The Silverfox Hustle Podcast
The hustle beats talent when talent doesn't hustle. The Silverfox Hustle is all about showcasing positive attitudes, great work ethics and consistent quality work. The Silverfox Hustle will be the vehicle that will inspire, motivate and share positive stories through its extraordinary guests. Host and creator, Shasi, is a former professional football player and now a coach developer as well as a commentator and pundit. He shares all the values and beliefs of the Silverfox Hustle. Enjoy the journey and stories! Cheers!
The Silverfox Hustle Podcast
Silverfox Hustle #88 - Boris Kopitovic - The Assassin From Montenegro
Boris Kopitovic, the star striker for BG Tampines Rovers FC, joins me for chat in my latest episode. Boris' journey from Montenegro to Singapore is a story of passion, perseverance and the pursuit of excellence.
From discovering his love for football at a young age to navigating the challenges of making the grade in his homeland, Boris opens up about the essential qualities needed to succeed in a new environment. We discuss his physical attributes and playing style that make him a formidable striker, and the critical support from connections and coaches like Mustafic "Farrah" that eased his move to Singapore.
Boris emphasizes the importance of consistency, setting personal targets and staying motivated amidst high expectations. His dedication to the game is palpable as he shares the major target of winning the league title with his club. All these and more!
Inspiring stories of resilience: overcoming struggles, finding purpose, transforming lives
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
This is the Silverfox Hustle podcast, the latest episode, and this is episode number 88. And of course we have the main episodes of the Silver Fox Hustle and of course we've got the football talk episodes as well, and we've gone over 100 episodes for that one as well. So if you enjoy the podcast, please click on the follow button, subscribe. Share this with your friends and family as well. Now in the house today we've got a professional footballer in the Singapore Premier League. He's a foreigner. He is one of the top top strikers in the Singapore Premier League over the past couple of seasons and let's not waste any more time he is none other than BG Tampines Rovers football club forward, mr Boris Kapetovic.
Speaker 2:Boris how are you? Good morning Shashi. Thank you for inviting me to your podcast. I am very good. Thank you so much. Thank you for inviting me to your podcast. I am very good. Thank you so much. And before we start our conversation this morning, I have a small gift for you Our Tampines Rovers jersey. Beautiful, my friend. You always say nice words for me and I want to give you this small gift.
Speaker 1:Thank you very much, boris, and if you can see this, it's a wonderful BG Tampines top and actually I've got to say this and not because you're here I think you guys have got one of the best kids in the Premier League, together with Geylang so thank you so much. Boris. Thank you, shassi. Okay, you've been watching the Euros. Yes, tell me about your opinion. Who do you think first was your favourite? Before the tournament?
Speaker 2:If you ask me Shashi, before the tournament, I will say France, but now, after group stage, what I saw, I think Germany. They play very good football, very young and strong team and they play their home ground and I think they can win this tournament.
Speaker 1:Ok, I think I see where you're coming from and I think Germany in the group stages has been really really good. Obviously playing at home as well, correct, and obviously the last game they've already gone through. Yeah, good shout. How about the other teams? Do you think? Is there any dark horse you think can make this? Is football coming home?
Speaker 2:I don't think so. I watch game against Serbia.
Speaker 1:I don't think so. Okay, dark horses for you.
Speaker 2:For me, dark horses is maybe Belgium, yeah, belgium.
Speaker 1:Belgium's got a tough game next, right, is it against Holland? Tough one against Holland, correct? Okay, I think that would be a great match, man, great match. Now, boris, before we move on and talk about you and Tampines and everything else, when you came to Singapore, right, let's talk a little bit about back home. You know, growing up, what's family like for you, your parents, what do they do? Actually? They live, uh, stay and work in montenegro.
Speaker 2:Montenegro is small country on sea, yeah and my parents. Uh, my parents live there in capital town and that's it do.
Speaker 1:Do you have uh siblings, brothers, sisters?
Speaker 2:yes, I have one sister and one brother. Brother is big now, one year younger than me. He works now, but sister, she still studies Because she is 19 and she still studies.
Speaker 1:Is your brother playing football as well? No, no, no, nothing.
Speaker 2:Nothing. Last time he liked to study and now he continues to.
