Tejić, Bogan 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 19 – (2001-01-18)18 January 2001
PG 1 Aksentijević, Luka 18 – (2002-01-22)22 January 2002
G 2 Simić, Stefan 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (1996-01-06)6 January 1996
PG 3 Foster, Tervin 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 25 – (1994-11-21)21 November 1994
SF 5 Pažin, Đorđe (L) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 19 – (2001-03-31)31 March 2001
SG 8 Kutlešić, Dušan 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 25 – (1994-10-30)30 October 1994
SF 9 Branković, Marko 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 25 – (1994-08-12)12 August 1994
SG 10 Božić, Đorđe 19 – (2001-02-05)5 February 2001
C 12 Alajbegović, Bajazit 17 – (2002-07-23)23 July 2002
C 13 Marić, Petar 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 33 – (1987-02-04)4 February 1987
SF 15 Krstić, Danilo 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 20 – (1999-07-08)8 July 1999
17 Matović, Radomir 20 – (2000-03-28)28 March 2000
G 21 Đorđević, Vuk 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 29 – (1991-01-29)29 January 1991
SF 22 Simović, Ranko (L) 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 21 – (1999-06-07)7 June 1999
SG 23 Ćubić, Aleksa 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 20 – (2000-04-30)30 April 2000
PG 30 Paunović, Bratislav 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 25 – (1995-03-30)30 March 1995
C 32 Nikolić, Dimitrije (L) 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 22 – (1997-10-21)21 October 1997
PG 99 Tadić, Tadija (L) 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 21 – (1999-04-22)22 April 1999
SG Seales, Cortez 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 23 – (1997-03-20)20 March 1997
SF Poznanović, Martin 18 – (2002-01-06)6 January 2002
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: December 31, 2019

Coaches

Trophies and awards

Trophies
  • Quarterfinals (1): 2013

References
  1. "Užička Sloboda ušla u Prvu ligu". danas.rs. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  2. "Košarkaška liga Srbije Sezona 2010-2011". srbijasport.net. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. "Agroživ košarkaška liga Srbije Sezona 2011-2012". srbijasport.net. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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