"I WISH GOOD LUCK TO MONTENEGRO, BUT I WILL NEVER SPEAK BADLY ABOUT BELARUS. LUKA ROTKOVIC ABOUT THE UPCOMING MATCH OF THE NATIONAL TEAMS AND LOVE FOR MINSK "DYNAMO".
Apart from Dusan Bakic, who left the camp of the Belarusian champion in winter, the colours of the Montenegrin national team were defended in different years by other prominent ex-players of our top league: Mirko Ivanic, Marko Simic, Boris Kopitovic, Fatos Bechiraj and Nemanja Nikolic. Another native of Podgorica, the charismatic Luka Rotkovic, who played for Minsk Dynamo and Luch, left a bright mark in Belarusian football. Looking forward to the upcoming friendly match between the national teams of Belarus and Montenegro, we called the ex-forward, who finished his playing career in 2020 in the championship of distant Bangladesh.
- Luka, how are you doing?
Thank you, everything is fine. By the way, I am on my way to a Budućnost match in Podgorica - that is my heart, my love. I am still connected with football: I work a little bit as an agent, and there is a team where I am the manager. You could say I am the general director. It is Iskra from Danilovgrad - last year the club played in the Conference League, but now it plays in the second division. As for agent work, a vivid example is the recent transfer of striker Marko Mrvaljevic from Buducnost to Ukrainian Veres. I manage his business together with Yura Gabovda, whom I met back in Minsk Dynamo. We watched Marko together for more than a month, the scouts also fulfilled their tasks well. I am very pleased with the transfer and the way everything is going: two goals in three games. If the team will show good results, win and bet on Marko, I think he will be able to prove himself even better and distinguish himself more than once this season. As for Gabovda, he is my friend, my brother, an excellent specialist and a serious man, who lives sports and football in particular. And that's why we can work well together and go further.
- Last season, nineteen years later, the Dynamo team became champions of Belarus again. Were you worried about your former club?
- Of course, I watched and cheered. The long-awaited title made me very happy, because Dynamo is my team. I love both the club and the city of Minsk. For me it is number one after my native Buduchnost and Podgorica. The "White-Blue" have remained in my heart forever.
- Many of the former teammates are still on the radar: Galovic is in Portugal, Karpovic was recognised as the best defender of the last championship, Bykov and Khvashchinskiy still play for Dynamo. Do you keep in touch with each other?
- These are my mates, my brothers! Of course, we communicate. I wish them only good luck. They are all good people and players. And you know, I think that Byk (Artem Bykov. - "PB") will play for another five years at least - he is very serious about business, a true professional. And this is the most important thing for a football player.
- Vuk Rašović is also in demand, leading one of the teams in the championship of Saudi Arabia, a league in which a lot of famous personalities play.
- One hundred per cent - it was the best coach in my career. Together with Vuk we worked at Partizan Belgrade when I was very young, I had just turned eighteen. We won the UEFA Youth League, winning the final in Zurich, Switzerland, and then I moved on to another team. But years later Rashovic and I found ourselves together again - that's life. Of course, it was great to work under his leadership at Dynamo Minsk.
- In Belarus, you are remembered first of all for your incredible emotions after scoring a goal in the domestic "clasico". Unfortunately, our football lacks such bright moments.
- I had a lot of different situations, good and emotional. But of course, I have never had such moments as in that match, when I scored in added time. You know, these are very strong feelings. The fans loved me, it was nice to live in the city, to play for its people. Probably the best moment in my playing career was in those moments.
- In 2018, you briefly returned to the Belarusian top league, moving to Luch Minsk, and even scored a goal against your former club. If it's no secret, what prevented you from getting a foothold in the team and showing yourself even better?
- Honestly, I don`t know why it happened. There is no secret. It was just the coach's wish to part. He gave me chances, but on the field he expected something different from me. Everything is fine. Now I do not remember anything bad, only good. I live only positive situations, I have accumulated a lot of them during this time.
- You spent about a year and a half in Belarus. What surprised and liked most of all?
- You know, everything was good, probably even perfect for me. Perhaps it was a little bit cold, but my blood is so hot, so no problems. (Laughs) I still have a lot of comrades and fans there. Minsk is a beautiful city, I liked everything in it: the food and places for walks. It all remained in my heart. And the language too, because I know Russian well. I wanted to stay in Minsk. But I went to South Korea - to learn their league, their football. This is life.
- Very soon, the national teams from two countries that are not strangers to you will hold a friendly in Turkey. In the previous matches between them, your compatriots have recorded two wins and two draws. Montenegro is also higher in the FIFA ranking. Are the Belarusians weaker on paper?
- I think the balance of power here is about fifty-fifty. Besides, it's a friendly - you never know who will play and how. Belarusians have the qualification, the level - it's a hundred per cent.
