Šarkić from Benfica, Anderlecht and Leeds to the CFL: I enjoy Dečić and Montenegro

The usual path in Montenegrin football is the development of talent, playing in different age leagues, all the way to the first league level and then going abroad, in pursuit of a financial but also representative dream, because the jersey with the national crest is easier to get from a bigger club, a stronger league. However, a reversible pathway is also possible. This is confirmed by the case Oliver Šarkić, who from the academies and junior categories of Anderlecht, Leeds, Benfica, through a series of English clubs, and the Uzbek giant, Pakhtakor, got into the strongest Montenegrin league.

In the last moments of the winter transfer window, the 25-year-old forward added Dečić. In his 10th appearance in a victory away to Iskra (3:1), Šarkić scored before halftime, then won a penalty. These were his first concrete effects in his debut season in the Meridianbet 1. CFL.

- I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and difficulty of playing in the league, I think it is incomparably above that coefficient in the UEFA table. We had to get used to the bad pitches in March, now they are incomparably better. The judging criterion is equal, but for less contact, a foul is played and the advantage is less respected. However, it's like that for everyone, but on a bad pitch and with those interruptions, you lose your dynamics. There is talent and quality football players, but it is also done well. At least in Dečić. And the professional staff Vladimir Gacinović but also now Juraj Jarabeka, has an excellent attitude and approach, which influences you to give the maximum. Personally, the biggest problem for me was to get used to the fact that I have to do a lot of things on the field by myself, it's not like in Benfica or Leeds, that you have a player of the highest class behind you who creates space for you to score. There is no need to talk about the relationship with teammates, it is great and everyone is extremely accommodating, and after all, only together and as a team can we achieve success. The club management is also here to help, it is maximally dynamic and agile, and I am glad that Dečić will soon get a modern stadium, excellent conditions. And it's up to us to win playing in Europe - says Oliver Šarkić for "Vijesti".

Dečić has been undefeated for seven games, and in Danilovgrad he ended a streak of five draws. The team from Tuzi is in 4th place with a point below Arsenal and the European qualification zone, but Petrovac, Jedinstvo and Mornar are also in competition. Tuzani, however, can look for a chance in the Cup of Montenegro, the first match of the semi-finals will be played by Bistrica against Sutjeska on April 19, just four days before Dečić welcomes Budućnost. Those three clubs were considered the strongest in the league before the start of the season.

- We finally managed to end the series of draws, corrected what was missed, and the team is ready, the players have recovered from some injuries and we will have no problem keeping up the pace in two consecutive derbies. Buducnost has now conceded four goals from Petrovac, it is vulnerable, and against Sutjeska we showed that we can do it. I even think we are favorites in both derbies. We play more intensively than the others, we force that western model, pressing, and at the end of the game we are really exhausted, but now we have enough footballers in operation - says Šarkić, who has played in several different positions since coming to Dečić.

- I have no problem covering any position, so against Iskra I started on the right wing, and also played defensive midfielder, and on both sides behind the point guard. The team is full of confidence and we will win all the games until the end. Our goal is to win the European qualifications through the third place in the table or by winning the Cup, which I see as a great challenge - said Šarkić.

Does this mean that you will stay in Dečić in the next season as well?

- I really don't know, but I like it when I'm at home. All my best memories are related to that period in the summer when we used to come, and I like the climate, the food, as well as that pleasant relationship. You don't even have to be twice as good here to have a chance, and that's how it is on the side. There you have to be at 100 percent in every training session, match, and an injury immediately throws you out of the combinations. Due to the injury, I was also without a club, I didn't play for four months, but luckily the program of the Football Association of Belgium benefited me, so I am in my older brother's club Danila, Tempo, trained twice a day and came to Dečić physically ready. The European qualifications are a challenge for me, and then we'll see. I enjoy Dečić and Montenegro - concluded Šarkić, who was born in England, in Grimsby, 25 years ago.

He wants through his twin brother Matija

Oliver and his brother, Matija Šarkić, passed all the younger representative Montenegrin selections, but...

- Matija managed to realize his dreams and defend for the A selection, and now an injury separated him from the March qualifications for the European Championship. But he started training well. The last time I played for the youth national team. I hope that I will achieve that goal as well. I need a bit of luck, to avoid injuries and to play well in continuity. The experience of playing in the younger selections now in the league also meant something to me, all the selectors warned about the differences in the way of play and judging here and abroad, and I was warmly welcomed at the club by my old friends, Danilo Marković and Boris Cmiljanić, as well as everyone else. The atmosphere is real family. Outside, it's a little different, personal interest and ambition are seen more - explained Šarkić.