Kačar's skills catch Serbia cold
Thursday 8 November 2007
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Gojko Kačar in action for Serbia Under-21 (©Football Association of Serbia)
Converted from a centre-back to a striker, FK Vojvodina prodigy Gojko Kačar admits he is "surprised" to be the top scorer in the Serbian league this season.
Loving it
A hat-trick in Sunday's 3-3 draw against FK Partizan in Belgrade took Kačar's total to ten goals in 12 games. It was a stunning achievement for a player who considered himself a defender prior to this season. "I am also surprised," he said, having played at centre-half in his one appearance at June's UEFA European Under-21 Championship as Serbia reached the final. "For so many years I was thinking about our defence, my goalkeeper and opposing forwards but I always wanted to play in attack. I love it."
Latent talent
Vojvodina coach Ivica Bržić spotted Kačar's latent talent as a striker in the summer, even though the 20-year-old had only scored five goals in his first 61 games for the club. However, it turned out he was a natural. "When coach Bržić gave me a chance and I scored my first goal, a new feeling came over me from somewhere deep inside and now I just want to continue this way," he said.
Boxing family
It was maybe a surprise that Kačar chose to play football – after all, his uncles Tadija and Slobodan were ranked as two of the finest boxers in Serbian history – but watching FK Crvena Zvezda win the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1991 turned the youngster's head. "I choose football at the age of four when Crvena Zvezda dominated on the domestic, European and world stages," he said.
Vojvodina trainee
Having made that decision, the Novi Sad-born player graduated through the youth ranks at local side Vojvodina, making his debut – as a centre-back – in 2003/04 at the age of 16. For the time being, he is delighted to stay with his local club, with his goals having helped lift Vojvodina to second in the table, with no desire to join one of the big Belgrade sides.
Title ambition
"I am a Vojvodina supporter – I never followed one of the Belgrade sides," he said. "I am only dreaming about our chance of taking the domestic title." In the long run Kačar hopes his future lies at a big club elsewhere in Europe, but he is happy to be patient for the time being. "Sometimes, I think I should slow down a little," he said. "I am only 20 and I don't want to rush things."
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