Thousands of Slovenes share patriotic sentiment as they flock to their former capital Belgrade

While Slovakia was cheering its team in tennis, it was basketball fever that gripped neighbouring Slovenia last week, after the small country qualified for the world championships for the first time in its history. Thousands of Slovenes descended on Serbia's Belgrade to cheer and celebrate their national team. For many of them, it was a profound and patriotic experience as Belgrade used to be their capital too, before Slovenia gained independence in 1991.

At the European Basketball Championships in Belgrade, Slovenia started things off with a bang by defeating everyone in their group: Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, and the eventual European champions: Greece. Only one other country (Lithuania) managed to go undefeated as well.

But more importantly, for the first time in its history, Slovenia was propelled into the quarterfinals. For thousands of Slovenes, it was a triumphant moment. They boarded planes, trains and automobiles and headed south to Belgrade to witness the historical event.

One such supporter, Goran Glavicic, recalls the trip down:

"The trip to Belgrade was very interesting because it was full of cars driving to Belgrade. And we blinked our lights to each other when somebody passed us. And when we came to the arena hall in Belgrade it was very interesting because there were about nine or ten thousand Slovenian people, singing Slovenian songs."

If anything, there was too much support. The lines into the stadium were so congested that many people didn't make it in by the time the game started. Goran was also one of those stuck outside and impatient to get in.

"It was a pity because we waited so long to get into the hall, but when I came inside it was such a great feeling that I immediately forgot what happened before. It's difficult to explain to someone who wasn't there, because after the game we went to the city, to Terazija, and it was really full of Slovenian people walking around and drinking and singing. It was like I was walking around in Ljubljana or somewhere in Slovenia."

Some Serbian bars were stretched past their limits by celebrating Slovenes. One newspaper reported that some bars had run out of alcohol to sell to the jubilant throngs.

The players often joined in the celebrations with their countrymen. Star player Bostjan Nachbar, who plays in the NBA for the New Orleans Hornets, spoke of the great value of Slovenia's fanatic fans:

"Definitely. I think it's a great help. I want to tell all our supporters here and everyone at home in front of the television to encourage us and be loud. This means a lot to us. Because in the end, this is for them, this is for our Slovenia, this is for Slovenian basketball. So I believe it helps. It's a big plus and good for us."

The party almost came to an end on Friday, when Slovenia finally fell to Dirk Nowitzki and the German team. But the mood was only temporarily down. Shortly thereafter, the Slovenian team came from behind to defeat rival Croatia to qualify for the World Championships in Japan in 2006.

The Slovenian team returned home from Belgrade with a modest sixth place finish, but they returned as national heroes - with thousands of happy and exhausted supporters behind them.