Saša Ivanišević
In addition to his coaching job, the 36-year old from Rovinj is also successfully performing his teaching job, as a professor of physical education at Zagreb’s Sports Gymnasium.
We found coach Ivanišević in Osijek, where he is working hard and preparing Croatia’s juniors for the upcoming EuroVolley U19W, which will be held from August 22nd to 30th in Osijek (CRO) and Zenica (BiH).
How did you come to the decision to replace Mladost’s bench with the Olimpik’s one?
“At the end of June, my two-year contract with Mladost expired, so after meeting with the club’s management I decided not to accept the terms offered, which resulted in a very fair and friendly break-up. So after talking with the president of OK Olimpik, long-term cooperation in the new club was agreed. I spent extremely memorable and successful four seasons in Mladost, so I believe that equally beautiful moment awaits for me in Olimpik.”
What can we expect from OK Olimpik in the new season, do you expect a fight for survival or an attack on one of the leading positions in Superliga?
“I have to admit that the team is still in the making, so our primary goal this season is to stay in the Superliga. We have kept a large part of the last year’s team and we are slowly filling the rest of the squad with some new players. Unfortunately, due to my obligations with the U19 national team, I won’t be able to spend the first two weeks of training camp with the new team, so we will spend the first part of the season implementing a new concept of the game and ideas I have to my players.”
Currently, you are leading Croatia’s U19 women’s team towards the upcoming EuroVolley U19W. How satisfied are you with the working conditions in Osijek?
“The conditions provided by the Croatian Volleyball Federation are really fantastic, allowing us to focus solely on training and our game. The girls train every day, giving their best, so I must admit that I am really delighted with their desire to work and learn. This is definitely the best working atmosphere so far and I strongly believe that all this hard work will be rewarded in the end.”
Croatia U 19 W
On July 5th, your national team gathered in Osijek, where they will stay until the beginning of the competition. What does a typical day look like in training camp ahead of such big competition as the EuroVolley U19W?
“Well, every day is almost the same for us; it consists of a lot of training, analysis and conversations. We have two training sessions a day, along with daily meetings and video analysis. My coaching staff, Ivana Džamarija, Vladimir Jolić and Marin Marinović, helps me a lot, actively participating in all the trainings, meetings and video analyses. Our athletic coach Emil Baltić is in charge of the fitness part of the preparations, while the physiotherapist Katarina Mikulić tirelessly treats and prepares our players for training, dealing with their recovery after. Our team manager Frane Žanić helps us in all our daily activities, successfully solving any problem off the field.
Soon you will find out Croatia’s opponents in EuroVolley U19W pool in Osijek. Is there any national team you desire to play against?
“At the moment, we do not bother with the upcoming draw, because we are aware that of all the national teams, along with Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are the lowest-ranked national team. But when we find out the names of our opponents, we will prepare accordingly for each team. Our primary goal is to develop our own game and fight wholeheartedly for our country. I firmly believe that our girls will represent Croatia with dignity during the whole competition.”
What kind of game can we expect from Croatia? The goal is to qualify from the pool in Osijek or even to win a medal?
“You can expect a game full of fighting spirit and organization in all the segments, with the maximum engagement from each player on and off the field. We believe that with such an approach we can make up for any difference in individual quality between us and our opponents. The goal is to fight to the last point and to play every game with the same zeal and desire to win. We will go game by game, respecting every opponent, but with a strong faith in our abilities!”
We wish all the best to coach Ivanišević and his team at the upcoming EuroVolley U19W!
