/ D ejan Stanković’s professional playing career lasted more than 15 years. He appeared in public as “Red Star’s Wonder Kid”and became a professional at the tender age of 16 and a half. He was still a teenager when he relocated to Italy to become a resident of Rome and a player at Lazio, then later at Inter Milan. He also endured for a long time in the national team, playing 103 matches for his country, and today he’s there for some new kids… “I was lucky to experience football in di erent ways: as a kid who starts training and fantasises; as a professional foot- baller whose wishes have come true and whose dreams have become a reality. I decided to experience football again in the sincerest way – in the company of children. I want the ‘Deki 5’ camp to be among the more beautiful childhood experiences of the kids who decide to be our dear campers.” By simulating the working week of professional football- ers, children have the opportunity to learn what Dejan Stank- ović’s playing days looked like. The children learn, compete and play, but coaches also remind campers in a fun way about essen-
MALO O FUDBALU Pričati sa čovekom koji je već 30 godina posvetio fudbalu, a preskočiti aktuelne fudbalske teme, nije moguće. Maj je mesec Dejanovog najvećeg sportskog uspeha – osvajanja Lige šampiona. “Već devet godina prošlo je od te večeri u Madridu, a i dalje se kristalno jasno sećam svakog trenutka. Kruna karijere sa Interom! Za to je vredelo živeti, trenirati, trpeti, boriti se”. Za prethodnu sezonu u najkvalitetnijem fudbalskom takmičenju na planeti Deki ka- že da je naročito važna jer je prekinuta vladavina Reala iz Madrida. – Prethodno su osvojili tri uzastopna trofeja, a onda je otišao Zinedin Zidan, što je dovelo do toga da kraljevski klub bude eliminisan već u osmini finala. Ali mene lič- no uvek raduje kad naši igrači imaju zapaženu ulogu u Ligi šampiona, a upravo je Realu presudio Dušan Tadić u svom Ajaksu. Za kraj, ali uvek najvažnije, Stanković ostavlja Crvenu zvezdu, tim koji je uspeo da se upiše u Ligu šampiona. – Melem za dušu svakog zvezdaša, naravno i za mene. Čekali smo i dočekali. Bilo je sjajno one noći velikog slavlja u Salcburgu posle pobede nad Red Bulom. O ose- ćaju posle trijumfa nad Liverpulom da ne govorim. To ulazi u istoriju, to se pam- ti. Iskreno se nadam da je sve to samo dobar uvod u ono što će na Marakanu do- ći sledećih godina...
tial healthcare issues, providing answers to many questions: what is good and what should be xed in nutrition; the impor- tance of psychology in sport; how self-con- dence is acquired and built; how to over- come nervousness and the fear of making mistakes; why it is necessary to cultivate fair play and respect opponents; and many other important sporting and life issues. It is precisely due to Deki 5 that Stank- ović ies regularly with Air Serbia, which even named one of the aircraft in its Liv- ing Legends programme after him. The camp is this year operating successfully in Serbia for a second year, while it will soon see its premiere in America. “Chicago is our next destination, and so, from 8 th to 14 th June, we will be in – as people like to say – the world’s second largest Serb city. I look forward to hanging out with the kids in America and there’s no doubt we’ll achieve success there too. I really felt good from the energy I accumu- lated socialising with kids during last year’s
Stanković decu može da nauči o profesionalizmu, treningu, ponašanju, poštovanju saigrača i protivnika, kaže Siniša Mihajlović Stankovic can teach children lots of things, primarily about professionalism, training, behaviour, respect for teammates and opponents, says Siniša Mihajlović
Camp on Zlatibor. Together with my team of associates, I created a programme that o ers our campers seven days of true enjoy- ment – both on the pitch while training, and o the pitch during numerous workshops, fun evenings, entertainment, quizzes.” Con rming that the Deki 5 Camp has fully justi ed its exist- ence is the fact that for the second season, which is being pre- paredforintensively,anewdestinationhasbeenadded:Kopaonik. “It was fantastic on Zlatibor last summer. The Hotel Pali- sad proved to be a top host. We decided, however, to expand to Kopaonik. We are convinced that the Junior Hotel will earn an A rating from us and our campers”. From 21 st July to 24 th Au- gust, Dejan Stanković and the Deki 5 Camp will welcome hun- dreds of youngsters to Serbia from practically all over the world. “This fact is particularly pleasing for all of us who are involved in the organisation of the camp. During the coming summer, according to the incoming applications, children will come to Serbia from New Zealand, Iceland, Australia, Canada, America and numerous European countries. Of course, among them are many children of our emigrants, but it will certainly be nice to see them in the land of their fathers. We will also have other dear guests, with a group of 50 children coming from Israel alone.”
A LITTLE ABOUT FOOTBALL When talking to a man who has dedicated 30 years of his life to football it is not pos- sible to bypass current football happenings. May is the month of Dejan’s greatest sporting success - winning the UEFA Champions League. “It’s been nine years already since that evening in Madrid, and I still remember every instant with crystal clari- ty. The crown of my career with Inter! For that it was worth living, training, enduring, struggling”. Speaking about the last season in the world’s top football competition, Deki says that it was particularly important because it saw an end to the reign of Real Madrid. “They previously won three titles consecutively, then Zinedine Zidane left, which led to the royal club being eliminated at the last-16 stage. But I’m always personal- ly pleased when our players have a notable role in the Champions League, and Re- al’s fate was actually decided by Dušan Tadić at his Ajax. Lastly, but always most im- portantly, Deki turns to Red Star, the team that managed to enrol in the Champions League? “A balm for the soul of every Red Star fan, and of course also for me. We waited and we welcomed. It was brilliant to have that night of great celebrations in Salzburg af- ter the victory over Red Bull, and I won’t even mention the feeling after beating Liv- erpool. That has gone down in history; that will remain remembered. And I sincerely hope it’s all just a good prelude to what’s to come in the years ahead at “Marakana”.
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