Sports with Jakov
2. BASKETBALL
This is my favourite sport. In the late 1980’s it was very popular, and Jugoplastika was one of the best European teams.
Famous basketball players (Kukoč, Rađa, Tabak, Perasović, Sobin…) started their carrier in Jugoplastika. The team was also known as “Žuti” (The Yellows) because of their yellow home jersey. They played their home games in a hall Gripe and always had loud and numerous support from their fans.
Today, Jugoplastika doesn’t exist any more, club’s name is Split.
Basketball is still popular in our town and a lot of kids play it.
Last year, our school team won the third place on the regional competition.
Jugoplastika's visiting jersey
Our school basketball team
1. FOOTBALL
If you wonder, why I chose football for the first sport I'm going to write and talk about, the answer is simple.
Football is the most popular sport in the world and that's why I put it in the first place.
For my first interview, I decided to talk with Hajduk players from our school with my friend and journalist Zoa. They have interesting stories from their childhood. They came from different cities here to play for Hajduk and they are excellent footballers at the beginning of their careers.
Boys we interviewed are: Marko, Rino, Dominik and Luka.
Let's start.
1. When did you come to Hajduk / how old were you?
Marko: In 2013 from Benkovac. I was 10 years old.
Luka: I came in 2018 from Pula. I was 14 years old.
Rino: At the beginning of 2018, from Makarska.
Dominik: In the summer of 2017, from Zagreb. I was 13 years old.
2. Where did you train before Hajduk?
Marko: NK Velebit-Benkovac, three years there and one season for Zadar.
Luka: I trained for NK Istra 1961.
Rino: I spent eight years in NK Zmaj- Makarska.
Dominik: When I was six I started training in Zagreb for five or six years. Then I went to the NK Lokomotiva and there I played one season.
3. Why Hajduk and not some other club?
Marko, Luka, and Rino: The whole family cheer for Hajduk so we continued on their footsteps.
Dominik: It was just the opposite for me. Everyone was cheering for Dinamo, and Hajduk was a good opportunity for me and my goals so I came here and I'm not complaining.
4. How do you imagine your football career?
Marko: Well, I want to go further, out of state, to some famous club and league 5.
Luka: I also imagine playing in big clubs in England, Spain and so on.
Rino: I would like to play in the Premier League.
Dominik: I think I do not have a big choice now, and I do not think too much about it, but, yes, I want to go abroad.
5. If you could choose one club to play for, which one would it be?
Marko: Barcelona
Rino: Manchester United
Luka: Manchester City
Dominik: Liverpool or Arsenal
6. Was it difficult to fit into a new society and school?
Everyone: No, the company and our class are great.
7. Is it difficult to learn and train at the same time?
Everyone: No, if you do well at the beginning and schedule the time as it should be.
8. What is the most difficult thing for you in school?
Marko, Rino and Dominik: Chemistry and Physics.
Luka: Croatian, but teacher Filka is a good teacher so it's easier.
9. Do the teachers treat you differently than others?
Everyone: Well, since we live alone, away from the family and the hometown they understand our situation.
10. Is it sometimes so hard that you want to give up on everything?
Marko, Rino and Luka: No, never.
Dominik: Yes, sometimes.
11. What are you doing in your free time?
Everyone: We play video games on PlayStation.
12. Do you have time to go out with your friends?
Everyone: Yes, always.
13. Do you have any crushes or girls you like?
Marko and Dominik: Yes.
Rino and Luka: No.
14. Do you miss your family and your hometown?
Everyone: Yes, of course. At first, it seemed fun, and now we are missing them, not so much, but we still do.
15. Would you ever stop playing football and return to your hometown?
Everyone: No.