Speaker 1:After university, he continues to work, Nice, nice now, boris, when you in school you know when. When you were a young boy, was football always, uh, the first sport. Or was there any other sport that you did in school?
Speaker 2:in school. We do so many other sport. Yeah, we can we try, but only sport who I play when I started football.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So only football for me, only football.
Speaker 1:I never try other sport. Why was it football? Because were you watching football a lot on TV, or was it just natural?
Speaker 2:No, no, this one is just natural.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:This one is just natural. Yeah, when I was young, on the way between my house and beach, I remember it was summer, nice 2003. One morning, I go with my parents. I go with my parents to beach to swimming.
Speaker 2:And then, on the way between my house and beach, got one small stadium, and then I saw a small kind of group, same age like me, who train, and then I go down, but I, I was in slippers, so I don't have boots, I don't have no shorts, nothing. And then I must wait next day to come and join and I think here everything, everything starts.
Speaker 1:Until today, I never stopped to play I see, I see that that's that's uh, and how old was that?
Speaker 2:this one was 2003, so I was.
Speaker 1:I was 1995 ah, okay, okay, nice, nice, nice around seven seven, seven years I start so that was really the time when you actually really got into football and stuff like that. Right, who was your hero growing up? Was there a hero in your home country or outside of it? No, no.
Speaker 2:Outside, I started watching football In my time. Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Manchester United.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And his era come in Manchester, and then he really surprised me and then I start support him. Okay, cristiano Ronaldo is one of them.
Speaker 1:Your hero, right. My hero, okay, when you were growing up, right. So how did you get into a club locally? In terms of when you were younger, did you join any clubs like under-12s, under-14s and something like?
Speaker 2:that? Yes, yes, I started in my hometown very small very small town. They got one stadium and a very small group of players and then I shifted under-16, under-17. I played there and then when you need to play for under 21, I'd shift to capital town and change the club first time right right right.
Speaker 2:And then I play in a bit bigger club in capital town and you know chassis, the biggest part in young professional footballer is when you finish playing for under 21 and when you need to go in first team. So many my friend here and in the world so many players give up physically and technically and everything in first team is different than we play under 21. And so many players give up. And then I choose from capital town, from this biggest club in Montenegro. I choose to go back in a smaller club to try to be competitive for the first team and then I think this is my good decision. First season when I go, I play only. I debate with my 17 years. I play only one half and this season I scored two goals.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, I get what you said. You know, because even in Singapore it's the same thing from 21, when you make that step up to the senior team, it's always always difficult, and Singapore is so small and there's already players missing out. Just imagine, you know a country that's bigger all over the world. You know, I think they're always going to struggle. So do you think that you made the right decision to drop down to another smaller club?
Speaker 2:Correct, because when you come in, especially in Montenegro, when you come in big club, when you come in especially in Montenegro, when you come in big club, they send you on loan and then send you in second or third division and quality not so good and then better. I think better go in a smaller club and try to go step by step and one day you can shift and move in a bigger club.
Speaker 1:I want to ask you how big is the gap that 21 and the pro in Montenegro?
Speaker 2:I think very big, very big difference.
Speaker 1:Very big yeah.
Speaker 2:Everyone struggles a lot because of quality, of tempo, of speed, of technically, and senior player is senior player. You cannot from under 21,. I cannot say kidding, enjoying. But this one is something different.
Speaker 1:So I guess, if you want to like, from the 21, go to the pro team, right? Or the senior team. You got to be really special, right? If? If you want to straight go on to the next next step correct.
Speaker 2:You must fight, you must fight, you must fight and give, try to give your best yeah or you have to two ways, chassis. One is to give up and finish football. So many quality and good players give up. They don't want to waste time, they think wasting time. They cannot go in a first team but other group. They go and fight and push and one day they go bigger and bigger club.
Speaker 1:That's a good point you made and I'm just going back to what you said about the standards and the quality. Can I ask you this Can you compare, or how do you compare, the Singapore youth? I don't know, maybe you've seen the 16s, 17s and 21s how do you compare the standards there and Singapore?
