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 #95 - Toni Datkovic - Croatia's El Sicario
Meet Toni Datkovic, the defensive powerhouse who hails from a Croatian island to becoming Lion City Sailors' rock-solid center back. Tony unveils the heart behind the tackles, sharing stories from his childhood on the island of Pag where his football dreams first took shape.
Toni provides a fascinating glimpse into what makes Croatian footballers so exceptional on the world stage, explaining how the country's mentality and natural talent combine to produce players who "give everything." His career path through Spain, Slovenia, and Greece led him to Singapore, where he has established himself as one of the league's premier defenders, helping the Sailors secure a historic treble.
The conversation delves into the extraordinary team spirit that propelled the Lion City Sailors to success, with Toni providing hilarious one-word descriptions of teammates and revealing the special bond created during away trips. Despite the heartbreak of losing the AFC Champions League 2 final, his pride in uniting Singapore behind the team shines through.
For aspiring defenders, Toni's parting wisdom cuts to the core of defensive excellence: "Mentality is the hardest part in this job." Whether you're a football tactician or simply love hearing authentic stories from professional athletes, this episode offers rare insight into what it truly means to be a defender's defender in modern football.
This is the Silverfox Hustle Podcast. Hi, welcome back to the podcast. This is Shassi, I'm your host and creator of the podcast and we are well into more than 100 episodes of the podcast. But today it's specifically episode number 95 of the main podcast and obviously we have the Football Talk episodes. And today in the house we have a special guest and we're going to talk about his hustle.
Speaker 1:And it was exactly the 4th of May 2024, slightly more than a year ago, when we first, and the members of the public fans first saw this player on the pitch playing for the lion city sailors in his very first match against albarax in the community shield, which they won handsomely, I've got to say. And that was the first time when I I think I was on punditry duty on that day and I first saw this player and his name was, or is, tony datkovich. And the first time when I first, when I saw him play, I thought we have a killer on our hands, and in a very complimentary way, because I thought he was a real defender and I think at the end of the season it was proven so he was one of the best defenders in the league. And welcome to the podcast, my friend Tony Datkovich.
Speaker 2:Hello and thank you for the call-up.
Speaker 1:You were away on holiday back home.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was in Croatia. I'm from Croatia, one small island there, and I was in my village 200 people, small village, beach, sea and family, and I never go anywhere else, what is the name of this island?
Speaker 1:Pug, right, right. And you go back almost all of your holidays, even when you were playing overseas and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Yes, always, whenever I could, I would go, and I take every opportunity to go, because all my family is there and I miss my home. I'm this type of guy, so whenever I can, I go.
Speaker 1:Actually, I was looking through your IG post and it really looks wonderful and really beautiful, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And wonderful to go back as well, especially, I got to say, after a very long season.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the longest season in my career, I think I don't know. Somebody in club said that maybe the longest in history of football.
Speaker 1:Yeah, actually you're right, because it went from May till the other year, which is this year, and I thought it was a very long season and hopefully it goes back to normal now, because now it's August 2. Yeah, so it goes back to normal. So you know, in this podcast, tony, we would like to talk about you yourself, of course, and how you went from your early beginnings and then to success, obviously with the Lion City Sailors last season. Let's talk a little bit about your family growing up. How was it growing up? And you lived in that island.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, so I was born in a city next to my island because there is no possibility to somebody to give birth normally, okay, no hospital. So but from the first day I was there, it's like a small village, uh, uh people, uh, fishermen's people, shepherd, you know, yeah. So everybody's close there, everybody knows each other and it helped me a lot because it's, let's say, love and it's something special there in yeah when you, when you are in such a small community. So it has its advantages and disadvantages, but I only see advantages.
Speaker 1:So you just said a little bit about disadvantages. What is the disadvantages of actually living in an island like that? But I think it's wonderful actually, it's like a good spirit yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm saying like what other people?
Speaker 1:are saying.
Speaker 2:On my perspective, there is no disadvantages because, like other people say, okay, the winters there, for example, are cold, so, like there are, there is nowhere on the street, nobody's there, no tourists, no, nothing in the summer is perfect, but then you have winter. But, from my perspective, when I come back, I'm going to live there and I can't wait to buy a, buy a boat, go to go, go on the fish you make a fish.
Speaker 1:You've got your retirement plan all set up, man yeah yeah, nice, beautiful you, you have uh, like, like, uh, how many brothers or sisters do you? Uh, one brother, one, one older brother, and he's playing in the in.
Speaker 2:No, he was before professional player. Uh, my father also. So I'm from, uh, let's say, football family. Okay, uh, both of them are professional player. Now he's not playing anymore, and, uh, I'm the only one now, nice, nice.
Speaker 1:How about education when you're growing up? Uh, at which level did you stop, uh, your education, or were you still continuing while playing?
