Elevate July 2022 | Air Serbia

Zauvek uz Jadran Karijeru je počeo kad mu je bilo deset godina, a ostao je ceo život u vaterpolu, uz svoj Jadran. Kaže da je imao sreće da 1997. u klub dođe Petar Porobić, koji je kasnije bio selektor Srbije i Crne Gore, jedna od najzanačajnijih ličnosti u njegovoj karijeri. A onda je stigla reprezentacija Jugoslavije, možda najbolja ekipa svih vremena… – Od 2001. do odvajanja država, to je bio tim bez premca. Svi su već bili naj- bolji igrači sveta kada sam došao u Be- ograd. Šapić, Vujasinović, Ikodinović, Savić, Ćirić… Dođeš među takve veli- kane, ćutiš i klimaš glavom kad te nešto pitaju, dok te ne zavole. Bila je privile- gija biti u njihovom društvu. Kad te po- zovu na kafu ili u grad, i da ti se ne ide, ti od sreće ideš. Dan-danas ste veliki prijatelji… – Svi smo ostali u baš dobrim odnosi- ma, sa Šapićem sam veoma blizak, ali Savić je posebna priča. Igrali smo za- jedno u reprezentaciji, posle u Kaza- nju, a sada smo obojica selektori. Od svih ljudi koje znam a da mi nisu kumovi ili neka braća, ne postoji čovek koji me voli više od njega. Posle svakog bazena se nađemo, izađemo, evociramo us- pomene. On je možda moj najbolji pri- jatelj iz sveta vaterpola, koji je za mene mnogo učinio. team coaches. Of all the people I know who aren’t my godparents or brothers, there’s no man who loves me more than he does. We meet up after each en- counter in the pool, go out, evoke mem- ories. He is perhaps my best friend from the world of water polo, and he has done a lot for me.” You had a short stint in Russia, but de- cided to return home. Why Jadran? “This is my house; I spent more time at the Škver than with my parents. I re- mained attached to the club and was attracted to the coaching job. I’ve been Montenegro coach since 2016, but I still work with the coaches at Jadan. I’m there every day, except when we’re preparing, and both my sons play wa- ter polo. I was born in a village above Herceg Novi and my heart is in this city. The people here are warm, hospita- ble, life flows at a leisurely pace. The dis-

Imao si kratak izlet u Rusiju, ali si od- lučio da se vratiš kući. Zašto uvek Ja- dran? – To je moja kuća, više sam vremena proveo na Škveru nego sa svojim rodi- teljima. Ostao sam vezan za klub, pri- vlačio me je trenerski posao. Od 2016. sam selektor Crne Gore, ali u Jada- nu i dalje radim sa trenerima, tu sam svaki dan, osim kad smo na priprema- ma, oba sina mi igraju vaterpolo. Ro- đen sam u selu iznad Novog i srce mi je u ovom gradu. Ovde su ljudi topli, go- stoljubivi, život teče laganim tempom, od mora do snega ima 35 kilometara, a to je retka privilegija. Morski i planin- ski vazduh se mešaju čineći ovo mesto oazom zdravlja i duševnog mira. I za- to Jadran. Šta ne bismo smeli da propustimo u Herceg Novom? – Jedna bi tura morala biti zaleđe, sta- re kamene seoske kuće u kojima je ostao način života iz nekih starih vre- mena. Škver obavezno, tu je Jadran i srce Herceg Novog. Obišao sam mno- go sveta, ali trofejna sala kluba je nešto što gotovo niko nema, a utakmice po- red mora su posebno iskustvo. Ne tre- ba propustiti girice i vino, Manastir Sa- vinu, a treba se kupati na Žanjicama i popeti na naše prelepe tvrđave sa ko- jih se vidi grad. tance from the sea to the snow is 35 kilometres, and that’s a rare privilege. The air of the sea and the mountains combine to make this place an oasis of health and spiritual peace. And that's why Jadran”. What are the “musts” in Herceg Novi? “One tour should cover the surround- ing countryside, old stone rural houses that have preserved the way of life from some bygone times. The Škver is oblig- atory, with Jadran and the heart of Her- ceg Novi there. I’ve travelled the world a lot, but the trophy hall of the club is something that almost no one else has anything like, and matches by the sea are a special experience. You shouldn’t miss the whitebait and wine, Savina Monastery, and you should bathe at Žanjice and clamber up to the top of our beautiful fortresses that offer views of the city”.

Vladimir Gojković

selektor Crne Gore, Montenegro team coach

Forever with jadran He began his playing career at the tender age of ten and has spent his whole life in water polo, together with his Jadran. He says that he was fortunate when the club was joined in 1997 by Petar Porobić, who later coached the Serbia and Montenegro national team and was one of the most important personalities in his career. And then came the Yugoslav national team that was perhaps the best team of all time… “From 2001 until the separating of the states, that team was without rival. They were all the world’s best players by the time I came to Belgrade. Šapić, Vujasi- nović, Ikodinović, Savić, Ćirić … You find yourself among such greats, you keep silent and nod your head when they ask you something, until they come to love you. It was a privilege to be in their com- pany. When they invite you for coffee or to go out in the city and you’re not feel- ing up to it, you go anyway out of hap- piness.” You’ve remained friends to this day… “We’ve all remained in very good rela- tions. I’m very close to Šapić, but Sav- ić is a special story. We played togeth- er for the national team, then later for Kazan, and now we’re both national

Ostao je ceo život u vaterpolu, uz svoj Jadran He has spent his whole life in water polo, together with his Jadran

108 | Vaterpolo » Water polo

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