Valmiera captain Ate discusses recovery from injury ahead of new season

Latvian basketball champions Valmiera Glass/ViA are preparing to return to the court, opening the new Latvian-Estonian league season on September 22 against Riga Ekselences Juniori. Ahead of the game, team captain Artis Ate spoke about his recovery from a serious injury and his outlook for the upcoming season.

Since returning from the summer break, the team has been training twice a day, though Ate is not yet participating fully in team practices. He says his injury has not fully healed, but recovery is progressing well. Important medical checks are scheduled for September 15, which will determine his next steps. The captain expects to miss the season-opening game.

A successful season with mixed feelings

Last season the team won three trophies, but it was also when Ate suffered the most serious injury of his career. He notes that no specific goals have been set for the new season yet, since the roster changes significantly every year and early games rarely reflect a team's true form.

New players and a new coach

The squad has again undergone major changes this summer, including the arrival of Jake Heidbreder, a player of Latvian descent, whom Ate describes positively. There has also been a coaching change — Kaspars Vecvagars, who moved to Lithuanian club Zalgiris' second team, has been replaced by Davis Coders, with whom Ate has previously worked both as a player and under his coaching.

Thoughts on the future

The 37-year-old captain acknowledges he has been thinking about life after his playing career, including the possibility of becoming a coach, though he has not made a final decision. This summer he gained his first coaching experience, but says his future path will depend on his health and continued motivation to keep playing.