Speaker 2:so no, uh, after my island I went for the high school, uh, in rieka, city of rieka, and I had there four years of high school and then I signed my first professional contract and then I I didn't went to university anymore.
Speaker 1:At what age did you sign your first uh?
Speaker 2:I think I was 19 years old, okay.
Speaker 1:And before that, were you like playing for the youth teams and youth setups?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Now you know, when we talk about Croatia and I'm just talking about football-wise right we talk about Croatia. We can rattle off names of famous Croatian footballers. And what is it about Croatian footballers? That it's different, because they keep on churning out players and they are the skillful sort, they're so good to watch. And we talk about all these players. And I think, if you have done your research on Singapore football as well, it was called the S League Way back even in 96 and 97, we had our first Croatians playing.
Speaker 1:And Ivica Ragus and Velma Krajan and all these players? What is it about Croatia that's so special when it comes to football?
Speaker 2:I think we are like a nation with a lot of talent for football and sports, because even in the other sports we are such a small country three million and a half people. It's such a small country and when you see the successes of in the sport, in football and everything, it's just amazing, amazing. And uh, this is the first part and the other part, I think, is like, uh, we are from the small country that nothing comes easy and everybody of us wants to make it happen and gives everything from themselves. I know I spoke with a lot of coaches and 90% of coaches they say like I adore to have a Croatian guy in the locker room because I know he will be there, he will give everything, he will not make problems and it's good, it's mentality and also like talents from God. So what else can I say?
Speaker 1:so I must say that Alex must be very happy to have you in the dressing room. I hope so we'll ask him that right. Was football always your first love? You spoke about Croatia being good at sports, right, different sports, basketball and whatever right. Was it your first love? Yes, of course. How? How did it come about?
Speaker 2:I think from my father. He was also a professional player and, uh, when I was growing up, he, he was a coach, uh, in croatian league. So, uh, I, I went with him all the trainings and uh, also, there I played with my friends, since the sun doesn't go down like this is like, but literally every day, all day. So I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it and it became like, let's say, professional type of playing when I went to high school. Before that, it was just like pure love and enjoying with friends how were you in your studies?
Speaker 1:were you good? Were you?
Speaker 2:it was good yeah in Croatia you have like grades from one to five. The five is the best one and I always was like four or five nice brilliant, brilliant.
Speaker 1:But I didn't like it, to be honest. But you were good. I think that's good. That's good. You know you were growing up. You know who were your idols playing football.
Speaker 2:I had my idol when I was a kid, like a Croatian guy. It's called Zvonimir Deranja. Okay, and but after, like, when I started to see like foreigner football, I fell in love with Ronaldinho. Okay, and then, and then it's always like started to see like foreigner football, I fell in love in Ronaldinho okay and then, and then. It's always like that and for me, like I'm a Messi fan, so Messi is the top of the top.
Speaker 1:Yeah was or is being a defender always, your defending always your position, or defender always your position.
Speaker 2:I always like traveled from the youth teams like, let's say, center back, central midfielder and left back. So I was always like circling. But last 10 years of my career I was like center back, left back, all the time I could change, but normally I'm a center back right, right, and how would you describe yourself if you are a left, center, back or left back?
Speaker 1:how would you describe yourself as a defender? What kind of a defender? Would you describe yourself as?
Speaker 2:I know I like to speak about me, but I don't know, I don't know what's the word. Maybe you can help me. Okay, I want to ask you this?
Speaker 1:I want to ask you this because I think when people talk about defending nowadays and choosing a defender for a team, I think most coaches it's in the in the trend, it's a fashion right to get a player who is ball playing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a defender who is ball playing, yeah, a defender who is ball playing, especially in last years of football. Yeah, yes, but I also feel that the qualities of a defender, a real defender, is lost sometimes in a coach trying to pick a player for his team. Yes, so I think, in my opinion at least right, you are a defender, defender, you, you are good on the ball. But I think the main priority is obviously to stop the goals from coming in and I think you've got that mentality. Am I right?
Speaker 2:yeah, and uh, yeah, exactly what you said. And uh, this is my type of seeing football. Like I'm a little bit of sad that football is losing this kind of stuff, uh, because now with the var, I'm so against it. To be honest, I like, I like, okay, uh, like, let's say, the line of of the goal, if it's goal or not the goal, but these, like, when they are taking the lines, for one centimeters it can be there. It's again human factor with the lines and it just takes away some like.
Speaker 2:It takes away this pure enjoy and emotion in football because, like a lot of guys now, when they score they don't know if they celebrate or not, and stuff like this and also like in the defense, before I could step on a player on the corner kick, I could step on a player on the corner kick, I could kick him with the elbow or something. It was a part of the game and now you cannot do nothing and the strikers are now developed a lot with the VAR, so it's enough for them to put the leg and the VAR see the contact and it's penalty. So for us, for me, last few years it was so much difficult because you are like, let's say, I say like a ballerina in the area, because you cannot touch anybody, you're just jumping, and it's changed a lot.
