(Read this in Serbian)

Interview with Aleksandra Vujovic and Ivona Jerkovic

Aleksandra Vujović and Ivona Jerković, two young basketball players are succesfuly making their careers in foreign countries.

Aleksandra, former player of bc ''Vojvodina - Serbia and Montenegro'' , is playing in Italy, one od the toughest European leages, and with her excellent play she fought her way to Serbian national selection in which she will play in the upcoming European chanpionship in Turkey.

When she had 20, Ivona decided to leave bc ''Crvena Zvezda - Serbia'' and to try playing in turkey, where she sucessfuly plays today, in the ''Fenerbahce'' club from Istanbul.

We talked with Aleksandra and Ivona about their basketball plans, and about their picture of life as an young basketball player who is playing away from its home country. We alse asked them how do they like it in Italy and Turkey, the countries where they lice and work at this moment.

First, tell us how did you decide to continue your careers in Foreign countries ?

Ivona: - In december, 2004. After arbitary comission by basketball association Serbia and Montenegro, I gained a free player status because my ex-club ''Crvena Zvezda'' failed to fulfill the contract. Later that month, I received an invitation from turkey from the bc ''Fenerbahce'' to come there for testing. in January 2005.After consulting with my parents, I decided to go to Istanbul. I have been there for eight days and during that time I learned the work schedule, club organisation plaers, and finally, both me and Fenerbahce were happy to sign the contract.

Aleksandra:- I first made an agreement with mt Manager Veselin Draskicevic (international sports management company), and then as agreed with him I decided to find a club outside my country. We succesfully completed that part of the job and I found myself in Italy...

What are Your reasons for leaving Serbia and montenegro and start playing in foreign Countries ?

Ivona: - there are several reasons, among others is bad economic situation in our country that has influence to sport. That situation made all qualiry players to continue their careers in foreign countries. Our league is getting weaker every year, and there are no mutch conditions for advancing in career. I think that in such a big club, as Fenerbahce is, with its professional organisation i can advance in my career and that i can accomplish my basketball ambitions.

Aleksandra: - I mostly wanted to see how it all works outside my country, to see if I am ready and competent for some bigger challenges in business and private means. Afterwards, I would like to try to make my professional basketball career a bit more serious than it is here in Serbia and Montenegro.

How was the feeling when you signed your contracts like ?

Ivona: - I was happy that i have signed with such a club in which i played with players form WNBA for the first time in my life, also with Korana Longin, one of the best women players form the former republic of Yugoslavia and with best turkish players also.

Aleksandra: -I was very happy, a bit confused and maybe a little bit scared because i idn't know what is about to happen in time that comes...

What were your wishes and fears while you were leaving Serbia and Montenegro ?

İvona: - Considering that I have 20 years, and that I am playing for an foreign club for the first time, there were some fears about how am i going to be accepted in the club. I wish to prove myself worthy in fenerbahce, to work and make progress and to learn from far more expirienced players.

Aleksandra: - I wish to meet these new people and to fit into new enviroment as fast as I possible. I also wish to show that I can meet all the requirements that are going to be set in team.

What were your thoughts when You woke up for the first morning in a foreign country and when You became aware that You are going to spend an entire season in a foreign country ?

İvona: - I was thinking that I have to work hard to fight my place in the new club and to justify confidence I was given by the management.

Aleksandra: - Sincerely, my wish was to be there instantly and to see where was I going to be and who was I going to be working with right away.

What was the way You were accepted in new enviroment? Knowing that You come form Serbia and Montenegro, were there any problems in this new environment ?

Ivona: - I was accepted great. Everybody, including management, and players were giving their best to meake me feel as comfortable as I can in their environment.

Aleksandra: - I don't know why would be there any problems about me coming from Serbia and Montenegro. Our sport is on very high level, our sport players are mostly well known and famous, and people like them no matter that my country is on such a bad reputation because of the political situation.

How mutch is behavior of peopple from Serbia and Montenegro different form behaviors of people in countries that You play in these days ?

Ivona: - There are some differences. The country that I come form was exposed to major dificullities, sanctions, mombings, etc. for more than 15 years, which made our lives so hard to live and also some changes in people psycology here. there is some morality crisis, tendation for improvisations which I all felt on my back while I was working sports in my country. When I came to Istanbul, I noticed that Turkey is a country in expansion both in economical and sports means. I must say that I was impressed by the supreme organisation of the club I play in, and with respect to he people that come from foreign countries. I was especially impressed with people being so sincere and serious about jobs they do. All the people is more happy and in better mood than they are back home in Serbia and Montenegro...

Aleksandra: - Although I am not that mutch living outside my home country, I noticed that people here are very very different...I nsome way, this difference is positive,because we are winners, we have the characted that is being asked in sports, of course not all of us. Also we are more anxious and agressive, and we are a bit incompetent to control our emotions which often are bad for us. I mean, i mostly compare myself with people here, ha ha ha...Sports is far more considered as som kind of fun here, enjoying, etc.. that situation is not even expected to be the same because of the life standard in my home country is so mutch lower than here...

Do you miss your home country food and what do You like to eat in countries that You live and play in at the moment ?

Ivona: - About foo, I don't have any problems, because here You have so mutch to choose abou teating... With this mutch of meals everyone can find somthing for their taste. If I want to eat something special, back from home, I usualy make it myself, but I must say there is so mutch choice here and there are no problems. If You ask me about my favorite Turkish meals, i must mention pide, kebap, sutlac, kadaif…

Aleksandra: - Od course I miss it, but since I don't choose too mutch I can say I am satisfied with cookings here. I really love good food and I also like italian food such as various kinds of pastas, pizzas, etc...

