Michael Angelos Arfaras: His interview on sport-fm.gr – Basketball – Greece

The 19-year-old Roditis Michael Angelos Arfaras he was first introduced to us in 2020, when he competed in the Panhellenic championship with Kolossos Rhodes. Specifically, in the summer of that year, the Colossus, having managed to pass to Final 6 (Colossus of Rhodes, PAOK, Panathinaikos, Panionios, Prometheus of Patras, Keravnos of Larisa), traveled to Athens with the aim of shaking things up against some of the giants of Greek basketball.

The leader of that group was none other than 16 years old then Michael Angelo, who, in fact, managed to get an important award, after being included in the best five of the tournament. Understandably, many teams were interested after his good performances. Finally, that same summer, he ended up in Olympiakos, while he now plays in Messolonghi for Charilaos Trikoupis in the renewed and upgraded Elite League.

Michael Angelos Arfaras is the perfect example of hard work. The hottest prospect of the Dodecanese in 2020 is revealed after 4 years, speaking to sport-fm.gr for everyone and everything!

In detail what he said to Vassilis Vassiliadis about:

– his first steps in basketball: “I have loved sports since I was a child. And for this reason I tried many sports to find one that really suited me. However, I’ve always had a weakness for basketball because of my father (an ex-basketball player). So I enrolled in the Colossus of Rhodes so that I could look at it more seriously. Every day after school we had training and I went as early as I could. The truth is that I was sitting and then doing extra training alone, because it was not enough for me alone with the team».

– his experience in the 2020 Panhellenic Championship: “Honestly, she was unforgettable for all the kids. We all went through a very difficult period then due to the corona virus with many ups and downs, which made it very difficult for us, because they completely changed our daily life on and off the court. But with hard work, training and patience we achieved what we wanted in the first place, which was to make it to the Final 6. Really, if I could, I would go back in time and play all the games from the beginning. It was truly an incredible experience for all of us».

– his test experience in Gran Canaria that summer: “The days I spent in Spain were somewhat strange, in the sense that everything seemed very different to me compared to Greece, but it was a pleasant experience. To train with players of this level at the age of 16 is very honorable and obviously helps you a lot. I stayed in Spain for a little over a week, I met very nice people and the climate in general was excellent. Despite all that, there were also many negative extras, which made me prefer to stay in Greece and finish high school».

– the transfer “serials” that summer: “When the Final 6 ended, the first team that approached me was PAOK and then Olympiacos and Prometheus. After the trials in Spain the people of Gran Canaria suggested I stay, but I had already decided against the idea of ​​abroad. So, from these options I chose to sign for Olympiakos».

– the sudden call from Lithuania: “After I had agreed with Olympiakos, I suddenly received an offer from Ritas Vilnius. The truth is that it made me think, because it was a very attractive idea and a very good contract compared to those of the other teams… Nevertheless, I rejected it and decided to go to Athens to start training with Olympiakos».

– his first very successful season in Piraeus: “In order to look ready for the demands that will be presented to me in a team like Olympiacos, I had to “get used to” the level I was playing and training in Rhodes. I worked on my body and my athletic abilities much more than in previous years in order to respond as best as possible to the needs of the coach and the team. Through all of this, I believe that I showed myself worthy of the expectations of the team, but also of the coach. We won the ESKANA championship twice undefeated, the U18 Greek championship and in addition, with the SAINT PAUL school I attended we won the Piraeus championship».

– how he was seriously injured: “About a week before the Panhellenic championship we were playing a friendly game where I hit my knee badly. The truth is that at the time I did not realize that there was any damage, but luckily it was decided not to continue. From the next day, a process of treatments began so that I could be ready for the Panhellenic championship. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling well, the treatments didn’t work, so I had an MRI… The MRI didn’t come out clear, so the team doctors advised me to go into surgery. When I heard it I really didn’t believe it and it was incredibly hard to accept. Specifically, on June 10, I passed the door of the operating room».

– the difficulty of recovery from a serious injury: “It is indeed very difficult. Throughout the recovery period, my leg hurt a lot, but all this was presented to me as reasonable, because a short period of time had passed since the surgery… So I finish the recovery I had planned with Olympiacos, where I belonged until then, and then I left the group, after I found a new destination, Psychiko. That summer I had lost the Panhellenic championship and the national youth team, this obviously saddened me, but mostly it made me determined to come back even better. This is how I normally start preparation with the Psychikos team».

– the new problem that presented itself to him after his move to Psychiko: “I started the new season very determined, but the hard truth was that my leg still didn’t feel comfortable at all. Then, the team doctor and I agreed that I would have to sit out for another two months to work on my leg. This period started, months passed and there was no progress. With these and with these, 5 whole months passed and unfortunately I was still not well. It was the same scenario all the time: I step on the floor, I leave because I’m in pain, and on top of that I always have a swollen leg. So I decided to go through the surgery door again».

– how he feels today about his health and everything he’s been through: “After my treatments in Rhodes, I believe that I finally managed to get well after so many difficulties this 1.5 years. I was deprived of something I love for too long, there was even a period when I fell into depression. But I believe that through the difficulties presented to us we become stronger, at least that’s what my injury taught me. I would describe this 1.5 year as “hell” for me and my family, but now I feel good and ready to do what I love».

– whether he would do something differently: “My philosophy is to act spontaneously and truly. So far, this attitude I have shown has vindicated me and I will continue to act in this way. In my opinion, everything happens for a reason and we should always be optimistic and positive in whatever difficulty we face. And that’s why I think that this injury has made me even stronger and more optimistic, so that I can turn the page in my life and chase my dreams. I believe that I am a born protagonist and for this very reason I am very demanding and hard on myself».

– the most important people in his career: “My father and my mother. Without these two I would not have reached where I am today. They have stood by me like no one else in the world, we are like best friends, we tell each other everything and I love them with all my heart… They have been and will always be there for me, whenever I need them».

– his hopes for the future: “My aspirations for the future are to get back physically and mentally to the state I was before my injury and help my team achieve their goals. Despite everything, my closest and possibly most important goal at the moment is to be at the pan-European U20 championship this summer with our national team and my presence, of course, to be accompanied by a distinction. My long-term goal is to manage to play at the highest level of Greece-Europe, of course in the Men’s National Team and why not, one day to manage to play in the NBA as well».