Speaker 1:Okay, where do you stand on defenders putting their hands behind their back when they're defending in the penalty area?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do it all the time because I know it's penalty, but but it's totally, totally difficult because, like, if the player make a false shot, she cuts, cuts the ball or something, your, your hands are behind. You cannot react like you react if you have like this, so it's difficult.
Speaker 1:So actually, this is the perfect example of what VAR has done, you know change the football because nowhere. I mean you can't tell me that that is a natural position for a defender. You can't defend like that. But they are doing it because the fact that they are scared of the ball hitting their hands and it's a handball given, it's ridiculous and I totally get you.
Speaker 2:Well, the rules in the last year were made with the VAR to get more goals, to get more excitement. So this is the goal of them. I so this is the goal of them, I think. But okay, we need to. If we want to play, we need to develop with the game You're right, and we're not only talking about here, we're talking about everywhere in the world right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, sure, you know. We talk about all the clubs that you played in the youth teams and what have you right? When did you feel that it was serious for you, that you know I need to make it to a pro, uh, level? You know, when was it? Was it when you were 12 years old or when you were younger, or you know? When did you feel that? You know, I, I want to make it?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think in that point I was maybe, yeah, like 13 years old, something like that. And then I got a. I got a call from one team, dalmatinaz, to play some tournament in Italy international tournament and I played really good, scored a goal in the final and we won the tournament and then the call started. To it came the call from Dinamo Zagreb to come for a few trials and this and uh, they're my special part of career start because, like it's like uh academy is known like the biggest academy of Croatia and everything, but I am supporter of the other club. So when I went there I said to my father I cannot do this, I'm going home, I will not stay here and maybe I lost a big opportunity, you know the biggest maybe, but it was me, pure me, and I decided not to go.
Speaker 2:And then I decided to go to this Rijeka and there I started to play, like, let's say, first division youth games, and I could see on myself you come from an island, you don't have, maybe, these tactical things like the other players. So I knew that I need to improve my technique, but I, let's say, hided it with my runnings and I was really good. I was really good like conditionally, so I was running a lot, tried to hide things until I get to their level. So in that point I knew that if I want to do something, I need to work hard to get it, because these guys are already an advantage of me, a big advantage they have. So this is when I really started and good, it was a good path.
Speaker 1:It was tough, wasn't it? I mean, you talk about the levels you know and you have to get there, and you spoke about coming from an island and you made up for it by being more physical. You know, I think that was your positive side, and then obviously you had to work on your technique and the other aspects and what was the level like at the youth setup to get into a professional team or you know?
Speaker 2:Yeah, this level is the, for me, the most important, let's say, year, when you go from the academy to the first team, right. And this is where for me it happened. Like I signed the contract with Rijeka, I went to European Championship with Croatia national team and then there I found out that they, like maybe one month after I signed, they like maybe one month after I signed, they sent me to to uh loan on the second division, their second team.
Speaker 2:At that point, which now, when I see it from that perspective, uh, I'm glad that I did it because, um, it's never good to to go three steps more. Yeah, I always like to go one step by step. And then this helped me a lot, because it's so physical league and two years I was there and it helped me a lot.
Speaker 1:You got one international cap versus China in 2017. What was the feeling like?
Speaker 2:The most amazing feeling in my career, to be honest. Everybody at home was crying for me. I was like with the goosebumps all day and it was a special day for me and I will always remember it. How did you get the call-up? So in that point I was playing in Slovenia. I was like, let's say, best 11 of the league, captain of my team, and at that point this tournament in China was in the time that like, let's say, luka Modric and them, they have leagues and they cannot be there. But the association accepted the call, so they called like players that can come. So mostly they were like players from the Croatian League and this, but I was like maybe the only one who was like from the outside Me and one guy also and yeah, it was a big thing for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm sure thing for me and then, yeah, after after that I was like close to got a call up of the qualification game and then I got injured and then after that I I think I was never close disappointed about that part yeah, you always, you always want more. You always got. But but okay, it's, it's career and you have your ups and downs.
Speaker 1:So absolutely, but I think it must have been a wonderful, you know occasion for you. You know that one camp and it's for your national team, and from a boy growing up from an island as well yeah, of course.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you come from that, from small villages, it's really difficult and I'm really proud of it.
Speaker 1:No, you played in a couple of countries, right, as you said Slovenia, spain and the US as well, right, greece, yeah, right, tell us about your experiences in those countries. Was there difficulty coping with life as a foreigner? Okay, let's start with Spain, for example, the.
Speaker 2:Spain, like it was my dream always to play in Spain. And when I came there it just clicked. You know, like my first season I was champion with Huesca.
