One circle in the work of Balkan-Handball.com has closed. After talking to Ivano Balic, one of the best world handballers along with Nikola Karabatic in the almost past decade, and of course along with the other interviews with other players, I would say that we reached all "human" goals and wishes, that we had in the past two years. Nice and talkative, in talk with us in the Celje hall 'Zlatorog', he confirmed the status of a star, but also a person that you can talk to relaxed about everything. Although he is not having easy times in the past few months, because of the hard injury, he's still trying to reach the goals he planned after his arrival in Zagreb CO last summer.
Ivano, congratulations on your win. After the defeat of Chambery, you were under a huge pressure, also the coach was changed, as well as cutting wages for players. Did it slow you down in the second half, which you played bad in Celje (25:22)?
– A lot of money was invested in this team, and the defeat against Chambery really shaked us. I think we played well for 45 minutes, and a setback came along. Also we were a bit tired, and maybe we were a little afraid of the victory, as everybody knows that Zagreb never won in Celje. We lost ourselves a bit, but OK, in the end everything came out as it should have…
How was it to play in Celje? 'Florians' know to make an atmosphere…
– To me it's all the same where I play, whatever the hall is. I love to play handball. It's great to play here, because people are supporting their team, and they love handball. A little jeering as well, but it doesn't matter a lot. It was great to me here. It's nice when people cheer and the halls are full.
How bothered are you regarding the coach change? Cervar is gone after Chambery. Now Senjanin Maglajlija is here…
– We're professionals and we should accept that and carry on. Any comment would be redundant.
When we start with, the first question to come along – are you healthy?
– … Sort of … (laugh)
Do you play because you have to or…
– I play because I want to. If I didn't want to, I wouldn't. I feel pain a lot, but what can you do, you get used to it. We all play with pains, and so do I. One day it hurts more, one day less, but you continue playing.
It was hard to watch you on the World Championship in Croatia, where after every attack you were lying on the floor. Is that the real mirror of the bad side of life of the sportists and professionals?
– Well, yes. They hit on you a bit harder, when they know you're injured. But, whatever. I wanted to help Croatia. I wasn't prepared for even half an hour, but as I could, I contributed that much. Thanks God I came out fine, I can walk and I am all fine (laugh).
There was a lot of talk about your duel with Karabatic, when you went 'face to face' with him. Was that your tactic, or you just got mad at the moment?
– Most of all, it was unsportive behaviour by Karabatic. I like it when there is tough play. Handball is a tough game and you hit, up and down. But I don't like it at all when you hit at the head, purposely. That's totally unsportive to me, and that's why I reacted like that.
Some time ago, you had a real clash with reality and the media, who were digging about your private life in the past month, and you were even on a press-conference during the WC, talking about it. Are you sorry that you came back to Croatia and allowed your private life to be torn apart?
– No, I don't feel regrets. To be honest, I don't understand those people. If my life is interesting to them, then theirs is boring, so they have to worry about mine. I don't understand, but anyway, I feel no regrets about my return here.
You future is always questionable, as the sponsors are always the ones that should pay most of the deal you have with the club. Are you staying in Zagreb or are you leaving?
– As far as I know, it's OK by now. Everything is said, and I don't know it all. Is it true or not? To me is to play and play the best I can.
How far can Zagreb like this go, in this sort of Champions League?
– The Champions League is not like it used to be, when Zagreb was reaching the final. Now you have four german, then four spanish clubs. The system is different, and there are a lot strong teams. I hope that we reach the quarter-final, then everything is up to the draw. If you get someone easy, and you play the second game at home, anything can happen. We lost alot by this defeat to Chambery at home, but if we manage to reach the quarter-final, I don't know how far we can go.
Do you visit Balkan-Handball.com?
– To be honest, I don't watch TV, I don't read newspapers and I don't do anything on the internet. And just so you can know, my life is much better.
This is like made for a topic?
– Put it freely. I used to visit the site. I know that you don't do work as the 'yellow' press. Bok, see you!