Speaker 2:And be honest, I'm honest, shashi, I saw Active Energy. I saw our under 16, under 17, under 21. They have very good environment. They have very good equipment. So many balls, so many goals. You know when I was young, when I was playing, we have only one bag with 10 balls and two big goals on stadium. But now what I saw, they have everything. All young kids have new boots. I think only what they need in Singapore. They need desire, desire for success, because from young they have everything Natural grass, good environment. When a storm or rainy coming, a lightning alert, they no need to take care parents, no need to take care of of their children and I think, only the only desire. And I think, if they have desire to fight for something, they can improve and I think they can improve more and they can success.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, you know. I think that is one of the most important things ever, right? Obviously you got your technical stuff, your technical stuff and everything. But you must want to do it, you must have the hunger, and I think you're absolutely right about us in Singapore as well. We have almost everything right.
Speaker 2:Correct, we have the phones.
Speaker 1:We have this. Everything best in the world, Singapore first. Yeah, there's so many distractions, don't you think so? Yeah, Now I want to talk about professional football, right? So how did you start like the professional bit? Because obviously you're from 21 and then you drop, you know, to a smaller club, Correct? So how did that break, happen like like really become a professional footballer?
Speaker 2:when I go to first team, I uh, same time I go to school also, yeah, and then in one moment when we need to go pre-season- overseas and so many, so many. I must do so many things to, to improve yeah and to success. So, uh, I think, uh, I think a very hard, very difficult way yeah very difficult way, but okay, today I am happy and I am proud of myself because I never stop.
Speaker 1:I continue, yeah I would ask you you were you always a striker?
Speaker 2:Always, always, always Right from the first, From the first day I have big size and coach put me up front.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I also wanted to ask you this Were you always like big and tall, like naturally?
Speaker 2:Naturally naturally. This one naturally Genetic, this one naturally. And your father or your parents and your brother. They're bigger than me.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice, okay, and your style of play, right. You like and whenever I commentate and do games on you as well you like to roll a defender. Like you're so big and strong, correct. And if a defender goes so close to you Correct, they can't see the ball. Correct, and it's easier for you to roll them if they go so close and try to win the ball. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Is that always your style, or you've been, or you learned this over time? No, this one is natural. Okay, I cannot learn. I cannot learn how to spin. Yeah, you know chassis. You can. You can learn some part of of game, but this one cannot learn. This one is natural and I think I doing very well. Yeah, and especially when we play against now in Singapore defender know, coach, teach them and they know but when we play against other team, like last year, we play UFC Cup against Cambodia non-pen team. They don't know and two times I.
Speaker 1:I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I spin them and I score two goals, right, right, it's natural. Yeah, and it's also one of the most. It looks easy, but it's not because you need the experience to do that as well. Of course, you got the size and, yeah, it's one of your strengths, you know. I gotta say, let's talk about your move to Singapore, right, how did that come about? Was it like an agent? Was it like, I don't know? Someone from Tampines got your videos from somewhere? How did this happen?
Speaker 2:I was top scorer on half season in Montenegro first division, and then coach Fahruddin Farah, who is assistant coach now. He have so many connection in Montenegro and Serbia and Tempin is looking for striker and so his friend who play with him in this time he want to retire, then play last season with me together. And then Farah looking for striker and he saw I'm top scorer on half season with 9 together. And then Farah looking for striker and he saw I'm top scorer on half season with 9 goals and he he called me and invite me to come to join the team Tampines in Singapore you know I think I've got to say this Singapore and Tampines as well, and the local fans here in Singapore have got to thank Farah so much because he got you in.
Speaker 1:You know, I think you've been correct.
Speaker 2:I also want to thank Farah so much.
Speaker 1:He is, like my father, my friend, lovely and you do know that he's been or he's been or he's a great player for Singapore as well, right correct, correct.
Speaker 2:Yes, I know he is a 10 of Nationals. I respect him too much. Brilliant.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah. So so when you got that call For Farah and it was Singapore, did you, what was in your head Like Singapore? And did you know when Singapore was, and it's so far away and what was in your mind when you got that, you know.
Speaker 2:I know because I don't know so much About country, but I know because Montenegro played one, I think, olympic Games under-21 against Singapore and. Singapore won 4-1 this game at Jalan Basar. I remember Really so my generation 1995, played and Singapore beat them 4-1. Okay, and then I don't know so much about the league, about country, but in this moment I am top scorer in Montenegro on half season.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I want to change something to try to play overseas. And some senior, old and good player who play in Thailand, in Indonesia, they tell me go, go and try, go and try. So I choose to accept far offer and come to Singapore.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice. And when you stepped in Singapore, you know from the airport and whatever you know, you're going to the place where you lived. What was your first impression of the country? Nothing to do with football, but what about the country?