Speaker 2:We went to Primera to first Spanish League and amazing season, the COVID season. And then after that, greece and I came back to Spain, to Cartagena, which was like maybe, uh, my favorite club until then, because I was like really good there, people adored me, I loved the club and the life was amazing. We had one really good season and I thought that, to be honest, that I will be there until the end of my career because I liked it so much there and, uh, the football amazing. Uh, the stadiums, big stadiums or every everything is always like uh, full. Yeah, you cannot walk on the street. Everybody's stopping you photos, uh, autographs and uh, it's it's amazing.
Speaker 2:You can see the people living football and on every corner, wherever you go. You go restaurants.
Speaker 1:They don't give you to pay, you know, so it's like they live football and it's such an amazing country and I loved it you know what happened in the last bit, you know, in spanish football with your last club, because something happened, because I think you signed for them, and then you left quite early.
Speaker 2:Yes, so that was the point when I needed to left Cartagena.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I was pushed to left and then I had better offer to go abroad and everybody, but I didn't want to go until I had something that I'm really happy with. So I decided to stay in Albacete, which was like really close to the city where I was and even the sail area was like really close to the city where I was and even the sailor. I was like doubled and everything. But I stayed because I knew I was watching my longer goal. So I came there. I had like a rough few months because of the situation in Cartagena, so I came there, I just played a few games and then I got the call from Lion City and they came to Madrid to meet me, to speak with me, and I was really, really, really happy with everything that I heard. I was really, really, really happy with everything that I heard.
Speaker 2:They told me that I saw and I didn't have any doubt to come here Now.
Speaker 1:It's an interesting part because I wanted to ask you that question already. Right, how did this? Sailors move, come about.
Speaker 2:So somebody from the sailors went over to Madrid to meet you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so first my agent called me and he said to me, like would you like to go to Singapore? And, to be honest, I knew about Singapore. I knew that like it's one of the most advanced countries in the world, but I didn't know much about. I didn't know nothing about league or something. When he told me, like before that I had the same like offer from china, but I didn't want it to go. I never wanted to go to china. I don't know why it's just like this.
Speaker 2:And then when he said to me singapore, I said yes and uh, literally in a few days, uh, luca lalich and uh badrigant, they, they came to madrid, okay, like personally speak me say their plans and everything. And I was like they showed me the facilities and everything and I was like really amazed and it went everything like really smooth in a few days and no doubts at all.
Speaker 1:Wonderful. You know, I think, what was your first reaction when you first came to Singapore, Because I think I spoke to you before this and you said you haven't been to Singapore before. That right. So what was your first impression when you first stepped on?
Speaker 2:in Singapore, it was like amazing. And when they brought me to facilities I don't know anybody who saw the facility of Lion City Sailors it's like amazing, really nice, new, brand new, and I love this because I like work and I want to have everything aligned and it was perfect for me. And then when I saw the city, it's just amazing, really amazing. The, let's say, bad part of it was like when I was coming here, everybody from Europe spoke to me about these rules here, like no chewing gums, you cannot cross the road, you will go to jail and stuff like this.
Speaker 1:Right, right, right.
Speaker 2:But and then when I was coming here I was like a little bit I don't know if I I can turn my head, you know. Yeah, and then after a few days I saw like it's totally normal, normal, normal country, you just need to behave like you should behave and what is normal.
Speaker 1:And then like you, know who are your friends. Man, ditch your friends. This is, by the way, not North Korea, anyway. Yeah, so you stepped into it. How about the football? Your first impression of the football, because obviously you first came in and then you started training. You haven't seen the other aspects of football in Singapore. What was your first impression in your club itself, like the players, what was your first impression of the footballers?
Speaker 2:Yeah, of course I saw, let's say, a difference, if you see Spain and this with Singapore, but again, it has its own disadvantages and advantages and uh, uh, first of all, uh, you see that all these guys are playing not because they need to play. They are all playing uh with uh, with uh love to play it. Okay, and uh, maybe let's say some some things that are when we started to play like first game and everything, to me it was different because, like, let's say, the intensity was not like close where I played. But that's what I'm saying advantages, disadvantages, Because this, for example, let's say, play like slows you a little bit and then it goes pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, and then you, you're just like you need to wake up you know it just like put you to sleep for a few minutes and then it goes, so it's really hard to.
Speaker 2:And also you need to improve yourself to be ready in any second.
Speaker 1:It's interesting that you spoke about intensity, and obviously I totally agree with you with intensity and everything right. But is it more difficult then for you, or does it make it easier for you, because the intensity is lower than what you played and then you can relax a little bit, relax a little bit. So do you think it made it easier for you? It depends, relax a little bit, relax a little bit. So do you think it made it easier for you, or?
