Practically, as soon as they got to the hotel Terme and started with the final phase of preparations for the new season, players of Vojvodina got another valuable reinforcement. Former captain of Proleter, 28-years-old Nemanja Čović, for the second time in his career, became a member of the Old Lady of the Serbian football, thus boosting the competition in the attack of red and whites, just where Voša had a lot of problems during the previous season.
That it will be of great importance for the play of the team of Nenad Lalatović, Nemanja Čović showed already in the first friendly game against Brežice, both because of the goal scored and because of the overall impression that he left.
– I am new, but I knew about the club, the players and the coach. Consequently, I can not say that I came to the unknown, although I certainly need some time. I believe that the guys will accept me well, and some of them already know me, just like I know them, so I expect everything will be fine – said Čović.
After the season in Proleter, where you had good performances, you decided to become a Vojvodina player for the second time in your career?
– Vojvodina is a big club and has a much greater ambition than my previous club, so mostly because of that I decided to accept its offer. I like a project that people from the club want to make and I believe that we can reach the goal together.
You returned to Vojvodina after eight years. How much did the club change in that time, and how much did you?
– I was younger, so I was making decisions with hot head. Since then, it’s been a long time, and now I’m older and more experienced, so I’m looking at football and other things differently. The club was big then, just like it is now. It had great ambitions then, as it does today, so not many things are different. Practically, only the club management is different, while everything else is more or less the same.
During those eight years, have you changed a lot of clubs, both in Serbia and abroad?
– I was in Italy, Greece, Belarus… I think every football player should go abroad and try to make something, or get some experience. Mine surely meant to me and I think I showed it last season, and I believe that I will do it this season too.
This summer, Vojvodina suffered many changes in its squad. What do you think about this team?
– Before I came to Vojvodina, I read about the players who are coming and I think there is a phenomenal set of older and younger players. I know all of them mostly as opponents from the pitch and these are all great guys. Vojvodina has always had these young talents and I think that it has great young players in its team today, who can learn a lot from us older, because I am already a lot older than them. With this great coach, who has achieved great results everywhere, I think we are representing a really good squad.
When you already mention coach Lalatović, how do you get use to his way of work?
– So far I have not had the chance to work with him, but I know about him from the time when he was a player and I heard a lot of stories about him. For now, everything is positive and I will try to fulfill all his requirements, which are different at each coach.
As the main goal in the upcoming season, Vojvodina has pledged a spot in qualifications for the Europa League?
– This summer, I had a concrete offer from Hungary, but this story about Europe and great ambitions, among with the desire to stay in my hometown, decided to accept Vojvodina’s offer. I think we can even fight for the second place, because we really have a lot of talented, but also some experienced players. The most important thing is to prepare well and fulfill all the requirements of the trainer and, in that case, I’m sure we will accomplish our goal.
What can the fans expect from you next season, and what is your message for them?
– I would like to tell them that, already from the first match in the season, which means a lot to us, they come to the stadium and support us, because I am sure that they will have reasons to enjoy this season and that Vojvodina will return to the right path. As far as I’m concerned, I can only promise that I’ll give my maximum and fight, and I believe that it will result in goals and good results. I never like to promise goals, because it does not matter who scores them, it’s important only that the team wins – Čović said.