Speaker 2:I think when I landed to Changi Airport first what I think. I think this one is like in movie. I cannot believe. Yeah, wonderful, beautiful country. I really remember everything, like yesterday. Ah I really surprised and it was amazing, chassis, you know.
Speaker 1:And you were happy. You were happy right when you first came.
Speaker 2:I am very happy and I remember I come morning, I arrived nine o'clock and then afternoon we got training and I remember, like yesterday, my first training is at safra, okay, okay. And then I struggle a lot. So weather, so hot, right, I really struggle a lot but coach Gavin, he understand everything and he give me time to adapt and to prepare.
Speaker 1:Who was the foreigners then? It was the same foreigners. You still had Nakamura.
Speaker 2:Still Still Nakamura. And who else were the foreigners?
Speaker 1:Jordan Webb and Zehruddin Mehmedovic, okay, okay. So Mendovic, okay, okay, okay. So the other two as well, correct and okay. So, first day of training, you met all these guys, the local players, and all right. What was your first impression? I know it was hard, it was so difficult, right. And what was your first impression of the football when you first came?
Speaker 2:I become so tired and the weather is very hot. And then we start training. My first impression is they are very fast, small size but very fast and technically very good, like Nakamura, who is Yasir Hanapi. And then I remember they are very fast and it doesn't matter you make mistake, they continue. So they're very fast and they doesn't matter you make mistake, they continue, continue, continue. So they play very, very fast football.
Speaker 1:And then I think good club, good team, yeah, okay, you just said it right, in your very first training session it was tough, you know it was hot and obviously you just arrived and all right, I always say this, you know, and sometimes during commentary as well right, with foreigners, new foreigners that come into Singapore and anywhere else, right, it is not easy. You know, you got the culture, you got the food. You got the culture, you got the food, you got the playing style, you got the football, you got everything. Everything comes and it's a combination of everything and it's not easy for a foreigner to come in and start being the best Correct. You know, and I get that as well, was it very difficult in that first season, not the first day, but the first season? Was it difficult to adapt?
Speaker 2:I agree, I agree with you, chassis, but you know you don't have so much time to adapt. When they sign you, they sign you as a foreigner to help them, to improve them, especially for striker, to start scoring goals for them. They, they cannot waste time, yeah, and then, but I'm I, I think I, I don't struggle. I start very well. A year before Tampines win Singapore Cup and they need to play qualifier for Champions League. And my first game when I come in Tampines 2020, jalan Basar against Bali United, yes, so we play very good game 3-3. An extra time we lose 5-3.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I score goals and I doing very well, yeah, and then after that, community Shield come we play against Hogan we won 3-0,.
Speaker 1:I also score yeah.
Speaker 2:And then I think I adapt very well and teammates start liking me.
Speaker 1:I think it helps when you first start and then you start scoring goals and then your confidence also builds, correct, you know, and you think okay, I think I can do this and all tension is on you supporters.
Speaker 2:you are new in the league, everyone watch you. And then I think this one, the first moment when you come, and first I don't know one, two, three games is the most important for foreigners. They must give everything and then later they can improve, improve, but first, two, three games most important for foreigners who come in Singapore to adapt very well for the league Nice.
Speaker 1:Now. You scored nine goals in 14 games the first season, you know and you finished second behind Albrecht and you were third in the goal scoring charts. Right? I just want to read out your numbers over the season. So that was your first season. Right Now, your second season, in 21,. You got 16 goals in 21. So it's increasing 22, 35 goals in 28 games and that was when you got your top scorer award, you know, in 22. And 23, 17 goals in 23 games and you guys came in fourth in the league, right? You have great consistency as a goal scorer and I think as a great goal scorer and you talk about legacies and everything it's important. The consistency is very important. You know you hit numbers. It has to be maybe over 10 and 15, whatever. Do you have a target every season?
Speaker 2:personally, personally have you have a personal target every season for yourself. Every season I put a target. First one is a team goals, but after this I put my target for myself.