Speaker 2:it depends like, okay, let's say, if you play in Spain, the intensity is like, let's say, all the time in some level and you are always like switched on, switched on, and here there is like some point of game that it goes like down, you go, it sleeps you, but then you always have, you know, the wingers that are like fast go, and then you always need to be switched off, but also in the situations when everything is calm. So it's even for me. I needed to adapt a lot and it's really hard, not in a bad way, because everybody, everybody wants their own like way of the game. Bad way because everybody wants their own like way of the game, how to play it.
Speaker 1:So did anything surprise you about the football here in Singapore, anything that surprised you, is it okay?
Speaker 2:this is something different yeah, like I saw like a few players that are I always speak about our guy Shawal. This guy amazed me. Like I always speak about our guy Shawal, this guy amazes me why it's the first time I stayed without a comment when I saw something like. We were in Thailand in pre-season when I came. We played this football tennis.
Speaker 1:Ah, okay.
Speaker 2:So the ball went like two meters up and this guy jumps, do the bicycle kick and lands on his feet and I was like looking at. I was like 10 minutes, I was looking. What did I just saw? If I saw this or not. And then on the games he uses it like a long ball from the goalkeeper. Somehow he catches it, he goes. It's just incredible, incredible the way he takes the situation is. He finds like and the amazing, amazing person. So do you know the name of the sport? I know it's complicated word.
Speaker 1:Sepak Takraw.
Speaker 2:Sepak Takraw. Yeah, so he.
Speaker 1:I think he used to play that as well. I think, yeah, he's amazing as well. Now, was there a target set for you in the first season, last season for yourself? Did you set a target for yourself?
Speaker 2:yeah, of course. Okay, speaking, let's say, about my contract, I had also plus one year option and I want to get it. I needed to have some, some things done, like Mowindali or stuff like this. And from the first day I said to my wife when we come here, I want to give everything, stay here as long as possible, and my mentality was to win everything. I think I gave the interview and I was coming there, I want to win everything here. Think I gave the interview when I was coming that I want to win everything here with the club and in that point club last year they won just a cup, so it was a little bit like okay, and then in the end it was everything perfect, only the Champions League final that we lost. But again, it's amazing what we did and historical season.
Speaker 1:Your first match right in the Community Shield, like I said just now, when you beat Elberich, that was your first game. After the game and you talk about your targets, right did you then think at that time you know, obviously playing in a competitive game, the first game of the season did you think then that I think we're going to have a special season at that point Because it's going to be way ahead, you know, and obviously you had to compete in the league. You had the Shopee Cup, you had the ACL2, you got the Singapore Cup as well. So did you think then that you know it's going to be a special season for you at that time, at that point?
Speaker 2:it was too early because I didn't know how is the league. I didn't know how is the league, I didn't know nothing about the level, I didn't know about the team. So in that point it was too early, yeah, but it was really important day for us, like when we won this tournament, won Community.
Speaker 2:Shield for the rest of the season and I knew that we will have our ups and downs. Beginning of the season lost on Tampines, lost in Shopika, big loss. But you know how is the saying that the phoenix first needs to burn to rise from the ashes. So it's like this and I knew that these moments will connect us for the further games, for the matches, and it was like this it's good that you mentioned that, the few moments right that you had, you know a little bit of a down right.
Speaker 1:So there were stages in the season. Obviously, the shopping Cup, I don't think you guys did well. You know players weren't playing to. You know form, even that loss to BG Tampines, that trashing right, I think I can call it trashing distractions from the Champions League, the injury to Maxim, the elbow injury. So during the season, was there a point in your head? And even with the team, right, you are, like you know, gonna lose this, in danger of losing the league. Did you ever, at any point of the season, think that we gotta wake up, man?
Speaker 2:if not, then it's gonna be a problem for us yeah, like after that loss of Tampines it was still like early stage of the season so, to be honest, I didn't even think about it. It was just about like, let's say, this feeling that you lost 5-0. But we had so many games that after that game we just switched, we forgot about it. A lot of people spoke about this game after, but I didn't think about this game. But for me the key of the season was the win against Chen Chang, if I said good, like first game of Champions League, when this team, as I said, we had ups and downs and in that game we saw how much we can do, then the team totally switched in that point.
Speaker 1:What was the mentality in the side? Like the mentality right switched in that point. What was the mentality in the side? Like the mentality right, like, as in, do we just go on to the next game? Go on to the next game, not think too far ahead? Yeah, was it the mentality, because I felt like that, like you know, don't care what's going on, and distractions as well, like what you said, people talking and everything. Was that the mentality throughout the team in the squad?
Speaker 2:as well. Yes, also, like before what you mentioned, this Tampines game. Everybody said like, oh, this is the game that decides championship, stuff like this, and for me it was nonsense because you have one year again. So I think this connected us a lot and get the team together, as you said brilliant.
