Roganović: I spoke with Kapisod about the continuation of cooperation, I know that I hurt him with this decision

From the special reporter "Vijesti"

Four years, six months and 21 days, Zoran Roganović's era as a selector lasted, the longest in the history of the Montenegrin national handball team.

Petar Kapisoda is forced to look for the ninth helmsman, after Per Milošević, Ranko-Bana Popović, Kasim Kamenica, Miodrag-Miško Popović, Zoran Kastratović, Ljubomir Obradović, Dragan Đukić and Roganović, behind whom the best placings in major competitions will remain as a stamp - 11 .place at the European Championship in 2022 and in the worst case 20th at the WC in Poland and Sweden, as well as great victories over Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia...

The Cetinje player, who has been in Sweden for almost two decades, had his contract expire at the end of the month, he was supposed to extend it, but he decided to leave, because he did not meet his goal and qualify for the Olympic Games. In an extensive statement to the Montenegrin media, he explained why he broke like that.

"President Kapisoda, to whom I thank immensely for everything up to now, and I have already talked about the continuation of cooperation. I know that I hurt him, that I didn't even listen to think about everything, but I think that I didn't live up to expectations. Everything I promised and presented to the Federation and to the then president Zoran Radojičić and Predrag Bošković, whom I thank, because they gave me a chance as a young man and a coach, I fulfilled. Everything, until this championship," said Roganović.

The monologue just continued...

"Everything went on an upward path, we went step by step, we built and created a cult. People love us, the hall will be packed every time from now on in Montenegro, and these guys deserve it with their attitude and games. I know it will be like that in the future as well, I wish everyone the best. I am sure that Petar will make the right move and bring someone who is right for these guys, I want them to surpass all the goals we have achieved, to set new standards for some future generations".

The Lions have set new standards under Roganović, and he believes they can maintain or surpass them.

"I am aware that we have done a phenomenal job, all the collaborators, the players who have been through the national team and myself, and I am most pleased that we are leaving a healthy foundation, something that can be worked on much more." Although the circumstances and everything that the national team needs, such as the league and the clubs, could be much better, I know that Petar is a magician and that he can get even more out of it."

Now a former coach, he led Montenegro to three major competitions, one of which he missed due to the corona virus, and the fourth was practically secured by victories over Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifiers for the European Championship in Germany in 2024.

"I am leaving the continuity of performances at major competitions, and participation in the main round and matches with the strongest national teams have become normal. For the first time after two rounds of qualification, we can say that we almost qualified for the European Championship. To not be like before, to leave chaos and constantly start from the beginning, but remain a healthy foundation. I am always here for Montenegrin handball, for the Federation, for Petr, for all the players and I will always be there, because I experienced the best moments in both my playing and coaching careers in the national team. All those pictures will remain in my memory as long as I live".

After the match with Slovenia, Miloš Vujović said that a mistake was made that the national team prepared in Qatar. It was Roganović's idea, but it didn't turn out the way he wanted.

"My idea was to get away from home for once, to get away from the pressure and be a little isolated. We got together in two or three days and immediately, without seeing each other, we entered to play friendly matches with Qatar, with strange refereeing. We got into chaos, we didn't manage to calm down and balance, it seems to me that we came from Qatar nervous to this championship. This is very important for the future, because we lost the peace we needed by mistake. We routinely won matches with Iran and Chile, but it seems to me that this nervousness disturbed us".

In addition to the coach, captain Vasko Ševaljević also said goodbye to the national team. The experienced player from Kotor played very little, just like the other hardened defender, Stevan Vujović. When asked if the older players were causing a problem by sitting on the bench, Roganović answered in the negative:

"Both the captain and I 'checked out' last night, it's normal stuff. There were no problems, the most important thing is to say goodbye as people. I don't know who will be here, it's all up to the new coach, but the most important thing is that we didn't, like before, 'fall out' and that there were unsettled accounts. I explained the reasons why I failed, I took the responsibility and the blame. That's how it ended, without any scandals."

In his last match, the 32nd official on the bench of Montenegro, Roganović gave a chance to the reserves. Slovenia took advantage of that and routinely celebrated (31:23).

"Thanks to all the guys who came out on the field and contributed, every minute at the World Cup is precious for their future and what's to come. I congratulate them on that, as well as the players who were on the bench. They wanted to go in, but we agreed to spare them, because the most important thing is that everyone comes back healthy. We had problems with illnesses, and only Nemanja Grbović was injured, and I hope that he will return quickly and give a lot more to the national team. Again we missed a lot of shots, defended their goalkeeper. This championship was not good, I am not satisfied", concluded the 45-year-old from Cetinje.

Reporting made possible by Lob