We talked to a Serbian Basketball player who played in Iran! Her story reveals the unreal world! (PHOTO)

My parents were shocked when I told them I was going to Tehran to play basketball * When I arrived at the airport all women around me were wrapped in black, I know that the police would have arrested me hadn’t I immediately put a scarf on my head and put on a coat * Socializing with men is strictly prohibited, says Serbian basketball player Jelena Mitić

A Serbian basketball player Jelena Mitić did what few would dare even among men! She accepted the offer to go and play basketball in Iran, the country with a very Islamic stronghold where life is totally different from the one she was used to.

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However, what she experienced and saw there will remain her memory for a lifetime and invaluable experience.

- When I told my parents and closest friends that I was leaving everything here and going to Tehran to play basketball, no one could have believed that I would really do that - Jelena Mitić, a twenty-three-year old Serb, who earlier this year left aside all prejudices and continued the season started in Slovenia in Iran, begins the story for Telegraf.

Wanting to try something new, to get to know a different culture, but also to take advantage of financial benefits, she ignored everything people told her about the insecure life in Iran.

- In Slovenia, it was just fine for women's basketball, and then I got an offer from a manager to continue my career in Tehran, the club Kusa Sabala. They began the Super league there, wanted the playoff, and I was expected to represent the predominance in the fight for fourth place- say s Jelena.

- First I asked around, but all I found out was not in favor of my decision to move there, and additionally I was averted by comments of the people who are close to me, everyone was telling me that I’m not normal, that it is dangerous there ...

- The parents were in shock when I said that I would surely go. It was clear that the league is weak, and I didn’t think to advance in basketball, but I just wanted to experience something new - explains this young basketball player, currently a member of a team from Sarajevo.

But thinking about going there was not half as bad as the journey to the capital of Iran.

- You know, the worst is when you go into the unknown, when you do not know what awaits you. I traveled at night, via Istanbul. I had the impression that I would never arrive, it was very slow.

- There a team manager was supposed to meet me, and as I was told at the embassy, I brought a long coat and a scarf in order to cover myself, just like their women- recounts her experiences this player originating from Vrbas.

- When I arrived at the airport around me all women were wrapped in black, I know that the police would have arrested me hadn’t I immediately put a scarf on my head and a topcoat, and what was worse at that moment, the manager, who was supposed to meet me was not at the airport – recalls Jelena now with a smile, and then she was on the verge of tears:

- After everything settled down, I came to the club, they were, of course, different from me, and I was the attraction for them. On our team there was just a girl from Armenia, who was my roommate, and all the rest were local players that accepted me very nicely - recalls a basketball player.

From the behavior in the public to the sporting life, everything that she had until then been used to, she had to forget, as well as the prejudices that she had subconsciously when started her journey to Tehran.

- Thirty years ago, their Pasha passed the law on non-interference of men and women in public places, which they accepted more difficult at first, but now they have already acquired all norms - Jelena explains what's different:

- There are separate companies, factories, schools and all public places, bars, clubs that are separated for men and women, and even Basketball Associations. No interference. Rarely on the street can you see that men and women mix, those are the individual cases, they rarely socialize, not to mention that a boy does not approach a girl.

Although Jelena is undoubtedly a beautiful girl, there no one approached her:

- That is the policy of the club, we were able to socialize with men only with permission of the manager of the club, and only with those who are associated with the club itself, not with someone from the outside. And I, of course, strictly respected that.

- People rarely speak English there, but they are very polite, friendly. For example, for New Year, even though they do not celebrate, they organized a celebration for me, and gathered the whole team, and for Christmas they organized my stay in one Armenian family which celebrated this holiday by Orthodox tradition, so I could have the impression that I was at home – talks enthusiastically Jelena Mitić.

When we talk about the sports side of the life in Tehran, some things are better than with us, some are definitely not. What is interesting is that financial conditions are far better than in Serbia and the region, which is certainly not the only reason that Jelena would go back again.

- Throughout the club there are only women, from the coach to all members of the management in all categories, we trained in ordinary equipment, as well as in the rest of the world, but the games are played in long-sleeved equipment, the arms and legs are covered, the hair also. I struggled with this; my hair was constantly falling out, which is not to be seen. Fortunately, my team-mates were skillful so they would tie a bun each time with two scarves so that I could play undisturbed.

She was such an attraction for them that the coach of Kusa Sabalan several times asked Jelena for advice.

- I showed them some exercises that are practiced in our country, and I have often commented on the game with the coach, because she wanted to know my experience. They found it very interesting. In fact, everything is similar, there are no many differences, but the exchange of knowledge was useful.

And when it comes to sport, they do not mix men and women.

- Women basketball matches can be watched only by women, and for them it is a real event. They are like little kids- they jump, cheer, bring balloons, make choreographies; around a hundred of them followed our matches at home. While, everybody can go to men team matches, so I even went a few times.

As Jelena said, there are no negative experiences, and this period will be remembered for the beautiful events, regardless of the fact that her team has not won the playoff.

- I have learned some basic words in Persian, expressions, as well as words for basketball actions. The only thing that was difficult for me to get used to is their money, but with such pleasant people and my team-mates, everything is easier.

Jelena Mitic remains in Sarajevo until the end of the season, and after that she would like to try her hand at a country perhaps unpopular for basketball, where she can meet interesting people and culture.

(Telegraf.rs)