Zsófia Fegyverneky led Hungary in scoring before the injury ended her campaing prematurely

Pécs 2010 are accustomed to facing adversity.

Whether it's tough schedules or injuries, Pécs is like any other club in the EuroLeague Women and has to be able to have a deep squad to remain competitive.

Coach Zeljko Djokic certainly could have done without the foot injury that is going to prevent Hungary international Zsófia Fegyverneky from running the offense until the season is well underway.

"Zsófia has some type of fracture on one of the small bones of the foot," Djokic told Basketball World News.

"For this type of injury, it usually takes a long recovery."

Pécs will compete in Group A of the EuroLeague Women this season, starting with a home game against TTT Riga on October 28.

Djokic's team will also face Wisla Can-Pack Krakow, USO Mondeville, Good Angels Kosice and Cras Basket Taranto.

The Pre-Season

The pre-season is a crucial time for Djokic as he tries to get his new-look team in shape.

"We have started the pre-season program, with our totally new and very young team, about the middle of August," Djokic said.

"We have a very, very young team with a lot of talented teenagers, with the team's average age less than 22 years.

"So, in my opinion, in front of us is a very hard season, but we should always practice a bit more than any other team in Europe if we want to be competitive in the EuroLeague and in the Hungarian Championship, too."

Pécs' first game is right around the corner, on September 26, because the season in Hungary gets underway earlier than usual.

"Unfortunately, I cannot be completely satisfied with the start of the preparation period," the coach said.

"A lot of players have come with different types of injury problems, so at this moment we cannot count on all of them.

"We are also looking forward to the arrival of two young Americans (guard Alexandria Quigley and power forward Kelsey Griffin)."

Center Regina Palusna arrived from Ros Casares and is supposed to have an impact after recovering from her knee problem

There is also the injury to Fegyverneky.

"Maybe the biggest problem," Djokic said.

"She played for the national team of Hungary in the game against Montenegro, in which she scored a fantastic 32 points, but also got hurt. Now she needs long time for her rehabilitation.

"It is also a major problem that our newly signed player in position five (center), Regina Palusna, needs an additional rehabilitation period and just a fitness-practice program before she can start playing basketball."

Palusna, a Slovakia international, has been dogged by knee injuries.

It's not all doom and gloom, though, for the Hungarian team.

"I should say there are also a lot of positive things, and one of them is that our young players have a good work ethic and at the same time our legend and one of the best point guards in Europe, Dalma Ivanyi, started preparing with us from beginning of the preparation period," Djokic said.

Ivanyi, who turned 34 in March, is showing no signs of slowing down.

"I can compare her with good red wine, which is older and getting better and better," Djokic said.