How do you spend Your free time ?

Ivona: - I spend my free time resting, reading books, learning Turkish language, I am watching sports and other events in my home country via the internet and satellite TV. I also walk a lot and i meet Istanbul, the biggest and the most beautiful city, with lots of historycal monuments. There is so mutch time needed to see it all...

Aleksandra: -During competition period I mostly don't leave home too mutch. I mostly watch good movies, read books, listen to the music, ...

Life at night... Make a comparison between partying in Belgrade, Serbia and montenegro and cities You live in today ?

Ivona: - About night life, i must tell You that I had no time for it, because after evening trainings and games I prefere house peace, rest with music and reading, also preparing for the morning trainings. In cases that I was free, I was seeing friends, but never too late in night, so in the end, I can't make any comparison between Istanbul and Belgrade.

Aleksandra: - I just said that I exit very rarely in the evenings, but if I consider these few times that I had, I must say that night life and partying here is sort of similar to ones in Serbia and Montenegro. Of course, there is no folk music (ha ha ha), but the rest is the same, drinking, dancing, etc...

After the expirience that You have, can You tell that You are satisfied with countries that You live in right now and the way of life in these countries ?

Ivona: - I am satisfied with way of life around here, I adapted myself very quickly. Although we who do sports spend most of the time on trainings and traveling and games, good planned schedule can leave You time to find out about way people live here. People usualy don't have high opinions about life in Turkey and East, but the ones who do get a chance to see the way of life here get them selves a plesans suprise, because this country has advanced so mutch over the years and is so well developed...

Aleksandra: - I am personally satisfied with way of life, attitude about working which is mutch more responsible, relaxed, etc. And people around here know how to enjoy every single piece of their free time, but there You go. We come bak again to that people can live their lives that way here. On the other side, people in my home country don't have so mutch possibilities and space to enjoy in their lives...


Many people in Serbia and Montenegro think that everthing is perfect in west, and that east is, on the other hand, something way back .. is this really true ?

Ivona: - I don't think so. In my expirience, while playing in Turkey, I can see that Turkish country is incredibly fast advancing. Just look at the tourism, and I don't even need to mentin sports.. As for women basketball, it is in a great expansion. Very mutch money is being invested, some of the best players form america and Europe are playing here, turkish girls are encouraged to play basketball, which is giving great results. Just look at the Russia, which has become Meka to the sports players. So I must say that I thing the east is far more advanced than people think it is. If I may say, possibly more advanced than in Serbia and Montenegro.

Aleksandra: - Well, that depends. On the west, noone sits and just waits fos everything to happen by itself. So if You are willing to work you can succeed and afford yourself mutch of plesant time. Maybe in foreign countries there is a bit more space to do that than in Serbia and Montenegro, but in the end, You are the one that this depends on, and nothing falls from the sky already done.

Do You have any recommandations to the girls that are thinking about maybe playing in foreign countries ?

Ivona: - To the girls planning to leave the country, especially basketball players, i would recommend to focus their attention to the east, because they would have excellent working and life conditions, they would be payed well and respected as players and humans. People in my home country won't belive it but it is my expirience from Turkey. Women league games are broadcasted on TV, and players are guests in live TV shows. Media houses pay lots of attention to women basketball. the games are wathced by several thousands of people... Fans are recognizing us on the streets, looking for autographs. Totally different story in comparisson to my home country, where no TV station publishes results of the latest round. Not even on sports only channels.

Aleksandra: - Spoilty, emotions, enjoying and layziness are to be left back home. You bring good nerves and good will.

What about your basketball plans ?

Ivona: - My plan is to work on improving myself and to accomplish as best achievements as I can in this sport I am playing. And, od course, to be invited to Serbia and Montenegro national selection team.

Aleksandra: - I am planning to play basketball for a very long time, if my health stays good, to continue my career in foreign countries, and that isa about it for now.

do You have any wishes to try yourselves in WNBA, and since You are playing with many WNBA players, do You think that You posess the qualiry to play in America one day ?

Ivona: - As every player, i would like to play in WNBA one day. In Turkish league I do play against many WNBA players and I can see that even with my 20 years I can play evenly against them shich gives me hopes that, if I work hard enough I would try myself in WNBA one day.

Aleksandra: - I don't consider myself as a player who is good enough for that league. But if I had a chance, I would go, why not .. ? Still, I don't think that the quality is mutch more above the one in some of the stronger European leagues, I would say that WNBA is some kind of attractive rather than very quality.

What do You think about Serbia and Montenegro women national selection and its chances on the upcoming European chanpionship in turkey ?

Ivona: - If all players that are invited come to play, (al of them are playing in leading european leagues), and if there shall be no injuries, and if they prepare well enough, I think that we can take one of the medalls, and with no problems to get into the first five. Everything other would be a faliure.

Aleksandra: - I am not very good in predictons. We have a young team, but who knows ? We will see.

Some advice to young girls that are about to follow your steps ?

Ivona: - I would advise them to be persistent, to work hard and good results will be acomplished.

Aleksandra: - To be very persistent and to work hard, of course. Never leave your wishes, and they might one day come true. Everything depends on You.

International Sports Management