Montenegrin colony in the heart of Slovakia

The "natives" Marija Radović and Milica Trifunović are on the wings, Ivana Godeč is on the line, and since yesterday, Sanja Premović is again in the position of right back. That is the poker of the Montenegrin handball players with whom Slovakian Juventus will play the second part of the 2020/2021 season. Until recently, Nada Ćorović from Nikšić was also a resident of Mihalovac, but she decided to go to Italy, while Premović from Dunarea, Romania, returned to the club she was a member of just before the break due to the coronavirus.

The first two arrived at Juventus in the summer of 2019, after the European Junior Championship in Djerba. Radović played excellently in the left wing position, but on February 16, she injured her left shoulder and had to undergo surgery.

- I had that injury a year before, but I didn't need an operation then. When my shoulder dislocated the second time, I knew immediately that I had to go under the knife. The club offered me to have surgery in Slovakia and to spend my recovery here, but I wanted to have surgery with Dr. Miskulin, who is one of the best in his field. The operation took place on March 14 in Dubrovnik, and the next day the borders were closed due to the coronavirus - recalls the 20-year-old woman from Podgorica.

She was recuperating in Podgorica with Budućnosti physiotherapist Mitar Vujović, because she trusts him without bounds. The recovery went according to plan, but after returning to training, the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee loosened, which is why she had to take a break again. Now she is ready and wants to improve even more.

- I felt guilty when I didn't stay at Buducnosti in 2019, but it turned out that coming to Juventus was the right move. In Montenegro, practically during the whole season, I was preparing only for the games of the junior national team, because our only real rival in the league was Levalea. It's different here. The rhythm of the matches is killer, it took time for Milica and me to get used to the constant traveling. Often leaving early in the morning, we travel to the Czech Republic for 7-8 hours and return immediately after the games. We fit in great, the coaches are satisfied, and we transferred energy and character in defense to the whole team.

This summer, they received two teammates from the junior national team, Godečova and Ćorovićeva.

- We suggested it to Ivana and Nada, who came to the rehearsal and were satisfied. That's how Milica and I arrived at Juventus on the recommendation of Dijana Mugoša, who left a big mark here and went directly to the Champions League.

Although she is satisfied in Mihalovac, where she has great working conditions, as the club hall includes apartments, a restaurant and a gym, Radović hopes to make a step forward in her career in the summer.

- My plan is to fully recover and do the half-season in the best possible way. We all have the possibility of extending the cooperation, but we want to see what options are offered to us. It's hard to say now because of the corona virus, but it's not out of the question that we'll stay.

When she was injured, Radović immediately thought about the World Junior Championship, which was supposed to be held in Romania in July. Corona changed everything and gave her the chance to say goodbye to the generation in the right way.

- I sincerely hope that the WC will be played next year. We are all in good clubs, we play well and I think we would be excellent in the last championship - concluded Marija Radović.