Srbija - nacionalna revija - broj 54 - engleski - niska rezolucija

W I N N E R
FORCE OF CLOSENESS
AND SOLIDARITY
Are we aware at all of the significance of
our sports on the world scene?
– I’m not so sure. I don’t deny that our
country has remarkable artists, deserving
full attention, but I am certain that none of
them has done so much for the affirmation
of Serbia as the sportsmen have. You can
go to any continent and meet people who
know our sportsmen, although they don’t
even know where Serbia is. Not only tennis
players, but also water polo, basketball
players, athletes, shooters and many others.
It seems to me that our people easily skip
that fact and see successes in sports more
as entertainment than as major achievements.
I think those results deserve more
respect.
How does the female volleyball national
team coach see the core of Serbian people?
– We have our unique features that
should be preserved. We gained them by
growing up on our land, and we should
emphasize them with pride. People live
better in some other countries and many
things function better, but we mustn’t try
to look like them. The way they socialize,
work, spend their free time, is not ours and
we don’t accept it.
We are now very burdened with crises
in mutual relations. We used to respect,
support and defend each other more. It’s
lost now, perhaps under the weight of the
crisis that has been lasting too long. That
is why our entire living environment is
difficult to bear, although the solution is
right in front of us. Not in looking at others’
measures and habits and their adoption.
We can be better to ourselves if we
don’t lose what has always been our virtue
– closeness and solidarity. Then we’ll see
everything with a greater will and hope.
Many of my acquaintances from all parts
of the world, who visited Serbia, departed
with the most beautiful experiences and
wish to come again. We must never forget
that, in moments of great crises, we have a
lot to show and many like it a lot.
What to expect from the Olympics in Rio?
– We are aware of our quality, as well
as the opponents’. If we just mention Brazil,
Russia, USA, China, you will understand
the competition awaiting us in fighting
for a medal. However, I’m convinced
that we can play on equal terms with all
those teams and win them, as we have before.
It’s finally time for bad luck to turn
our back on us, because we attended the
previous two Olympics with incomplete
teams. Some reasons were ugly – injuries,
and some beautiful – our players were
pregnant. Now it’s time to go to the games
complete. In such a situation, we will not
be afraid of any opponent and I rightfully
underline that we are ready to fight for a
medal. You can count that we’ll do our best.
It remains to be seen whether it’ll be sufficient
for a celebration.
98 SRBIJA • BROJ 54 • 2016.