Speaker 1:Now the sailors were second top scorers behind Geylang just by one goal, by the way, and I think, to Geylang's, powered by Doy, and. But you guys were the best defence in the league. 32 goals considered in 32 games, that's like an average of one. That's an amazing stat. And obviously we talk about the league and anything can happen, right, and if you take away what was it? Five to BG Tampines that you guys lost? So if you take that one-off game, 32 minus five, it's lesser than that. Right, it's a one-off game, I feel.
Speaker 1:Tell me about your relationship with your fellow defenders, because I think you guys are, firstly, defenders. You guys can play, but I think, like I said before, it's so, I think, understated the fact that you guys are real defenders. So we talk about Bailey, we talk about yourself, we talk about Lionel when he plays there, we talk about Haris when he plays there with you guys, and obviously your right wing back and your left wing back, right, how is your relationship like? Is it really professional or you go out as well and really enjoy this together? Because we have seen, obviously with you know, clubs and players, right, they did gel, but outside they are not. So what is the relationship like?
Speaker 2:first of all like amazing people. First of all like a person. Everybody in this club is like players. You can count on everybody and yeah, with Bailey it's like center back that I played the most games with next to me, so amazing guy he didn't pay you to say this right.
Speaker 2:No he helped me also, like when I came, we spoke a lot and you know, the thing is like everybody, like when they speak about Singapore League, is like a lot of goals, and everybody speaking like that, like you, will receive a lot of goals, stuff like that. And then from the first day when I spoke with him, I said this year we stop this, you know. And then it just topped up. You know, lionel Harris, everybody who needed he was there and we all together made this happen. Izvan Zaza, everybody after when Diogo came also, like everybody gave its part, which is like most important thing. But yeah, we also what you asked about hanging out we hang a, we hang a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:We hang a lot and especially, to be honest, we love these away days which is like maybe in my career it's like the most special team.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because when we go away days, it's incredible, like how we hang out coffee every morning when we go to airports and it just passes so quickly. We have our own jokes with everybody and this. So it's an amazing group.
Speaker 1:I also actually wanted to ask you before, right, what makes the sailors and I'm not talking about the club as a whole, I'm just talking about this group of players, right? The 20 or 25 or how many you have that when we go away for away matches and even for home games, right, I'm not talking about it feels like and I'm saying this because I do commentary and all and I feel that you guys are always together. It doesn't matter, like, even if I'm on the bench and it's so difficult in a squad of 20, and if you're always on the bench. But I also see players on the bench, like when you guys score a goal, and everybody's, like, you know, together. It's a special kind of you know atmosphere. Am I right in saying that? Because it's so easy for me to sulk, to sit on the bench for 15 games? I take, for example, anu, for example. He hasn't been playing regularly, but you know. But just one example, right? So is that the kind of? Was that instilled by the coach or was it just you guys?
Speaker 2:yeah, the coach, or was it just you guys? Yeah, the coach has a big part in it also because he needs to handle 25 totally different guys, let's say, and what you say, in every club, you always have like guys it's difficult when you are not playing, so there are some guys who make problem, the other guys who want to fight. But this team, this team, we had amazing, amazing bondage whenever we went. You can never notice who is playing, who is not playing. When we scored, as you saw, like every time, we go bench, these, bench, these guys jumping. This is really, let's say, rare in football. Okay, you can see it now if you see Champions League, but this is Champions League and everybody is playing in the highest, top level and everybody is in. But like this, you can always have some players that are, let's say, going out of the group, which is not the case with us. You also mentioned it, and it's like this what is?
Speaker 1:what is coach Rankovic like?
Speaker 2:he is amazing, amazing guy outside of the outside of the pitch, really amazing guy outside of the pitch, really amazing guy. And on the pitch he really pushes us until the limits, especially me, because he can say a lot of things to me, bad things, in his own language that nobody understands, right, right, right. So you need to handle it. But no, like the results are talking for him, like what he did this season, it's, it's amazing and I'm really happy for him that he signed two more years here and I hope we'll be together a lot more years, nice, nice we can't, you know, go through this podcast without talking about the Champions League final.
Speaker 1:Right, let's talk about the final. It was, you know, I think, from the whole of Singapore were like kind of like supporting you guys. It doesn't matter whether you were supporters of BG or you know anyone, you know Balestier and you know Haogang. They were all rooting for you guys in a way, because it felt like a Singapore against a different country, right, and the atmosphere was great. Bishan Stadium it was brilliant, right, and I thought it was a wonderful spectacle. But it was so heartbreaking at the end, even for anybody to be watching this, you know, at the end, even when, when Maxim scored that equalizing goal and you thought, okay, let's go, man, it's for you guys. And then you know they scored, but what was the general feeling like?