Speaker 1:Okay, because this is the way how I can improve and how I can push push myself to to go higher and better so let's forget about this season, because it's still on the previous few seasons. Did you meet the target? Did you beat? Beat the target or was it lower?
Speaker 2:Shashi, you say a very good word. You must need to maintain consistency. I think 2022, I put a very, very high standard so people accept maybe same or more, but it's very difficult, you know.
Speaker 1:sometimes you struggle.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it's a good time. Sometimes it's good time for, sometimes it's team playing well. So many other things you can can be options to help me to scoring goals, but I think I need to give more because I know.
Speaker 1:I can give more.
Speaker 2:and then this season I need to give more yeah, Because I know I can give more. And then this season I need to play like 2020.
Speaker 1:You know, you said a very nice thing just now right, the consistency. And in 22, you hit 35 goals. That was when you got your top scorer award right and I also felt that that was that was huge. That was there right. And to get to the next year, and then how do you get that?
Speaker 1:It's tough, but obviously for you, you are always trying to go for that, and at the initial part of last season, maybe you didn't score enough goals. People start talking Correct, and even I said it on one of the shows as well. I said you are, you know, not there yet. Maybe you're not sharp enough in that first few games. And then I also said that the standards is so high that you know it's always going to be difficult for you to reach that every single season, but you still managed to get that 17 goals in 23 last season. So, yeah, I think you're right. It's not easy, but it's key, right?
Speaker 1:Consistency is always always important and I want to ask you this right, of course, as a striker, sometimes you miss in front of goal, right, you miss, and maybe you don't score in three games in a row. What is your advice for a striker, or even a young boy, a young striker in the league right. What is your advice for them? If you miss like an easy chance or you go on a three-game run that I never score but I'm a striker, what is your advice? Because I'm sure you've been through like that?
Speaker 2:Correct, I've been striker. What is your advice? Because I'm sure you've been through like that, correct, I've been, I've been. But if you watch a big player like Karim Benzema, who also sometimes struggle this, I think this one is normal and this one is natural for striker you can score everything from half pitch or from two meters, but you also can miss everything. But I, I think, practice and training every day. If you do every day, if you do finishing, if you try to shoot from different position, different angle, you can improve, because what you do on training always, always come in the game, so many same situation, and then I think the key is just to, to, to, to train, to, to work hard and to, to to practice shooting every, every, every day, after training for striker, nice, nice and uh, how about this mentally?
Speaker 1:you know, when in a game you miss a chance, does it's for the best strikers in the world? They don't, they don't care, right, okay, it's okay, I miss right. And I go on, I keep on. How important is this for you Mentally?
Speaker 2:This one is very important when you start struggle, when you cannot score One, two, three games. I am lucky because when I don't score two, three games, I have my coach Gavin, who find a way how to help me. He tell me to try to start to do meditation. And then I try to do meditation. I try to think some different things, I relax, I trial and then goals will come again for sure.
Speaker 1:You just revealed Gavin's secrets to the whole.
Speaker 2:No, no, it's one of his secrets, but in this moment he tried to help me.
Speaker 1:And then, yeah of course, of course, and I think this is so, so important, especially as a striker. If you miss a chance and then some strikers might just ah, okay.
Speaker 2:Especially young strikers in. Singapore.
Speaker 1:When they miss, they will start thinking you know, when you joined Singapore sorry, you joined the Tampines side right who were the people who you were close to, you know got you together, you know and you know make you feel comfortable in the side. Who are the people there?
Speaker 2:when I come to Singapore, coach Gavin, coach people that. When I come to singapore, yeah uh, coach gavin, okay uh, coach farah, yeah. And when I come until today, shazwan buhari okay yasir hanapi, okay, kyogre nakamura and taufik suparno right, right these four players stay with me from 2020 until today. Yes, these four, and they make you feel comfortable and feel at home as well correct.
Speaker 1:Another question on Tampines right, obviously you played for a few clubs back home and in Singapore as well. You played for Tampines or you're playing for Tampines, and then you've seen the other clubs in Singapore as well. Can you see a difference between Tampines and the other clubs that you played for and also the teams that are in Singapore? Can you see a difference?
