KK Sloboda Užice

Sloboda Užice
Nickname	The Ere
Leagues	Basketball League of Serbia B
Founded	1950
History	KK 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
Arena	Veliki Park Sports Hall (capacity: 2,200)
Location	Užice, Serbia
Team colors	Red and Black
President	Miroslav Radošević
Head coach	Mladen Šekularac
Uniforms
Home Away

Košarkaški klub Sloboda Užice (Serbian Cyrillic: Кошаркашки клуб Слобода Ужице) is a professional basketball club from Užice, Serbia. The club currently participates in the Basketball League of Serbia. The Sloboda Užice play their home games at the Veliki Park Sports Hall which can hold about 2,200 spectators.

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 "First 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 Basketball club Sloboda begins in 1957. In January 1958, on the traditional basketball tournament organized by the Red Star Belgrade, 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 - Serbian basketball league.

In 1962 under the patronage of the Copper Mill Sevojno, basketball club changed its name to BC Sevojno. In 1972 the club changed its name to BC Rocket, after moving to Sport Society "Rocket". Four years later, in 1976 the club changed name in BC First partizan, which was maintained until 1991. The club's greatest success was the participation in the Yugoslav First League in season 1988–89. 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 First League of FR Yugoslavia. In the 1991–92 season club has achieve 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 BC Užice. Then from 2001 to 2004 - BC Forma Play Off and from 2004 to 2006 - BC Gradina. After 53 years since its inception the club has returned to its original name - BC Sloboda.

In the 2006–07 season club become champion of the Serbian League and achieved promotion to the Basketball League of Serbia B. The BC Sloboda 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 BC Mašinac to replace rank because of difficult financial situation in Kraljevo. The BC Sloboda moved to the Basketball League of Serbia and BC Mašinac moved to the Serbian League and received a fee of 5 million dinars.

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

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 Freedom Fighters. Besides a football club, they also support the Sloboda basketball team.

References

External links

• KK Sloboda Užice at kls.rs
• KK Sloboda Užice at eurobasket.com