But the most important thing is that the participants of the match avoid injuries. Both coaches will probably want to try new young players. Both the Belarusian national team and Robert Prosinechka have them. Prediction? I think the score is not important at all. The main thing is for the teams to show good football. Experience shows that you can never predict how such a meeting may end. The chances are equal. Of course, I wish good luck to Montenegro, but I will never speak ill of Belarus.
- The legendary Robert Prosinečki is a new face in Montenegrin football, because he became the head of the team only in February. Are there high expectations with the appointment of the Croatian celebrity?
- Of course, everyone is very happy. He is a legend, he has a great career both as a player and as a coach. The fans are happy that Robert came, the whole Montenegro congratulated him - thank you to him.
Changes and new faces? Naturally, any coach wants to try the young ones. You know, time goes on, we have a lot of players who are 30-32 years old now. That's why we need to give them a chance to rest a little bit and look at other guys. After a while, the veterans will finish their careers, and we will have to quickly look for other players for their positions. This is normal, and every specialist wants to see who he can take, to see as many players as possible.
But the result is also important. After all, to be honest, we haven't had any high-profile achievements yet. We can remember only a short period under the leadership of Croatian Zlatko Kranjcar, when in the EURO'2012 qualifying we defeated Wales, Switzerland and Bulgaria and drew with England.
- For the next matches against Belarus and North Macedonia we have called up a fighting squad: Stefan Savic, Stevan Jovetic, Adam Marusic....
- These are the best players for us. Our leaders have a few more years with the national team to show their qualification, to achieve something. However, I don't know whether all the strongest will be on the basis for the match with Belarus. They are top-level performers, and they don't need to take part in such friendlies. We need to combine the squad, to give young players a chance in unofficial games.
- Like other Balkan teams, the "brave falcons" (nickname of the Montenegrin national team - "PB".) are inherent in attacking football and emotional behaviour?
- About fifty-fifty, it all depends on the situation. Maybe in a friendly against Belarus under a new coach our team will try to act in a creative manner. But when there will be an official match, I'm sure the Montenegrins will act much more restrained. A good attacking game requires a slightly different level.
- Last year, the national team only once gathered a large number of fans in Podgorica - at the home game against the Serbs. The average attendance at home matches is one or two thousand spectators. Football and the national team are not very popular in your country?
- No, on the contrary, in Montenegro both the game and the guys are loved by a lot of people. Everyone likes sport, and football is its main sport. But the situation is really bad. Many people do not attend stadiums because of different problems we have. Poor results are also to blame - because of the lack of great achievements, people stop going to football. After defeats, many don't want to attend and watch matches anymore. Exceptions happen only when the opponent is very strong or principled, for example, Germany or Serbia. If it is just a good opponent, not many fans will come. We had many good chances to qualify for the play-off round, and we managed to do it once. We will soon see what happens next.
- In the next draw of the Nations League Montenegro will face Iceland, Wales and Turkey. How is the company?
It will be hard to take points, to play against each of these teams. You know, we are a small country, besides, the change of generations in the national team is not far off: veterans are hanging up their boots, young players are gradually coming in. Players of the level of Jovetic and Marusic are already over thirty.
- You have no games for the national team. Once in an interview you admitted that you dreamed of being called up to the national team. Was it difficult to get into the national team because of the great competition?
- Unfortunately, it is a little bit unrelated to football, to sporting principles. In Montenegro there is such an approach, such a policy... My grandfather was a landowner in my family. And sometimes politics interferes with football and sport. That's why there was no opportunity to play for the national team. I could score fifty goals a season - still would not be called up. And there were times when, on the contrary, some players performed very badly, but they were still counted on. But that's football, that's life. And now I do not think about it at all. It's gone. God decided so, and we need to move on.
- On the other hand, another forward associated with Dinamo Minsk - Dusan Bakic - is playing in the national team today. Doesn't he remind you of Luka Rotkovic in his style of play?
- Ha, I really want him to be better than me. I wish Dusan good luck in his career and life, I root for him.
- In winter there was information that Fenerbahce was interested in Bakic. Could it be true, or is it more like an information throw-in?
- I do not know what to say. Let's ask the next question.
- Another current player, defender Marko Simic, is remembered by many in Belarus for his performances for BATE. The last time he was called up to the national team of Montenegro was at the end of 2022. Now Marko is no longer considered as a candidate for the national team?
- Marko is a great footballer. He is already of age, he plays in his home country (since last season he has been representing Sutjeska from Niksic - "PB"). But he has a very high level, perhaps he will still play for the main team of the country.
- In different years in the Belarusian championship there were other strong performers, who defended the colours of your national team. What is the opinion in Montenegro about our football?
- Belarusian football used to be very strong when Bechirai, Simic, Ivanic and I played. Each football player, who came to Belarus, then moved to a higher level, earned even more. So here is the answer to the question: Montenegro has a positive and respectful attitude towards your national team and championship. All the Balkan players, who went through Belarusian football, appreciate this part of their career. But, I think, there is no such strength now. Although I am sure: the level of your league is still quite good. Unambiguously.
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