Speaker 2:Can, I can, I can see the difference. I think Tampines is one of the biggest clubs in Singapore. About style of football, about how we train, how we prepare for game, everything, what he do. Every year we play EFC Cup or Champions League, and I can see so many different things. I think Tampines is on a very good level compared to other teams in SPL. Tampines, I think.
Speaker 1:I want to ask you as well and I heard this, and I think people know in the scene right that Gavin is so, so meticulous, very precise, very detailed. Is that true? Correct, yeah?
Speaker 2:Very, very true, correct. He put more than 100% him in football and he helped us a lot. He improved us. He improved us a lot Every single day. He tried to improve us, okay, I a lot, every single day. He try to improve us, okay.
Speaker 1:I want to ask you this, right, and somebody post this question for me and to ask you, right, during the last 10 minutes of a game, right, you often are still fit, you are still running, you are chasing the defenders, you go non-stop in a game and you know, as a teammate if I have, I have a teammate who's a striker, who is, you know, in the last 10 minutes, we are leading one nail. You know we want to hold, maybe hold the lead and we've got a striker who's running and chasing down defenders. I feel comfortable at the back and I also will work. Right, what? Where does this come from? Is it your, your, your mentality? Is it your your mentality? Is it your personality? Or somebody told you this, like as a coach? Maybe coach Gavin said you know, I want this to be done, or it's just you?
Speaker 2:but this one just me from my mentality right. I want to fight and to push my team until the the last whistle in the game. But also, coach Gavin, teach me defending start from attack, yeah. And then coach says if a player behind you, so you press, yeah, you do, you do, you do good job for team and then everyone, everyone will try to help you to. And everything start from you up top. You are a leader from up top and then they can follow you.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, Another question, right, what frustrates you most about Singapore football? Yeah, singapore football in general. What is something that you said? All the nice things. Tell me one, something that you feel frustrated.
Speaker 2:Lightning alert. Lightning alert is one feel frustrated, or yeah, lightning alert ah, lightning alert is one and and which part?
Speaker 1:which part annoys you?
Speaker 2:that it's it's hot, but the lightning alert is on, because sometimes we do see that correct and trust me you start to play and then, after 10 minutes I saw weather very nice and lightning alert start. And then, when you minutes, I saw weather very nice and lightning alert start. And then when you go and you rest, you must wait one hour, one hour and a half. This one is one of the worst part.
Speaker 2:I say all good things about this one, but in the game maybe. Second one is when, when the referee needs to see the situation and when they need to review VAR they need and they take so many times and all players are angry my team and other teams also.
Speaker 1:Especially when it's clear, correct, the decision is clear, right I?
Speaker 2:think they take so much time when I watch Premier League England. If I compare, they take one, two seconds. We wait here five, six minutes for nothing.
Speaker 1:But seriously, even in the Premier League sometimes it's terrible, Correct. I think it's an issue over the world and I think players get frustrated, correct? I think it's something that I don't know. It can be improved. I guess and this one also came from somebody right Some observers say that you go down a little bit too easily, like getting fouled, and you go down a little bit easily maybe to get a foul, maybe to get a penalty. What is your opinion on this?
Speaker 2:Sometimes I'm tired and then I try when I feel contact. But most of the time, shashi, try when I feel contact. But most of the time, shashi, really I feel contact. But you know, referee here, they know me big size and so they always give advantage to defender.
Speaker 1:Maybe it's a disadvantage. Sometimes if you're big right, they think you can handle the touch and tackle right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're very right for that as well. Now I want to ask you this question right, you won the Community Shield with Tampines. Yes, so far, so far with Tampines. Right, Top scorer as well in one year. Are you disappointed in that in terms of you've played four or five years and then you only won that Community Shield and the Golden Boot? You think Tampines should have won something more. I think there was one year that you lost in the Singapore Cup, the final. Was it the final?
Speaker 2:Against Hogan.
Speaker 1:Correct when you, in the year that you won the golden boot? Correct, yes, correct. Are you disappointed that you haven't won more with Tampines?
Speaker 2:Of course, yeah, of course, very disappointed and 2020.
