In a significant moment for the Panathinaikos family Down Under, Christos Rousalis, president of the Panathinaikos Supporters’ Club Melbourne, popped over to Athens for a proper catch-up.
Representing thousands of green faithful in far-flung Australia, Rousalis got the full VIP treatment, rubbing shoulders with the basketball bigwigs and getting an eyeful of the latest developments at the hoops side.
The visit kicked off with a top-shelf meeting with Vasilis Parthenopoulos, president of Panathinaikos AKTOR basketball.
Parthenopoulos, a real stalwart with his finger on the pulse of recent club moves, rolled out the red carpet for Rousalis, sharing how vital it is to keep the diaspora punters in the loop.
“It’s a real honour to host reps from so far away, keeping the Panathinaikos fire burning bright in Australia,” the KAE president said.
The highlight of the trip was the guided tour of the fully revamped indoor basketball arena at the Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens (OAKA).
After a massive overhaul that’s just wrapped up, OAKA’s been transformed into a proper Euro-standard fortress.
Parthenopoulos himself showed Rousalis around the fresh setups, including the state-of-the-art changing rooms, upgraded seats for the fans, and that innovative glass floor dishing out a unique vibe during matches.
On top of the tour, the club president got to meet the new gun in the Panathinaikos ranks, American point guard TJ Shorts, who’s just slotted into the squad.
Shorts, fresh off the plane a few days back and straight into pre-season camp, spoke with Rousalis about his ambitions in green.
This wasn’t just a bog-standard meet-and-greet—it was a bridge between Greece and the Greek Aussie mob in Australia.
Under Christos Rousalis’ watch, the Panathinaikos Supporters’ Club Melbourne keeps punting events and rallying the troops Down Under, stoking the love for the Trifylli.
