28.11.2007, 10:49
Miladin Kozlina, a proud Celje player

The left-back of Celje talks about playing for the club and about the potential of the Slovenians in the CL.

Miladin Kozlina, a proud Celje player

There are not many clubs like Celje. With a great support from sponsors, fans and the entire city, the Slovenian team did great things in the last 15 years. Part of this great handball environment is Miladin Kozlina. The 24-year old left back won CL and European Supercup with the yellow-green team already. He grew up in Celje and he can’t even imagine playing for any other club.

Eurohandball.com: Are you satisfied with performance of Celje this season?

Miladin Kozlina: I am not very satisfied, but I’m convinced that we will improve in the future.

Eurohandball.com: Celje have problems in the Slovenian league. You always dominated in your domestic league, but this season it is not so…

Miladin Kozlina: It’s true that we don't win easily anymore like we did before against Koper, Gold Club and Gorenje. We are in a crisis, but I expect a better period when the injured players return and we will get used to playing next to each other.

Eurohandball.com: Do you think it is possible that Celje lose the crown in Slovenia after 16 years of domination?

Miladin Kozlina: No way. There are many threats from our opponents but the thing is that we will say the final word about it on the handball court.

Eurohandball.com: You played in Celje with Rutenka, Zorman, Peric, Koksharov etc. Do you think the current team are the weakest in the last 10 years?

Miladin Kozlina: Well, this is my sixth season in Celje and I have to say that we have the weakest line up in the last 10 years, but we still have time to improve.

Eurohandball.com: Former coach Kamenica was replaced by Ivezic. Did you feel any change after that?

Miladin Kozlina: I personally did not see any change. It was just a short time for the new coach to do radical changes, so I can't express an opinion based on just a couple of days of work with him. His work can be evaluated better at the end of the season.

Eurohandball.com: What is the atmosphere like inside the team now?

Miladin Kozlina: We saw that we are able to play really well when we really want to. Good matches create good atmosphere.

Eurohandball.com: What is that Celje have, but other clubs don't have?

Miladin Kozlina: Celje are a great club on an international level. When you agree in something with the club, you can be certain that everything will be arranged. We welcome new players in the best possible way and everybody feels great here as everything is superb.

Eurohandball.com: What about your fans, “Florijani”?

Miladin Kozlina: They are the best fans in Europe. When we are in a crisis, they always give us a boost. For sure, we are playing with one more player on court.

Eurohandball.com: Do you feel that Celje could win the CL just as in 2004?

Miladin Kozlina: Yes, of course. But we need to work hard and we need a few more players.

Eurohandball.com: But where is the problem? In 2004, Celje was also not as rich as the Spanish clubs, for example, but you still managed to win CL...

Miladin Kozlina: We simply have to play every match as if it was a CL Final. And this is our main problem, because it would be much easier for us if we would think like that.

Eurohandball.com: Is there a club you would like to play after Celje?

Miladin Kozlina: Any club where I would have a chance to play, but I’m not thinking about leaving. I wish to stay here.

Eurohandball.com: This season you were key player of Celje in crucial moments. You scored the equaliser in Veszprém and you simply turned the home match to your favour...

Miladin Kozlina: It is not important who we play against. For me the most important is to have five or six minutes to relax and to get into the rhythm. It is very hard for me to enter the court in the 45th minute and start to play immediately. But when I catch the rhythm and start scoring, then it is a different story…

TEXT: www.balkan-handball.com