Speaker 2:I uh, so much offer come when I was top scorer, so much offer come for me. No, overseas, okay, but in this moment I I feel I win golden boots, 41 goal total. Yeah, totally. But in my heart I feel very bad and very sad, because I know Tampines is a big club and then I really like this club so much and I want to win the title with this group of players, with this group of people. I want to win the title and I decide to stay, to push and to try to do this and this season, chelsea, we really have good squad and I think we can fight until the last round for the title. First season when I, if I compare first season and today, today we have 16 or 17 same quality player who you know, long bench is key also Today we have 16 or 17 same quality players who you know.
Speaker 2:Long bench is key. Also If you want to fight for the title, who have long squad, when injuries come red card, yellow card you need a very long bench and this season I think we have everything. And this season I can promise we will fight for the title until last game.
Speaker 1:I have Tampines as top two for this season. I said it at the beginning of the season and it hasn't changed. I haven't changed my mind. I think top two at the moment, you know, and I also think that there is good continuity in the team as in you don't change much from one year to another players, foreigners, so I I find that that is good. You know, some people say why haven't you bring or brought in more or new players? But I think this is also a strength for the site, because the players know each other very well, they are growing together as a team and from one year to another and maybe get one, two, two players, three players, you know, and it's stronger and I feel that you guys have a good opportunity this season.
Speaker 1:But it's going to be tough, obviously, you know, and, yeah, what do you? You know from the first season you've been here till now. What do you think needs to be done? Maybe change something that will make you guys champions. I don't know, I'm just asking off my head. Maybe tactically, maybe something you can do. I don't know, obviously you're not the coach, but in your opinion, what is it you think? Maybe something very small you can do to change?
Speaker 2:I think, Shashi, this one question is for Coach Gavin.
Speaker 2:I think he has an answer for this question yeah, yeah but if, if, if, we push each other, yeah, and if we fight together and stay together with coaching staff like tampinis have, who do everything on a small detail and small little things, who help us, they know how to bring us. But I think we need to stay together and go game by game, step by step, and push each other and every single game we need to. When we score one goal, we need to go for second, we need to finish the game, collect three points and then in the end, everyone, everyone, see who win the title and then doesn't matter how you play I know Tampines play very quality and very good football but sometimes, shasi, you just need to go and collect three points. Absolutely, I just. Sometimes, shashi, you just need to go and collect three points, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I just wanted to tell you that as well. You know you talk about playing good football, yeah, and you score goals as well. You need to kill games off, right, correct? You can't concede goals and let the other team come back into the game. You've seen it so many times, not only with Tampines, with the other teams, geylang and Balestier, you know. Balistier, you know, leading 3-0. Haogang came back. Geylang, leading 3-1 against DPMM. Dpmm came back.
Speaker 1:This is a very good example yeah, and, and you guys leading 2-0 against Geylang, geylang came back 4-2 and then you guys managed, with Taufik coming, to score 2 goals. Right, so it doesn't matter anymore. Right at that level. Win games and that's it, move on to the next game, move on to the next game, and I think a little bit of luck is also needed. You know we talk about technical players. Tactically, you must be good character, mentality, character as well, and also a little bit of luck to win the league. You know, I think it's very important. Boris, before we go, I just want to ask you 10 quick questions. I think I've got, yeah, 10 quick questions. You try as much as possible to answer quickly. I think you should not have a problem. These are very easy ones. All right, are you ready to go Ready? First question oh, this is easy your favorite local food and drink?
Speaker 1:Misoto and kopio Nice, kopio kosong or just kopio, no just kopio.
Speaker 2:Extra, no just kopio.
Speaker 1:Extra sweet, Extra sweet. Yeah, I think you can afford to Misoto. Do you like spicy food? No, so without the chilli Without the chilli, nice. The best place in Singapore with your family Anyway, sorry I forgot to ask Is your family in Singapore? No, no, no. So you're alone in Singapore, alone. So where's the best place for you to relax in Singapore? So?
Speaker 2:where's the best place for you to relax in Singapore? Maybe MBS Marina Bay?
Speaker 1:Sand yeah, okay, great. Next question Jalan Besar or OTH?
Speaker 2:OTH, of course. Why Always OTH? Yeah, home. Home, home ground, I feel.
Speaker 1:Okay, Grass or artificial Grass. Okay, this is a question. You got three. You got to choose one, right Lewandowski, Erling Haaland or Harry Kane.
Speaker 2:Karim Benzema None of the above. Yeah, oh, your favourite striker is Karim Benzema.
