A great career is slowly coming to an end, and the call that Draško Brguljan recently received could determine his path after he takes off his cap for the last time and says goodbye to pool games.
The former captain of the Montenegrin water polo team and a guy who was always there for the "sharks" will be part of the coaching staff of our country's U-20 national team during the upcoming World Cup in Croatia.
"I received an invitation from Nenad Vukanić (coordinator of the youth teams at VPSCG), a former teammate, a man I respect immensely and who helped me a lot in my life, to help the U-20 national team," Brguljan told Meridiansports.
All of this does not mean that he has made a decision to pursue coaching in the future.
"I still haven't decided whether I'm going into coaching - this was just an invitation, to call it that," Brguljan added.
The Primorac legend, along with former captain of the Kotor club Marko Gopčević, will be assistants to coach Aleksandar Aleksić in the youth team.
"When he told me that Aco Aleksić would be the first coach, I gladly accepted. Aco also accepted that I be there, for which I am grateful to both of them. As for coaching ambitions, I currently have none. I solely want to help Aco and the boys, whatever and however much I know, to be as good as possible at the World Championship," explained Brguljan.
Draško will thus work with the extremely talented generation of Montenegrin water polo, which the World Cup is expected to host in mid-June in the Croatian capital.
"This generation had an excellent result last year - bronze and silver at two major competitions. However, we must emphasize that we were a complete team then, which will not be the case this time," says Brguljan.
One of those who will not be able to help his teammates is Balša Vučković, Draško's teammate from Primorac and a guy he particularly highlighted.
"We can see significant progress in all of them, especially in Balša, who has reached the threshold of the A national team... He could play a very important role in the future because he has serious potential, and with excellent physical predispositions and his hard work and dedication, he can play in several positions. Unfortunately, he will not be with us at these preparations and at the World Championship, as will Strahinja Gojković from Jadran. Both of them have obligations with the senior national team, which is of course the most important. I can say that I am extremely happy for them and I hope that both of them will win a place at the World Championship in Singapore," Brguljan does not hide.
After the World Championships, Brguljan should return to the pool, but...
"I haven't decided yet whether I will continue playing because I need to talk to Primorac's leaders in the coming period. One thing is for sure, at this level - I won't. Who the coach will be, what the team will be like, whether there will be changes are questions on which a lot depends. If I can and they see that I can help them, with a much smaller playing time and number of matches, I will think about it," concluded Brguljan.
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