Montenegro may have been in a deficit recently when it comes to goalkeepers for the senior team, but two 25-year-olds have shown that they have the character to wear the red jersey of the national football team and the quality to be standard members of the national team.
Igor Nikić has already made nine appearances for the "brave falcons", and the time is coming for Balša Popović, a goalkeeper who is playing for OFK Belgrade for the second season in a row and is one of the best-rated players for the team from Karaburma in the Serbian Super League.
- I started the season a little weaker, it wasn't the way I wanted in the first two or three rounds, but the weather got better and better - Nikić told "Vijesti".
Popović is on loan at OFK Belgrade from Red Star, and his team is tied for ninth place in the Super League table after 23 rounds and is on the verge of making the playoffs.
- The Serbian league is balanced and two wins take you to the top of the table, while two losses "pull you down". We have our ambitions, we want to make it to the playoffs, and then fight to get onto the European stage. I think we have a chance, because only three teams have stood out - Red Star, Partizan and Vojvodina - Popović points out.
Popović turns 26 in June, and although he comes from a family of goalies, it wasn't so certain that he would play football by standing on the goal line.
Balša's father is former goalkeeping coach Saša Popović, who worked with former Montenegrin coach Ljubiša Tumbaković in China about twenty years ago. His brother Stefan defends the goal for Mornar, and the oldest of the brothers, Jovan, also played football.
- It's interesting that until the age of 12 I was a striker in a football school when they played on small pitches. When we moved to the big pitch I moved to the centre-back position, eventually ending up as a goalkeeper. Time has shown that it was the right calling for me, obviously the genes did their job - Popović says with a smile.
And what is particularly interesting, he was only on the field once against his brother Stefan.
- And that was in a friendly match not so long ago. Our paths have always crossed, and the closest we came to facing each other in a competitive match was when I was in Grbalj and he was in Petrovac. Stefan, however, got injured, so he didn't play - says Popović.
The eldest brother is not in professional waters.
- He played football, later futsal - explained Popović.
The main role, however, is Balša, who believes he has been defending the OFK Belgrade goal for the last few months.
- This is my second season in the Super League, I defend normally and I think that even though I'm young for a goalkeeper, I have enough experience to move on. I'm ready to take a step forward, but a lot of things need to come together.
That he can choose...
- If I were to decide, it would be Spain - because of the strong league, life, climate..., but I'm open to everything.
Not long ago, Popović could have ended up in Piraeus, because Olympiacos wanted him. Serbian media reported that an offer of one and a half million had arrived from the Greek giant.
- It didn't happen in the end. Olympiacos changed their plans, even though the offer was on the table.
OFK Beograd lost 2:1 in Novi Pazar on Sunday, with Driton Camaj scoring one goal for the home team in a match in which Nenad Lalatović made his debut on the bench for Novopazar.
- The home team was led by the energy from the stands, and Lalatović brought energy, I think he never lost it on his debut in his coaching career. Maybe we didn't manage it all, but visiting Novi Pazar is difficult for everyone. Despite the defeat, we have our goals, but we are a young team and oscillations are normal. As far as I'm concerned, the most important thing is to be consistent in form, that's what is required of a goalkeeper - and if I can help the team in that way, then it's a complete success - concluded Popović.
I want to be part of history with Montenegro.
Balša Popović has been in goal for the senior national team of Montenegro twice - in March and June last year in matches against the Faroe Islands in World Cup qualifiers and in a friendly match against Armenia.
- I am honored to be here and to be a standard member of the national team - says Popović.
It is clear, however, that he wants to defend more.
- Of course, I would like to be in goal all the time, but that's the job of a goalkeeper. It's up to me to defend it well at the club and impose myself that way, and then take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself - says Popović.
Montenegro recently learned the names of their rivals in the Nations League C - they will play against Cyprus, Armenia and the winner of the play-off between Latvia and Gibraltar.
- We avoided tough opponents and long trips - we can be satisfied, although no rival is easy, nor are we in a position to say that it will be easy. We have four friendlies until September in which we want to make a good overture and impose ourselves on the coach.
Popović doesn't hide that he has a dream with the "falcons".
- We want to be the generation that will write history and take Montenegro to a major competition. I think we have excellent young players, like Andrej Bulatović who is fighting for the title in France, Vasilije Adžić who Luciano Spalletti did not let leave Juventus in January... I hope that this is our cycle and that with the help of legends like Stevan Jovetić, Stefan Savić and Adam Marušić we will do something great and go to the Euro. This may be a unique chance - concluded Popović.
Balša Popović is playing for OFK Belgrade on loan from Crvena zvezda, and was recently close to joining Olympiakos, who had already sent an official offer. If everything goes as planned, he will leave Karaburma in the summer.
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