More than a month after the state of emergency was declared in Serbia, the coronavirus pandemic has finally started to weaken. For this reason, state authorities have decided to gradually mitigate the measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and football fans hope it is a sign that sports competitions in the country may soon continue.
For now, the plan is that gyms should start working between the 4th and 10th of May, and the Manager of Vojvodina Nenad Lalatović hopes that at the beginning of next month his players will finally be able to work together and train under his command.
– I said earlier that training in our FC Vujadin Boškov will probably start between the first and fourth of May, but that was just my guess, since I was counting on and hoping that the situation regarding the coronavirus would calm down by then and that joint training will be completely safe. I still hope that at the beginning of next month we will be able to begin preparations for the continuation of the season in our training center, where we would still be isolated from contact with other people, but of course, this will depend on the development of the situation in the country – says Lalatović.
In the Serbian sports public still lasts the debate about what to do with the season which has been interrupted.
– I said earlier that I think it would be optimal to play only 30 rounds this season, plus the Cup, and I still consider it the best solution. Of course, this is my personal opinion as a coach and a former football player, because, well, it’s been almost 40 days since the players have been on break, and for so long without joint training, they haven’t been even between the two half-seasons. When we get together, we will need a minimum of three weeks of teamwork before we start playing games. If, after that, they have to play too many matches for a short period of time, the risk of injury will be high and thus jeopardize their careers, which could be a big loss not only for them, but also for the clubs that have the opportunity to profit from their transfers – notes Lalatović.
The Manager of Vojvodina is explicit in opinion that individual training is not sufficient to maintain the required physical fitness.
– I respect what our fitness coaches Aleksandar Janković and Saša Semeredi do and I am honored to have two such top experts on my team, but it is enough for the players only to have their bodies “not rusty” and to reduce their chances of injury when we start with the work on the pitch. Simply, the players are already unprepared and will be unprepared at the gethering whenever it happens. The way they train now is modern and in line with what we have agreed, but if there is no jump, shot, duel and generally ball work, then that is simply not it. If training at home were enough, then everyone would be doing only that all the time – says Lalatović.
Like other citizens, he hopes the state of emergency will pass as soon as possible, but points out that he has no intention of complaining about any measures declared by the Serbian government.
– As a coach and former player, I am used to quarantines, so this is not so hard for me. I simply fixed my head that the situation is currently as it is. In the meantime, I strive to train, walk, read, ride a bike and spend time with my children and friends. Quite simply, when our medical services, police and military can put themselves in danger and fight for the lives of people every day, then the rest of us really have no right to cry. Also, I must commend our government, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, for their great efforts and struggle to keep as many of our citizens as possible safe from death. In such a situation, when many people are on respirators at hospitals, fairs and other facilities, we, sitting at home, really have no right to complain about anything – says Lalatović.
Voša’s boss spends all his time in Novi Sad.
– From the first day of the state of emergency, I have been staying in Novi Sad, where I am really fantastically accepted and where I literally feel like at home. Regardless of how long the state of emergency will last, I definitely intend to stay here, and of course, I would like this situation to calm down as soon as possible and that we can all return to our normal life – said Lalatović.
