Novi Sad, stock photo
© Photographer: Skaljac | Agency: Dreamstime.com
© Photographer: Skaljac | Agency: Dreamstime.com
© Photographer: Skaljac | Agency: Dreamstime.com
© Photographer: Skaljac | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Vojvodina build from the bottom
Long-term planning and faith in youth development are starting to pay off as FK Vojvodina look to confirm their status as the third-biggest side in Serbia.
Revived fortunes
Wins in both their games since the start of the spring campaign have lifted the Novi Sad team to fifth place in the Superliga, with a challenge for European qualification no longer out of the question. That was certainly not the case after they took just six points from their opening ten matches of the season.
Oldest club
Founded in 1914, Vojvodina are the oldest club in Serbia. Yugoslavian league champions in 1965/66 and 1988/89, they have traditionally been regarded as one of the leading Serbian sides behind the Belgrade giants of FK Partizan and FK Crvena Zvezda. Financial problems in the last 15 years, however, have caused them to underperform.
Renewed optimism
Yet the arrival of new club president Ratko Butorović last term has helped restore optimism, with a new training complex being built in Novi Sad and plans afoot to improve the club's stadium, with a little help from its owners – the civic authorities in Novi Sad. "We have a very clear plan," explained Butorović. "First, we want to build the club and, after that, prepare a top team. The club is the base, the team is the product. We are optimistic and believe we will have both in 2009."
Famous graduates
Having nurtured the likes of Ilija Pantelić, Slaviša Jokanović, Dejan Govedarica, Miloš Krasić and Siniša Mihajlović – who will stage his testimonial in Novi Sad this spring - Vojvodina have an enviable record for youth work. Current coach Milovan Rajevac is hoping his belief in the next generation of talent will encourage similar stars to emerge.
Burgeoning talent
Rajevac's focus on youth appeared to be folly early in the campaign with the fledglings failing to compete in the Superliga, but with Damir Kahriman, Gojko Kačar, Dušan Tadić, Nikola Petković, Goran Smiljanić, Danijel Aleksić and Vladimir Buač finding their feet, things have improved. Vojvodina also boast one of the division's leading scorers in six-goal Ranko Despotović. "Our position now is much better but this is only a transitional team on our road to a brighter future," he said. "We want to keep all our youngsters, work with them and give them experience - that is the way to win the title one day, which is our primary target."
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