At the moment when he took over FK Zeta a few months ago, the first Montenegrin champion was six points behind the leader, the third tier of Montenegrin football, and few believed that a major turnaround could occur.
Today, Zeta, led by president Dragan Popović, is once again a member of the Second League of Montenegro after winning first place in the League of Associations of Clubs Center and successfully completing the play-offs.
"This is the success of the entire Zeta. When we took over the club, we were in a difficult situation, but from the first day we believed in what we were doing. We didn't look for excuses, but dedicated ourselves to the job and in the end we reached our goal," Popović told CG Fudbal.
The road to promotion was not easy. After winning first place, they were defeated by Budva in front of a large crowd of fans, but Zeta managed to secure promotion through an additional play-off with Igalo.
"The loss to Budva was a tough moment, but it showed the team's character. No one gave up, we turned to the next challenge and managed to achieve what we had been working towards all season."
The rematch against Igalo at Trešnjica remained one of the most emotional moments of the season.
"Almost 3.000 people in the stadium, a great atmosphere and a victory after penalties. I had the feeling that it wasn't just Zeta as a club that was celebrating, but our entire community," Popović pointed out.
Popović particularly emphasized the support of local government.
"We owe a great deal of gratitude to the Municipality of Zeta and President Mišo Asanović, who have been with the club since day one. Their support has meant a lot to us on the path to this success."
He attributed much of the credit for the result to the coaching staff and players.
"Coach Aleksandar Majić and his staff did an exceptional job. Every detail was planned, and the players showed professionalism, character and faith when it was most difficult. Without them, this success would not have been possible."
He is especially happy about the return of fans to Trešnjica.
"Maybe that's the biggest victory. We brought people back to the stadium, awakened emotion towards the club and showed how much Zeta means to this area."
After returning to the Second League, the club is already thinking about the next steps.
"Entering the Second League is not the end, but the beginning of a new phase of development. We will continue to build the club responsibly and patiently, step by step."
Finally, the president of Zeta sent a clear message:
"Thank you to everyone who believed in us when it was the hardest. This is not the success of an individual, but of the entire Zeta. We have shown that work, patience and togetherness always pay off."
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