Slovenia’s handball heroes received a loud welcome in the center of Ljubljana at the official ceremony marking their bronze medal achievement at the world championship in France. Despite the cold weather they were greeted by a couple of thousand fans. Prior to that they were also received at the Villa Podrožnik by the minister of sport Maja Makovec Brenčič and PM Miro Cerar.

Kavtičnik presented the PM with a national team jersey
PM Cerar admitted that his knees were also shaking in the last minutes of the bronze medal match against Croatia. "We’re honoured and happy that you recognize our achievements. In the future we will continue representing the Slovenian national team and the whole of Slovenia at future tournaments with dignity. I also hope that we meet again at the next big tournament in Croatia," said team captain Vid Kavtičnik at the reception at Villa Podrožnik, giving the PM a national team jersey.

An interview with Veselin Vujović
The handball players then went to the centre of Ljubljana where they were greeted by a big crowd of supporters. There they treated themselves to some cold beer and partied with the fans. "We could have won by ten goals, or been in the lead the entire match, but this was the craziest match in my life. The biggest success, the pinnacle of my career so far! The way it all happened was something unbelievable," said Jure Dolenec, while Blaž Janc pointed out that: "You have to persevere, always. You have to give your maximum, because I think that at one point all your efforts will have to pay off. I think we’re the real proof for that."

Big credit for the Slovenian success undoubtedly goes to the 56-year-old head coach from Montenegro, Veselin Vujović. Everyone agrees that he has managed to bring in new energy to the team and give the players a winning mentality. Talking to him was TV Slovenija journalist Gregor Drnovšek.

Mr. Vujović, the video showing the last ten minutes of the match has become legendary. In the time-out you literally forced the players to leave their hearts on the court. I wonder, was that the moment the match tipped to our advantage?
When a team trails by 8 goals 20 minutes before the end of a match – which in sports jargon is light years away from success – and manages to cut the lead by half in ten minutes, a coach has to convince the players to give it their best in the remaining ten minutes. Regardless of what might happen. Of course, we could have also lost after that time-out. You can always come up with an ingenious tactic, but if it’s not successful then nobody talks about it. They pronounce it to be ingenious only when it is successful. I addressed my players straight from the heart. That encouraged them to give their best, and we know how it all ended.

What makes you different from the other coaches in Slovenia? Up to now it was known that Slovenians always back down in the key moments of a match, but you have made winners out of your players.
During the qualification match for the Olympics against Spain we were trailing by six goals, but won in the end. We trailed against Russia at half-time, but won the match. We were also behind against the Swedes, but ended up achieving a great result. We were also behind against the Croatians, but ended up winning. In the last five minutes of the match against Tunisia we had a 5-0 run. All that means that something has changed. The boys believe that they’re good, that they’re great and capable of winning. Everything is much easier if they believe in that. My first goal was to convince them that they’re good enough to achieve success. I never describe our opponents as monsters who run faster, jump higher, are bigger… they’re all players made of flesh and blood and on the court you have to prove that you’re better. It’s as simple as that.

The comeback you staged on Saturday, eight goals in the last 15 minutes, can you perhaps remember a similar match as crazy as the one you experienced on Saturday?
Never, not as a player, not as a coach. I’ve never experienced being eight goals down 20 minutes before the end of a match and winning it in the end. This was a first for me. As a player I never trailed by so many goals, while as a coach I never experienced such a comeback. It’s a remarkable achievement. Especially the way we did it. It has left a powerful impression on many people. Nobody is asking me any questions about the other matches at the tournament, or the first 40 minutes of our last match. They’re only asking about the last ten minutes.

This is your first medal as a coach. As a player you won everything. What does this medal mean to you at this moment?
It’s a big reward and a confirmation that what I do can be successful. I’ve been developing good plays all along and occasionally I also achieve success. I’ve never coached top teams as other coaches have, but this medal confirms that I’m on the right path as a coach and that the work I do is important.

In Croatia they couldn’t figure out what hit them in the last 15 minutes. We saw the pictures of their sports commentators, their handball and other officials. Many would now like to see you as coach of Croatia. Will you continue leading the "Janez" Slovenes, or maybe become the head coach of our neighbours?
In sports the Croatians are pretty arrogant. They’re convinced that all their neighbours are weaker than them. That especially goes for the Slovenians. I know that the Croatian public wanted me to take over their national team, but those that make the decisions did not want that. Now I’m a "Janez", I feel like a "Janez".

Maybe something funny for the end – Who is stronger, Chuck Norris or Veselin Vujović?
Veselin Vujović without doubt. The greatest! (laughter)

Thank you very much and good luck.
Thank you.

M. L.; translated by K. J.