Vukomanovic could help build bridges between Serbia and Kochi in volleyball
The Hindu
Basketball was the Kerala Blasters head coach Ivan Vukomanovic’s first love
Head coach Ivan Vukomanovic has given the Kerala Blasters many memorable moments in the ISL but what was his first love when it came to sport?
“First, I was attracted to basketball. Because one of my neighbours was a big basketball player, was in the national team and was my idol,” revealed the Serb in a chat with The Hindu on the sidelines of the Kochi Blue Spikers team’s jersey launch here on Tuesday night for the coming RuPay Prime Volleyball League.
“Our No. 1 sport should be basketball because Serbia (earlier a part of Yugoslavia), together with the United States, was a five-time World champion, Olympic Games winner and European champion.”
He had also played volleyball for seven years.
“In our school system, you play all sports. And in the town where I was born, we had a women’s volleyball team which was three-time European champion. For me, it was the first feeling of being part of something important, cheering them along with some 5000 people in the hall.”
Though Vukomanovic was good at basketball, football and volleyball, his school’s sports teacher felt he could excel in football.
“After eight years in primary school, you choose your game. When I was 10 or 11 years old, we were playing all sports but my teachers were telling me, ‘you are talented for football, you will go to the football section’,” said the Blasters’ head coach.