"We will fight for 60 minutes"

Everything is ready for the start of the EHF Champions League in Podgorica and for the first match of Buducnost T-Mobile against Budapest Bank FTC. The handball fans in the capital of Montenegro can hardly wait to see what their team are capable of with the new coach, Tone Tiselj.

The Montenegrins will play without any pressure because they plan to return on the top of Europe in three to five years.

Left back, Marija Jovanovic, one of the most promising players of Buducnost T-Mobile, talks to Eurohandball.com about the start of the new season.

Marija Jovanovic: “We are impatient to start the new CL season as we worked very hard during the preparation period. I think we are in a good form right now. But, the game with FTC will show us how good we are in this moment,”

Eurohandball.com: Buducnost played four international tournaments (in Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro) during the preparation period. Was it enough to have a clear picture of the strength of the team?

Marija Jovanovic: Well, we played a lot of tournaments during the summer and had a chance to get to know each other better. We have a young team with a great atmosphere on and off the court.

Eurohandball.com: Did you get used to the new coach, Tone Tiselj?

Marija Jovanovic: Yes, we did. There were some new things at the beginning, because of that it was difficult for us. But now there are no problems, we understand what the coach wants from us.

Eurohandball.com: And what is that?

Marija Jovanovic: Tiselj wants us to play as a team with team spirit and strong defence. We are mostly working to improve the difence because that part of our game was not the best in the preparation period. Also, we must fight for 60 minutes in every match if we want to get some victory. Without any pressure it will be easier to get some victories.

Eurohandball.com: Do you have enough information about Saturdays’ opponent, FTC?

Marija Jovanovic: We have lot of cassettes on the FTC matches and we watched them individually and together as well, especially the one we played and lost against them in the tournament in Hungary (26:36). So, we know what the Hungarians can do.

Eurohandball.com: Can Buducnost T-Mobile beat FTC at the opening game in front of a home crowd?

Marija Jovanovic: I cannot promise anything other than that we will fight for 60 minutes. We will do our best; I hope we are going to play as good as we can. If we manage to do it, we can win. We need the support of our fans and I hope that the “Moraca” hall will be full because we need that feeling, which is fantastic.

Eurohandball.com: Most handball experts think that you will be the top scorer of Buducnost T-Mobile this season. Do you believe so?

Marija Jovanovic: I cannot say that is not my goal. The most important thing is that the team play well and get some victories. If I will be the top scorer of Buducnost, that’s good for me. If not, no problem. The team is more important than a player.