29 January 2009
Budućnost T-Mobile is back in the European elite, after five years, thanks to a project carefully implemented by the new management of the Montenegrins. Predrag Bošković, President of Budućnost since December 2006, talks about the big success of the team and about the expectations from the main round.
Eurohandball.com: Budućnost T-Mobile are back in the best eight teams of the Champions League after five years. Your impressions?
Predrag Bošković: “I must say that I’m very proud about this result. This was our goal at the beginning of the season. But we do not have enough time to celebrate because we do have a busy schedule in the Regional League and the main round will come soon.”
Eurohandball.com: Budućnost has a young and very talented team. Did you expect reaching the main round against group rivals some of the best European teams such as Hypo and FCK Handbold?
Predrag Bošković: “We were dreaming about this at the beginning of the season. We knew that we have a good team, but we were afraid that we were still young for big results. The girls have shown that they are able to play good games against the best clubs of Europe.
I was optimistic and I believed that we can continue in the main round, so I was always telling the girls that we are on the necessary level.”
Eurohandball.com: In the main round Budućnost will play against Valcea, Krim and Győr. Six more strong games, but what are the chances to make another surprise?
Predrag Bošković: “I told you already that I’m optimistic that we can be equal to any team. If we could play well against Hypo or FCK than we can play well again. We are not the favorites, but what I can promise is that we will do our best. If someone wants to beat us, they will need to do their best too.”
Eurohandball.com: A year and a half ago, the management of the club set a goal: back on the top of European handball within three years, going step by step. In the first year you achieved the goal, which was to do better then in the previous season. This season the objective was to reach the main round. It seams that Budućnost are on the right way to achieve the targets.
Predrag Bošković: “That is our main goal. Budućnost has three European trophies (two Cup Winners’ Cup titles and an IHF Cup title). But we never won the Champions League.
We reached the semi-finals six times, never a final. That is what our management would like to change. It’s easier to say than do, since women’s competition is much stronger than five or 10 years ago. There is more money in the clubs. But as I said, we will do our best to reach our goals.”
Eurohandball.com: Thanks to the good results, the fans are back in “Morača” hall. It was crowded for all matches like in the best times of the club’s history. With a total of 14,000 fans from three home games, Budućnost set the record in the group phase this CL season.
Predrag Bošković: “Attracting the fans was never a problem for us. Female handball has a big tradition in Podgorica. This season is a little bit different. Now people are living with the girls and they are great support and motivation for them to give 100% every game.”
Eurohandball.com: Croatian goalkeeper Sanela Knezović and left wing Slađana Grozdanić are new players for the main round. Are you satisfied with the reinforcements? Maybe we can expect someone else?
Predrag Bošković: “Our main problem was a lack of experience. We tried to overcome this with taking part in the Regional League where we had enough very strong games. Still we needed some more experienced players such as Sanela and Slađana. I think they will be great help for us in the main round. Regarding new reinforcements, we will see. Everything is possible.”
Eurohandball.com: If we don’t count those coming from former Yugoslavia, Gyula Zsiga is only the second foreign coach in Budućnost ever after Lim Young-Chul from South Korea. How satisfied are you with his work? Could he be a long term solution for Budućnost?
Predrag Bošković: “Gyula did a great job so far. He has a contract for two years and after that we will sit together and talk about the future.”
TEXT: www.eurohandball.com