It’s the little moments that make you appreciate the people around you. To see who’s on his side. One of the most intense moments for Christos Buffet unfolded after the finale of the Supercup, after Olympiakos defeated Panathinaikos 67:52.

The moment of handing over the trophy is always possible. From time to time you can see the team captain calling a teammate or the team owner with him. Kostas Papanikolaou invited Christos Buffet, the team’s sporting director, to whom he dedicated the title due to the adventure he had with his health over the summer.

Christos Buffets is not the type of person who likes publicity and exposure. He will not refuse to speak to anyone. But he won’t be chasing the limelight. He doesn’t see that as his role. But for once he had to do it. The reason; He analyzed it himself: “I knew if I didn’t leave when Papanikolaou called me he would insist even more and make more vigorous moves!“

Christos Bafes resumed an active role in the team just a few weeks ago. His first return to the limelight was when he traveled to Cyprus with Olympiakos for the Neophytos Handriotis tournament. In Rhodes he made the second trip with the team but still wasn’t allowed to do much. But he couldn’t stay away from the organization.

“A lot goes through your head”

The game between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos is over. Everything is ready for the award. Kostas Papanikolaou receives the trophy. However, he has no intention of lifting it to the sky of the stadium. He has something else on his mind. He wants Christos Buffet, the team’s athletic director, by his side.

Most people don’t know about it. It was a matter not discussed much out of respect but Christos Bafes had a serious health issue. The people around him were concerned. It was an adventure with a happy ending. And Papanikolaou was one of the few to experience that, as the oldest player on the team.

“Anyone who knows me well knows that I don’t like to stand out or be in the spotlight. I also had a hard time doing this step yesterday. But I saw how persistent Kostas was and I knew that if I didn’t go, he would be even more persistent.” recalled Christos Bafes before describing his feelings at that moment:

“It is natural that many things go through your mind during this time. I thought maybe I’m not there, not living this moment, not living this moment. But I made it and I owe that to my doctor Konstantinos Perrea, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart for everything he has done for me.

This whole adventure that I have been going through in the last 2.5 months and from which I will come out stronger has been difficult for everyone who was close to me. I’m not just talking about my family, but about all the people we’ve grown up with over the years in the Olympiacos organization.”

The moment was intense. But when you look at the group photo, Christos Bafes was not there. Why is that happend; “I was back with the coaches. I was very emotional, I will not lie. I was in tears“.

I have no words for presidents, we are family

As Christos Baffes accepted the trophy, smiles could be seen on everyone in the team, especially team owners Panagiotis and George Angelopoulos, who applauded heartily. And that was no coincidence.

“The team presidents are like family to me. I can’t describe her. There are no words to describe how close he is to everyone on the team‘ initially reported Christos Bafes, adding: ‘I can’t explain it all in a few words. Just as he stands by everyone in their personal affairs, that he is our roof. They are people with all capital letters. We don’t talk about basketball anymore. We are talking about the Angelopoulos people“.

This fact generally shows the atmosphere that prevails in the team, according to the club’s sporting director: “A lot of people are betting on the advantage the team has because of the core they’ve built over the past year. What has been said is correct. But the problem for Olympiakos is that he also has a body off the pitch. They don’t change faces, the club has the same people in their positions.

Our presidents have faith in what we do, but we all get along really well. Everything that happens is not fake. Many groups often speak of a family atmosphere and this is not true. However, nothing is fake at Olympiakos. We grew up together, we’ve seen good times and bad times. And the most important thing was that we don’t point fingers at each other in difficult times“.

Papanikolaou is crazy

At the end of the discussion, it was impossible not to give a special mention to the man who caused all this talk: Kostas Papanikolaou, for whose good Christos Bafes posted his own “thank you” on his official Twitter account, calling him “mate”. And for that, too, he had the explanation, by telling a story that had not been known since their first acquaintance.

“I met Kostas as a child when he joined the team in 2009, just finished school and now he is a father, married with a child. In his first year he was included late in preparation because he was taking part in national team commitments and I had to take him to Karpenisi“, First Christos Bafes reported, to then mention the hilarious story:

“I remember picking him up from Kallithea with his representative. A passenger got on and asked me if he could sleep because he was tired. So I started driving and Manos Manouselis (ss assistant coach to Panagiotis Giannakis this season) called me and asked if we could be in Karpenisi relatively early for lunch and I told him ok.

Kostas was sleeping, he didn’t know what was going on, and I ran. The… I squeezed a little. At one point there was a blockage in the tunnels in Lamia. I had covered 165 kilometers. I started to wake him up so we could avoid the call but he was young then, people didn’t know him so they took my license plate and my diploma, they took everything!“

Finally, Christos Bafes said the best about Papanikolaou: “He’s a guy. He’s a special kid, very emotional. We live in strange times, but he remains a kid who means everything he says. He’s crazy.”