Interview with Branko Nisevic

by Ayrton Galea - 4th May 2011

Last week the Under 19 Team ended their commitments in the League. This Friday the First Team will play the last Premier League match and we decided to interview the Under 19 Team's Coach, and the First Team's Assistant Coach, Branko Nisevic.

Q: What are your comments about this season of the Under 19 squad?

A: Seeing the final table standing, where Birkirkara placed fifth, then one might say that it was a good season, but deep inside all of us have the feeling that we could have done better. Even when I asked the players what they think about the season outcome, they had the same feeling.

Q: Which were the best and the worst matches this season?

A: Our worst match was the defeat against Hibernians (0-8). It was one of those days that nothing was working for us (poor concentration, injuries, red cards ...). Our best match was the last one against Pieta (3-3), where we really played great football and were unlucky not to get all 3 points.

Q: What were the main difficulties throughout this season?

A: Throughout the season we had many problems, mostly off the pitch. The main problem for this age is the number of players available. It is a problem widely spread in this country. At this age the boys start making some decisions for their future about school, work, and their private lives, and this affects their commitment to football. These are the challenges that some of them will successfully resolve, but unfortunately some of them will give up on football. Because of these things, last season we had only 10 players in the age group of U-19s, and this year we had 16 players in the age group of U-19s. Knowing that every week there will be a player or more absent through injuries, sickness, or suspensions, you will understand how difficult it is to properly prepare the squad for the matches.

Q: How difficult is it to keep all the players attending regularly in training when considering that many of the players already have a job, or they in a decisive year at school?

A: As I already said it is our main problem. This season we had three players with regular private lessons twice a week, which means they couldn't come for training or they train short session. We had another player who decided not to train this season because he wanted to prepare for his A-level exams. On the other side we only had one player who couldn't train regularly because of his working hours. All in all, as I told them, school comes first, but to succeed in football a lot of sacrifice is needed. I, myself passed through all this, and I managed to organise my life with school and football commitments in parallel, so I'm trying nearly every week to explain this to them.

Q: How important is it that all the Under 19 players are getting special attention when they are called up to the first team, since you are also the assistant coach of the first team?

A: Since Mr Paul Zammit and myself came to Birkirkara, one of the aims was to give more chance to players from the Nursery. The players from U-19s will not have "special attention", but for sure they will have a chance with senior team and then it will be up to them if they can make it or not.

Q: Last season we saw Rowen Muscat who impressed a lot despite being of a very young age. This season we saw Ryan Scicluna who made a good number of appearances with the first team. How bright it is the future of the other youngsters? Do you believe that in the coming season we will see more youngsters who will make the first team?

A: Once again, this is the topic that I also spoke with my players several times. At this time the door of the senior team is wide open for any young player, like never before in past 15 years. You remember that in those 15 years club's policy was mostly oriented on bringing "ready-made" players, but due to several reasons this has been changed. Today the question is not: DOES THE SENIOR TEAM WANT YOUG PLAYER, today's question is: DOES THE PLAYER WANT TO BE IN THE SENIOR TEAM! Young players have to answer on this question, act according to their answer!!! But from our side, we will be always here to help them, direct them and guide in their development.

Q: Regarding the first team, what are your comments for this Friday's match?

A: The importance of this Friday's match is more for the prestige. It will be good to finish the season in the second place, because when we analyse all the troubles and up and downs during the season, it will be a good achievement. On the other side, we also have another very important competition, so this week we are preparing for the last league match, but also thinking for the Trophy competition. But there will be no doubt, that next Friday we will go in the match with the aim to win!

Q: Whatever happens in the remaining matches, it is apparent that Birkirkara will participate in the UEFA competitions for the 15th consecutive year. Is it still a main target of the squad that we will finish in the second place, or we will use this game as a preparation for the FA Trophy semi-final?

A: Our main aim is participation in UEFA competitions. But our main objective for every game is to win. We never had preparation for a game that we didn't think how to win the game, so same is for this week game. Maybe the next week match is more important, but it will not change our ambition to win last league match.

Q: Do you believe that we can win the second main honour, that is, the FA Trophy? What would it mean to you and the rest of the Birkirkara clan?

A: Yes, we believe that we can win the Trophy and we will do everything in our ability to achieve this. It is the second major honour in football, so if we missed the first one, we have to do our best to get the second one, because we have the players capable of doing so.

Q: Do you have a message for the supporters?

A: In my message for the supporters I will tell you what I heard last week on the TV when I was watching the game Schalke 04- Man Utd. The commentator of the match said that in last 53 years Schalke didn't win the League Championship (they only managed to win UEFA Cup in 1996), but their support is always the same: FULL STADIUM! Every game they play they have more than 60,000 supporters. I believe that our Club/Team managed to win a lot of honours in the past 10-15 years, so even our supporters have to think of this and try to be with the team always- in the good and in the bad.

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