Adrian Croitoru upset after Romanian federation forced a break

Romanian coach and one of the best ever male athlete Adrian Croitoru is no longer in function as men’s headcoach of the Romanian team. Three weeks in advance of the World Championships in Baku, the Romanian Federation have suspended Croitoru and the headcoach is upset about it and the athletes want him to stay and started to take action.

Croitoru is upset and reacts just once and exclusively for JudoInside and the fans: "Yes, I am upset. It is unexpected three weeks for the World Championships. I have a document with many signatures of athletes who want me back. The criticism if far from true."

“I am surprised by this decision of the Romanian Federation leadership, the reasons given in the press in Romania are unrealistic. I have asked the FJU leaders for an official announcement of this decision but I have not received anything to this effect. I believe that this decision is not beneficial for the judo team's moral, shortly before the Judo World Championships in Baku."

"However I feel strong and I was pleasantly surprised to find that most athletes from the Judo National Lottery are at my side at these times, asking me to remain the head coach of the Romanian team. For the sake of Romanian Judo, I want my situation to be clearer as soon as possible at the FRJ level.”

Double World bronze medallist Croitoru was the only Romanian man who reached the bronze medal fight at the Olympic Games in the last 30 years and he did it twice, but finished fifth twice as well. He became European Champion in 2000 and won four European medals.

The president of the Romanian Judo Federation, Cozmin Guşa, said the suspension was related to the poor results and the tense situation created by Adrian Croitoru against the Japanese coach Kohei Oishi, recently brought to the team.

But it’s not just the results since the Olympic Games. Over the last 10 years Romanian athletes won 46 medals including just 12 victories at World Cup, World Championships or European Championships level. Daniel Natea won 14 of those 46 medals, Simeonescu 9, and in fact 25 were won by heavyweights. Over all categories only Dan Fasie won a World Cup twice 2010-2011 and Marcel Cercea won the European Open in September 2017. So the Romanian men’s results have never been good.

Of the 45 medals since the 2008 Olympic Games each new Olympic cycle delivered 15 medals (1 victory) 2009-2012, 17 (2 victories) 2013-2016 and since Rio 13 medals including 5 wins with two years to go for the Games, not so bad at all, but with more events available. Four medals were achieved at African/Pan American Continental Opens.  

At the 2017 World Championships the Romanian athletes were not successful. Only three men were able to win a first match and only Raicu and Croitoru survived two contests.

Romania didn’t take any World Junior medal for 13 empty years (2004) and of all 41 European Junior medals, only three were taken in the last ten years, despite the European Junior organization in Bucharest in 2014 where Alexandru Raicu medalled U73kg.

It’s probably not just the results, but the overall state of Romanian men’s judo in a country where team sports, tennis and gymnastics are more popular. At the birthday of the most successful Romanian athlete Alina Dumitru the need for success is bigger than ever.

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