Speaker 1:Erling Haaland, erling Haaland Okay, great. Klopp Guardiola. Ateta or Gavin Lee. Gavin Lee Okay, take away Gavin Lee. Klopp Guardiola or Ateta Guardiola. Guardiola, okay, most skillful player at Tampines. Kyoga Nakamura, nakamura your best friend at Tampines. Shuey Yamashita ah, okay, nice, toughest opponent in the SPL, your toughest opponent? Name me two. One is a club and another one a player defender.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Club and another one a player Defender. Yeah, Lion City Sailors.
Speaker 1:Okay, as a club, as a club, as a club, very tough and defenders, defenders as well.
Speaker 2:And defenders maybe.
Speaker 1:Maybe one defender that you think this season yeah, this season Somebody goes hard on you, never allows you anything.
Speaker 2:I don't know Shazi, so far last year, the year he have so many good defenders especially foreigners. Just name me one who's been tough on you tough for me last year, singapore Cup Bailey Wright very tough. Who's been tough on you? Tough for me Last year, singapore.
Speaker 1:Cup. Bailey Wright, very tough, right, very strong and he's still around in LCS right Nice, the best local player in Singapore. Spl in the SPL, your best local player.
Speaker 2:Faris Ramli.
Speaker 1:Faris Ramli why?
Speaker 2:He's very skillful and, like when I pass to him, he always go and kill player 1-1 and he try to cross to assist me and I'm very impressed with him, absolutely Nice, the best foreign player in the league you think, apart from you. Maxim Lestien.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Hands down Tomoyuki Doi.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And Kyogan Aki, yeah, and Kyogre Nakamura.
Speaker 1:Nice, Boris. Where does Boris Kapitovic go from here? What are your plans maybe after this season and do you have like really bigger plans to go somewhere bigger?
Speaker 2:You know, shashiashi, this season is very crazy and very long 18 months and my tension and my focus is now only here. So much game SPL, champions League, acl 2 coming, singapore Cup coming. My focus must be, must be here now. I have contract until summer and then we see what, what happen, what happen next. But now I am really here, my head is really here and I to to bring back Boris from 2022, to, to, to help Tampines to win the title which is?
Speaker 1:which is what? 35 goals? Yeah, correct. And this year you'll be playing how many games?
Speaker 2:4 4 rounds right 4 rounds 32 games yeah.
Speaker 1:I think it's achievable. And you scored already what 4? 4 For this season. And yeah, there's one more. There's one more thing you scored, I think, 81 league goals, 81 league goals In SPL, in the SPL League goals, league goals 81. There is an opportunity to break that 100 this year. This year I think there is an opportunity because you've got 19 more to go correct 28 games, more correct maybe I.
Speaker 2:I have chance and this one is also one. My target after team target to win the title. I want to to catch 100 goals and I want also won my target after team target to win the title. I want to catch 100 goals and I want to be best top scorer in history of Tampines Rovers. I want to catch Alexander Djuric, who have 105 goals.
Speaker 1:Absolutely brilliant. You know your numbers Wonderful, and I really wish you the best of luck individually as well as for the club. Boris thank you so much lastly, boris, do you have any message for your Tampines fans and I think not only Tampines fans? Firstly, tampines fans I think you've got fans in Singapore it doesn't matter where LCS and I'm a fan as well. What is your message to them?
Speaker 2:thank you for their supporting, especially now when we cannot play to our Tampines Hub, our home ground. They take time to come to Jalan Basar every single game. They always come, they always support us and really they are amazing for me, for our fans and especially for people who support Singapore League. And also I want to invite Sunday to join to support us against Hogan United to help us to collect three points.
Speaker 1:Boris Kapitovic. Thank you so much, very, very. One of the best strikers over the past couple of seasons in Singapore and, above all, a very nice person as well. Thank you so much, boris, for being here, and I wish you all the best, individually as well as for your club goals. All right, and I'll see you in future, and I'm sure in the next few days I'll be talking a lot about you as well during commentary.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, Shashi.
Speaker 1:This has been the latest episode of the Silver Fox Hustle podcast. I'm your host, shassi, and please, please, do me a favor Click on the follow button, subscribe to the podcast and share the podcast Till the next episode. The hustle beats talent when talent doesn't hustle. Cheers, bye.