After more than a century, Ulcinj became a first league city - Otrant Olimpik was better than Mladost Lob.Bet in a two-match playoff (1:0 at home, 2:2 at "DG Arena"), so the club founded in 1921 finally reached elites.
Fans, players, coaching staff, people from the club and the city knew how to celebrate success.
- The way in which the promotion was celebrated, the atmosphere itself... I really have no words and I think that it made the end of the football competitions in Montenegro beautiful - it is the crown of the football spring. In Ulcinj for days there is only talk about football, Ulcinj is now a first league city - proudly pointed out the coach of Otrant Olimpika Dejan Vukicevic.
The first title in the independent state went to Zeta, whose helm was Vukićević, now he introduced the club from Ulcinj to Meridianbet 1. CFL for the first time.
- It was very important, because the success of the first team is the locomotive of the development of football in a city. I passed by the auxiliary fields in Ulcinj, they are full of kids playing football and they all want to play for Otranto. But age means nothing in football, continuity is needed. In order for that large number of children to continue to train, progress... Ulcinj does not lack auxiliary fields, but we need a stadium. The existing one does not meet the first league rank, and everything needs to be raised to a higher level - organization in the club, work, player drive... The first league is a step higher, the season in it starts very quickly and there is no time to wait. The team needs to be strengthened, contracts signed and preparations to begin. I want to have a group with whom I will work from the start - explained Vukićević.
All this means that the experienced specialist is likely to remain on the Otranto bench.
- There is no time to wait, it's okay to celebrate, the players deserved it and they made us proud. My plans are related to Ulcinj, but we will hold talks only in the next ten days. The city authorities should use this impulse, people's huge interest and love for football, and justify the result with investments, create conditions for further progress. We will sit down and agree, but what is certain is that my motto is not: "it is important to participate". I do not admit that, because I am a competitor and I want a competitive team. After all, I also won the first title for Mogren, and the first trophy in the Cup of Montenegro for that club. There is no time to wait, in all fields Otrant must prepare for a higher level, a stronger ranking of the competition. Ulcinj deserves it, and I feel really good in this city and club - explained Vukićević.
He took over the helm of Otranto halfway through last season, the club was last in the Second League with only 11 points.
- They said - an impossible mission! And for me it was a challenge and I managed to win survival with the club and finish in seventh place. In the season just finished, I am with the coaching staff in which they are Dragan Maraš, Veljko Bajkovic i Senad Durak entered with the goal of placing in the First League. The mission has been fulfilled, and we are proud of the progress of the players in the club. Seven or eight of them bore the brunt, the rest fell into the team according to tactical needs. Everyone gave their best, the team experienced only three defeats in 38 games in the season, and only one in this calendar year, and that was on the road to Bokelje - stressed Vukićević.
The barrage against the first league team, who as a rule get a double match to fill the strongest domestic league, was difficult for Otranto.
- It wasn't easy, but we fought, we were even better, we created more chances. And the decision of the professional staff that the hero of the first match in the victory over Mladost in Ulcinj, a Japanese Nishimura, didn't even play a minute in the second leg, proved to be a tactical goal. We decided that the captain should get the chance Benjamin Redzovic, although he is not in shape and in this half-season he was on the field only about 15 days ago in Berane. We estimated that his ambition and desire will be greater than the lack of competitive rhythm, because he had problems with injury for a long time. And he was a man of decision, he scored the goal that means the most to him. Those changes in the team in accordance with the tactical requirements, the desire and commitment of the players, led Otranto to achieve the goal - concluded Vukićević.
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