The state of handball in Montenegro and Serbia is not at an enviable level and it is a tragedy of sport that has brought many champions and winners of club and representative trophies, said the Red Star strategist Nenad Perunicic.
Perunicic says that the poorer work and investments led to not going to the championships to win the medal but to pass the first round.
– Somewhere in character it was shaken and there was a situation to look forward to victories against rivals who used to serve only as a stronger training. It used to be unthinkable that the championship is traveling with the ambitions to win and to win the second round. This is the culmination of poorer work and investment in handball. In Serbia, the problem is that some sports jumped into the foreground, and we were lazy in everything that used to be sport as a sport.
He believes that Montenegro has a talented generation and several serious players, not wanting to comment on the chances of the Montenegrin national team at the European Championship in Croatia.
– There are a few guys in Montenegro who are universals and serious players. The point is how much will keep them motivated and how much they will grow up as players, Perunicic said.
Nenad Perunicic, born in Pljevlja, said that he was sorry that practically crushed handball centers in Montenegro were recognizable on the Yugoslav handball map.
– I do not know what happened to the Montenegrin handball. Pljevlja, Berane, Mojkovac and Bar were handball centers, while Lovćen was in Europe too serious. There were so many talented players in my hometown and it’s incomprehensible that this goes out. Then the other leagues were classes for the current First. I’m sorry that something like this is lost and gone, because the handball is closest to our mentality. It’s a sport in which a top score can be made with much less investment than in football.
He stressed that handball in Serbia is not at an enviable level and to regret that the situation in Montenegro is even worse.
– The very fact that our situation is better is the best commentary on the situation in Montenegrin handball. It is a tragedy about the sport that has been given by so many big players and clubs, which were also competitive in the SFRY. Lovćen was among the top eight in Europe, which is a huge thing from this perspective. They had a serious team with the national team. Unfortunately, this is extinguished, although this sport naturally lies in this area, it creates a true muscular sport full of emotions and adrenaline.
– In Montenegro, when I started in my generation, any players who were more talented than me. It worked and invested, and all that followed was the result.
He pointed out that in Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia a system was created and that the investments yielded results and was not satisfied with the SEHA League, stating that this regional competition has a good and bad side.
– More bad than good. It is still a tournament competition, without any result. Nothing will change until a system is created like in the ABA league, where the places are tied to Europe. It will not make any sense other than maintaining a form that uses more large clubs with huge budgets. Their league is weaker, through the SEHA league they maintain a form for what they expect in the Champions League.
He reminded that clubs from Serbia in the SEHA League are experiencing convincing defeats, stating that this is the best mirror and factual situation of the Serbian handball.
– Today’s kids after a year or two of their attention go over and they come back fast because they can not pass even in the weaker leagues. There are the guilt of all of us, above all those who still live in the eighties. It must start from scratch, if necessary, and rewrite the system, what is good. The best example is Croatia, which is now the dominant force.
He emphasized that the opportunity to raise the handball in Serbia to a higher level was the European Championship played in 2012, stating that it was not used in the right way.
– We pointed out the problems, we were convinced that the changes were necessary. No suggestions were accepted and it caused me to distract myself. I dedicate myself to the Red Star, the club I love, I share the experience with the guys.
He believes that at the upcoming European Championship, he hosts the first favorite.
– Croatia will have a huge motive, their system and attitude towards the national team places them among the main favorites. There is Norway as a new force and France, Slovenia can be a surprise. I would like Montenegro and Serbia to be a surprise. Serbia will not be easy especially if it is known where it will play after everything that was happening in Belgrade. There will be psychological warfare and enormous pressure. They do not go with the goal of winning a medal, but to pass the first round. This is not in line with our mentality, but it is a real state of strength and quality, Perunicic concluded