Speaker 2:general feeling is like for me, like proud. I was proud of what, what we did. Okay, after a game. After the game, I was out of my head because when Maxim scored, I was 10,000% convinced that we are champions. Because you had this electricity when we scored, the stadium erupted. Now I got my goosebumps and I just wanted that we score and lift the trophy and that's it. But then in the end we got a cold shower. And it's football. It's hard sometimes, it's hard to digest it and you need to wake up after that thinking about next games and uh, and nothing more. But if I think, if I would think about this this year, about champions league, uh, the only thing is like proud of team and me beautiful, I think.
Speaker 1:I think that's that's uh nicely put right. It's simple but I think uh well described by just saying proud.
Speaker 2:I think it's brilliant also people from singapore were like you. You felt that it's something different, like, uh, first time you, you noticed in this one year that like, let's say, yeah, the city is like breathing. You you could see a few days before guys in the Salt Lake shirts and which doesn't happen?
Speaker 1:a lot yeah.
Speaker 2:So I hope, I hope we we managed to, let's say say, push one step further people here and to watch football, to share these moments with us okay, you mentioned one word pride, right for the Champions League.
Speaker 1:now I want you to just name or mention just one word to describe these players. Okay, just one word. Okay, simple. Izwan Izwan calm. Haris, captain, to describe these players. Okay, just one word, okay, simple. Iswan Iswan Calm.
Speaker 2:Haris.
Speaker 1:Captain Bailey Animal Maxim Crazy, crazy good, crazy good, crazy good. Of course, coach Alex. Crazy crazy good, crazy good, crazy good. Of course, coach Alex mentality. Leonard machine. Hami smile, always smiling. Yeah, you know, I think. Going back to Hami, I think he was one of the most what was the word Underrated, underrated players this last season. Man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he was helping us in the midfield, in the right back, which is like really a totally different position and he was giving it all, all the time, and I agree with you.
Speaker 1:In central midfield, and then sometimes the right wing back and and, and he does it well as well, yes, and without any complaints as well, like you said. You know, I think he was really, yeah, brilliant, uh, lionel lionel uh, one word.
Speaker 2:Uh, you can count on him, but I don't know what the word reliable, reliable, right Diego. Diego wind, sorry wind wind ah okay, nice, nice, he can go like a wind but roommate.
Speaker 1:Oh, he's your roommate. Yeah, how is he as your roommate, good?
Speaker 2:yeah, okay yeah, shawal. Incredible, amazing. Anu Anu Fight. Okay, rui Fighter, fighter Rui Bank, but bank in football way. You give him the ball and you're safe nice, wonderful man, pretty, pretty creative, well done.
Speaker 1:Now, before we wrap up, my friend Tony, there's this. We talk about one word to describe right? These are the few questions that I came up with and I think it would be wonderful to get your thoughts right on this. Your pre-match meal pre-match meal.
Speaker 2:Pre-match meal Chicken and pasta. Chicken and pasta.
Speaker 1:Cooked by your wife. Yes, okay, your best mate at LCS. I know this is going to be difficult, but name one.
Speaker 2:Best mate. Can I say three? Can Please, please, please? Yeah, bailey, bart and Rui.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Your most annoying teammate, maxim Lestien.
Speaker 1:Why, why?
Speaker 2:We joke so much, yeah, we joke so much. From the first time that I came here, it's like all the time, yeah, if we receive a goal. And then he said, oh, we can never like go out without receiving goal. And then and then at the end of the season it was like so good, like yeah, always in a good way, you know and then, like I said to him, bro, like you were here three years, you didn't win nothing. And now I come you win everything Like you didn't even say thank you to me.
Speaker 1:Wonderful. Take that, maxim, your best dressed teammate.
Speaker 2:Best dressed teammate. It's complicated.
Speaker 1:Okay, your worst dressed in me worst dressed now it's getting funny.
Speaker 2:The worst dressed, I would say there's a few, I think yeah, I would say okay, everybody has their own like sense of this. But what is totally far away from me is Leonard. Why, I don't know. It's just something I would never wear.
Speaker 1:Give me an example man. Give me an example I don't know. Okay, let's just say that he's abnormal. Yeah, okay, the best advice you got as a footballer, the best advice the best advice.
Speaker 2:the best advice, yeah, maybe this you I saw it, I saw it a few days ago actually which, like for me, like made a lot of sense. Okay, and it's Nico Kranjar, the really famous Croatian flute. He said like to be the best of you, you need to, let's say, carve in the best way your qualities and hide your disadvantages Okay.
Speaker 2:And it makes sense and, like I told you, I found myself in it because when I started I missed a lot from the other guys I didn't have texted in, so I need to hide it somewhere. So nice, but um, in the end, uh, the the best, maybe, uh, let's say uh, words for like from my father when I was starting it. He said to to me you just give your best. You just give your best that you can see yourself in the mirror and in the end, the God will give you a present.
Speaker 1:Lovely.
