JOVAN ŠURBATOVIĆ, FSS GENERAL SECRETARY, GUEST AT THE BELGRADE UNIVERSITY FACULTY FOR SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

“Football has become too big a business to be reduced to mere improvisation. That’s why we need young, educated, dedicated and ambitious people. I will tell you the same thing I tell the students at my college all the time, you have the privilege of being educated in one of the most beautiful areas of society. Today, the vast majority of humanity shows interest in sports, playing sports, and many make a living from it. We operate in a world that changes every day, you have to follow trends, acquire new knowledge and be ready at any moment to seize the opportunity that will surely come to you.” – Šurbatović addressed the students in his introductory speech, emphasizing dedication as a key factor for achieving success in sports.

“We live in a highly competitive society, in a world that has become a global market. The clubs play along the rules of the game and are leaving the national framework. One Manchester United has 330 million registered fans, most of them outside England. Real Madrid and Barcelona started to generate enormous profits only when they dedicated themselves to their fans in Africa, Asia, and South America. That is why they can afford transfers of over 100 million euros worth. If Real Madrid pays full compensation for Cristiano Ronaldo in a few months from the sale of jerseys in its official shop, then it is not an expense, but an investment. We in Serbia should not look for innovations, but only copy what successful companies in the world are doing.”

Šurbatović also talked about investments in infrastructure:

“The construction of the National Stadium with 50,000 seats gives us the opportunity to apply for the organization of major sports events such as the finals of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. What is very important, this new home of the Serbian National football team will at the same time be a generator of urban development of a completely new city zone that will directly and indirectly bring large revenues to the state of Serbia. Also, the construction of stadiums throughout Serbia is not an expense, but an investment. We have an excellent example of TSC Arena. When we watch matches from Bačka Topola on television, it is a completely different impression compared to all others. A different atmosphere, high-quality field of play, stands filled with spectators, the public satisfied because it has absolute comfort, sold-out VIP boxes, maximum number of cameras. Consequently, the game is better and of higher quality. There is no good football in other venues, even when Zvezda and Partizan play. I visited the stadium in Leskovac, which shall be officially opened on May 21st. Believe me that in terms of conditions, standards, and visual effect, it does not lag behind other stadia across Europe who were hosting the matches of the highest UEFA category are played.” – said the General Secretary of the FSS and finally advised the students:

“Learn and work on yourself. To be successful, it is very important to know more than others and to outperform the competition. It is cruel, but not invincible.”

JOVAN SURBATOVIC