Canadian flag & sky – Photograph
by Canadian journalist Djuradj Vujcic |
Interview with Canadian soccer player Stefan Vukovic by Djuradj Vujcic
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Interview with Canadian soccer player Stefan Vukovic
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By now, most Canadian soccer fans know the name of Stefan Vukovic. Vukovic – born March 18, 1993 in Hamilton, Ontario – played for the Serbian White Eagles in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) from 2009 to 2010. He made a name for himself however with TFC Academy in the 2011 CSL season winning the Golden Boot award with 18 goals. After that he spent some time with the Montreal Impact Academy and with the Slask Wroclaw senior side in the Polish Ekstraklasa (first division). The young striker signed for Zakynthos FC of the Greek second division on September 1, 2013. We recently caught up with Stefan Vukovic for a quick chat.
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Djuradj Vujcic: To start things off, how are you liking things in Zakynthos, Greece?
Stefan Vukovic: I’m loving every minute of it here! The city is beautiful, the people, the football – it’s all amazing. The first couple of days were a little tough because I was the “new guy” but everyone has welcomed me with open arms and it’s fantastic.
Djuradj Vujcic: How were you approached by Zakynthos and how was your time in Wroclaw?
Stefan Vukovic: I was approached by Zakynthos through my agent. They heard of me and my qualities, contacted my agent and from there we decided it was the best option. My time at Slask Wroclaw was memorable. I learned very much at the club and I’m grateful for that opportunity. Lukasz Becella (a coach there) helped me improve my game. At the end of the season we decided to part ways because the situation for me at the club wasn’t ideal at the time. In the end though, I had a great time in Poland.
Djuradj Vujcic: Do you maybe expect a callup to the senior side sometime soon?
Stefan Vukovic: I don’t really know to be honest. It would be amazing of course to represent my country. I’m going to give 100% here at Zakynthos and if the senior team staff decide to give me a call, I'll be there for sure!
Djuradj Vujcic: What is your dream club and where do you plan to be in five years?
Stefan Vukovic: My dream club is Liverpool. Growing up, I watched them play and just fell in love with them. I watch all their matches when I can and try to learn from the strikers to improve my game. In five years I’m hoping to still be playing in Europe at a great club and representing my country. It would be amazing if this were the case.
Djuradj Vujcic: Do you feel that maybe you have unfairly fallen off the radar a bit?
Stefan Vukovic: I’m just working hard everyday and trying to improve my game to be the best that I can be. What people say or think about me doesn’t have any kind of impact because I’m focusing on my football only.
Djuradj Vujcic: How do you look back on your time with the TFC and Montreal Impact Academies and can you compare the two?
Stefan Vukovic: My time at TFC was really good for me. I learned so much because of Danny Dichio. He really helped me improve and gave me some tips here and there. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It didn’t go as I hoped but that’s football. My time at Montreal was very short but it was incredible. Everything from the moment I arrived was fantastic. The trainings, the staff (Philippe Eullaffroy), the facilities – everything. If I had to compare the two academies, I would say that at TFC it’s much more physical work as opposed to Montreal where it’s much more technical and tactical.
Djuradj Vujcic: Thank you Stefan. Do you have a message for Urban Book Circle and its readers?
Stefan Vukovic: Thank you all for your support, I appreciate it and hopefully one day I will see you all at BMO in a Canada jersey!
Stefan Vukovic: I’m loving every minute of it here! The city is beautiful, the people, the football – it’s all amazing. The first couple of days were a little tough because I was the “new guy” but everyone has welcomed me with open arms and it’s fantastic.
Djuradj Vujcic: How were you approached by Zakynthos and how was your time in Wroclaw?
Stefan Vukovic: I was approached by Zakynthos through my agent. They heard of me and my qualities, contacted my agent and from there we decided it was the best option. My time at Slask Wroclaw was memorable. I learned very much at the club and I’m grateful for that opportunity. Lukasz Becella (a coach there) helped me improve my game. At the end of the season we decided to part ways because the situation for me at the club wasn’t ideal at the time. In the end though, I had a great time in Poland.
Djuradj Vujcic: Do you maybe expect a callup to the senior side sometime soon?
Stefan Vukovic: I don’t really know to be honest. It would be amazing of course to represent my country. I’m going to give 100% here at Zakynthos and if the senior team staff decide to give me a call, I'll be there for sure!
Djuradj Vujcic: What is your dream club and where do you plan to be in five years?
Stefan Vukovic: My dream club is Liverpool. Growing up, I watched them play and just fell in love with them. I watch all their matches when I can and try to learn from the strikers to improve my game. In five years I’m hoping to still be playing in Europe at a great club and representing my country. It would be amazing if this were the case.
Djuradj Vujcic: Do you feel that maybe you have unfairly fallen off the radar a bit?
Stefan Vukovic: I’m just working hard everyday and trying to improve my game to be the best that I can be. What people say or think about me doesn’t have any kind of impact because I’m focusing on my football only.
Djuradj Vujcic: How do you look back on your time with the TFC and Montreal Impact Academies and can you compare the two?
Stefan Vukovic: My time at TFC was really good for me. I learned so much because of Danny Dichio. He really helped me improve and gave me some tips here and there. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It didn’t go as I hoped but that’s football. My time at Montreal was very short but it was incredible. Everything from the moment I arrived was fantastic. The trainings, the staff (Philippe Eullaffroy), the facilities – everything. If I had to compare the two academies, I would say that at TFC it’s much more physical work as opposed to Montreal where it’s much more technical and tactical.
Djuradj Vujcic: Thank you Stefan. Do you have a message for Urban Book Circle and its readers?
Stefan Vukovic: Thank you all for your support, I appreciate it and hopefully one day I will see you all at BMO in a Canada jersey!
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Djuradj Vujcic is the youngest Canadian journalist in Canada’s journalism history. In 2009, he won the Literary Guild Award for his work.
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Djuradj Vujcic, journalist
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Interview & Photographs: Djuradj Vujcic
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic
Canadian flag & sky – Photograph by Canadian journalist Djuradj Vujcic
Photograph of the year for 2008 and was featured in the Ontario Foundation’s survey of Canadian Photography titled Photography, Vol. 1 (2008).
All rights reserved 2008. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic
Photo of Stefan Vukovic courtesy of Stefan Vukovic
All rights reserved 2013. Copyright © Stefan Vukovic
Published August 10, 2014 on Urban Book Circle
Published November 5, 2013 on RedNation Online
Design & Artwork by Djuradj Vujcic
Illustrated by Sarah Riordan
Edited by Prvoslav Vujcic,
Deidre McAuliffe
and
Danijela Kovacevic Mikic
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Urban Book Circle
C O N T A C T
Published by Urban Book Circle on August 10, 2014
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic
Canadian flag & sky – Photograph by Canadian journalist Djuradj Vujcic
Photograph of the year for 2008 and was featured in the Ontario Foundation’s survey of Canadian Photography titled Photography, Vol. 1 (2008).
All rights reserved 2008. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic
Photo of Stefan Vukovic courtesy of Stefan Vukovic
All rights reserved 2013. Copyright © Stefan Vukovic
Published August 10, 2014 on Urban Book Circle
Published November 5, 2013 on RedNation Online
Design & Artwork by Djuradj Vujcic
Illustrated by Sarah Riordan
Edited by Prvoslav Vujcic,
Deidre McAuliffe
and
Danijela Kovacevic Mikic
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Urban Book Circle
C O N T A C T
Published by Urban Book Circle on August 10, 2014
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
Urban Book Circle: a circle of the gifted, literate and brave.
