14.11.2008, 11:41
Every match is a new challenge

Eurohandball talks to Bojana Popovic. The Montenegrin superstar enjoys playing for Viborg and she has no lack of motivation, she says.

Every match is a new challenge

In 2004, 2005 and 2007 Popovic won the CL trophy. She was also the top scorer of the CL three times.

After injury problems she is back playing in top form. She is top scorer of Danish Championship with 75 goals in 10 matches played.

Eurohandball.com: How do you feel in your second season playing for Viborg?

Bojana Popovic: I feel great, much better then last season. The team is together now and I play in my natural position. I’m very satisfied with that.

Eurohandball.com: It would be difficult to list all your trophies and awards. At the moment you are the best scorer of the Danish Championship and in the CL you are also among the top scorers. How do you find motivation for the games when you already won everything possible?

Bojana Popovic: There is always motivation. I love handball. Every match is a new challenge for me and I enjoy playing every single game.

Eurohandball.com: It seems possible that Viborg will take the first place in Group D. Metz, Nűrnberg and Krim will hardly have a chance. However, your team has much bigger ambitions than that. Which teams could be the biggest rivals for the CL trophy?

Bojana Popovic: Hypo have good chances to get far. There is also FCK, Valcea and the Russian teams – although Lada and Zvezda are playing without many players from last season and that could be a problem for them.

Eurohandball.com: Many say you are the best handball player of the recent years. Is there a younger player who could succeed Bojana Popovic?

Bojana Popovic: Every year brings new players, but the most important is what happens whit these players afterwards. It's great to have talent and play a good season, but even more important is to make your performance last.

I see something special in Marija Jovanovic, the back player of Buducnost T-Mobile. For sure she has the quality. If she continues working hard I’m convinced she will become a great player.

Eurohandball.com: You won CL three times with Slagelse. What is difference between playing for Slagelse and Viborg?

Bojana Popovic: I don't think these two clubs can be compared. Both have special characteristics. When I was in Slagelse life was different, our work was different. We were all like a family and five years in Slagelse gone by very quickly.

Then came Viborg with many differences, but I tried to keep training as before, and working considering my knee injury. In Viborg we now have more players; basically we have two strong teams so it is much easier because I don't need to play all the time like in Slagelse.

Eurohandball.com: Last season was not very successful for Viborg. This season, your team is still undefeated in the CL, Danish Championship and Danish Cup…

Bojana Popovic: Everything is better this season. Players got to know each other, I adapted to the team. Also this season we have a higher number of trainings.

Eurohandball.com: Gritt Jurack and you are top scorers of Viborg in the CL at the moment. How do the two best backs in the World get along in the same team?

Bojana Popovic: We train normally and we hang out outside the court. We both enjoy our job. Now we got to know each other even better and everything looks much better than last season. Everything is just perfect.

Eurohandball.com: There were talks about you extending your contract with Viborg…

Bojana Popovic: Nothing happened. I still have contract with Viborg for two more years. At this point I don't even want to think about the future. Two years are very long period of time and right now I have more important things to think about. The most important thing is that my team continue working hard and that we avoid injuries.

TEXT: Ivan Ambros