Speaker 2:The toughest opponent you've played in the SPL in terms of a player, the the toughest opponent, the toughest opponent in the SPL in terms of a player the the toughest opponent.
Speaker 1:the toughest opponent in the SPL when everyone is easy for you, what everyone was easy for you, I don't know.
Speaker 2:I was just thinking who was like, let's say, different. I don't know. I will say my friend. Plazonia yeah, just because he's my friend.
Speaker 1:Where has he gone to? By the way, Indonesia Confirmed yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, the best stadium, you played in Best stadium. Okay, the best stadium you played in best stadium. For me, the let's say about outside of Croatia, yeah not like emotionally, I I was really on to to play in this stadium of Deportivo La Coruña, okay, like. Riazor yeah and it's like to play in this stadium of Deportivo La Coruña. Okay, Like Riazor.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's like the stadium that I watched when I was growing up. I liked this team when I was watching it, when they were playing like Champions League and this Right, right, right. And then the moment when I came first year in Huesca, when we were playing there, I was like just amazed. It was like maybe the first, my biggest. When we were playing there, I was like just amazed. It was like maybe the first, my biggest, first stadium and it. It always stayed in my memory.
Speaker 1:Yeah, actually Going back as well. I can remember the Deportivo players Right.
Speaker 2:Diego, tristan Valeron.
Speaker 1:Yes, tristan, yeah man, what a player, what a striker. Yeah Right, you gotta choose one. This is the last one. You gotta choose one right between all these names, right, klopp, pep Slot, ancelotti, mourinho or Alex Rankovic you put me in a bad position here okay, I'll take out Alex right, so you got.
Speaker 2:Klopp.
Speaker 1:Pep Slot, ancelotti and Mourinho.
Speaker 2:I would take Klopp. Why you a Liverpool fan, are you? If you are asking Mourinho, I would take Klopp. Why are you a Liverpool fan? If you are asking me who, I would like to work.
Speaker 2:I would say Klopp, because I see him like a most approachable guy, like good with the guys, always you know, and plays amazing football. But if you ask me, who is the the best coach of them all? I like Guardiola because of Barcelona and this, but also I need to give appreciation to Ancelotti. What he is doing it's incredible, but for me, pep Guardiola nice.
Speaker 1:Tony, thanks for coming in. You know, and I just want to ask you this what are your personal targets for this season, this coming season? Obviously, you guys just started your pre-season a few days ago. What's your personal target? I know what's the target of the club to win everything. Your personal target.
Speaker 2:My personal target is to improve myself. I know that I have a lot of space to improve. It was like my first season in Singapore, which is not easy to adapt a lot. So now I already know the league and everything. So I want to, I want to be there for the team like last year and, and let's say, go down also with the received goals to help Clean sheets, more clean sheets, and it will help me but also the team.
Speaker 1:So this is some goal Beautiful Before we go. Tony, do you have any advice for young defenders? Because I spoke about this at the beginning, right, I think this, this thing, this quality about defending is understated, you know, and it can be. Anything can be from hitters, can be defending from crossers, can be 1v1 defending can be anything. Right? Do you have any advice for young defenders coming up? What would you give them and tell them coming up?
Speaker 2:don't be a goalkeeper and defender. No, really. No. It's like when people are speaking about like centre back and goalkeeper, you could play 90 minutes perfect game. Then in minute 91 you you miss some ball or something, you get goal and you are the worst player on the field, which is really heavy. To be a defender, you need, first of all, mentality. Mentality is the hardest part in this job and you need to get in everything from yourself that you can give, because there is a long way. There are a few guys who are like get gets up and it's just work, work hard and everything else will come.
Speaker 2:and just believe in yourself, because if you don't believe in yourself, nobody would so that's my advice, tony.
Speaker 1:Thanks for coming in. I really appreciate you taking your time off. I think you just had a medical and off for your lunch after this. So good luck for the season, the coming season, to more clean sheets for you guys, as well as for the club itself, you know. Very good luck and more success for you as well. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I have a small token of appreciation. Just I brought it's we from my island. Okay, from my island. Yeah, we are the most proud of our cheese is one of the best cheeses in the world. Okay, with a lot of uh, a lot of uh awards in the global in the global stage and everything so um. I cannot bring a lot from croatia because there are some strict uh, yeah so, uh, one small token. I hope you will like it. Thank you, it's. It's really amazing.
Speaker 2:It's my favorite food lovely my favorite food, so thank you so much. Let me know how it was.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thanks, tony, thanks again for being here again and thanks for the cheese and all the way from Croatia as well. Absolutely brilliant and, yeah, you know, we've been with one of the best defenders in Singapore at the moment, tony Dadkovic, and please support us. Click on the follow button, subscribe button. We are out on YouTube, spotify, apple Podcasts, everywhere that works, and until the next episode, we'll see you again. The hustle beats talent when talent doesn't hustle. Cheers, bye.