In-form Tošić leads Partizan charge
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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The timely return to form of FK Partizan's young winger Zoran Tošić has taken the Belgrade club to the brink of their first league title for three years in Serbia.
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'Fresh confidence'
The highly-rated 21-year-old has played a vital role in the run of five straight victories that has kept Partizan three points clear of FK Crvena Zvezda, scoring in consecutive away wins over FK Čukarički and FK Smederevo before striking a double against his former club FK Banat Zrenjanin on 10 May. "I'm really delighted," the Serbian international said. "I started well here then had a dip in the middle of the season, but the goals I've scored lately have given me fresh confidence."
Djukić role
Former Partizan coach Miroslav Djukić jumped at the opportunity to bring Tošić to Belgrade last summer. Now in charge of the Serbian national team, Djukić previously held the joint position of Partizan boss and Serbia Under-21 coach, overseeing the march to the final of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in which Tošić played a leading role. Since taking the reigns of the senior team - and ceding his position at Partizan to Slaviša Jokanović - Djukić has made Tošić a regular for Serbia.
Rare header
Occupying a more advanced left-sided role than during his Banat days, Tošić has taken his game to the next level this term, registering nine times in the league for Partizan already - including a rare headed winner at Smederevo. "I'd never scored with my head before," admitted Tošić, who has hit the target once in six full internationals. "I must have been 12 the last time I scored a header."
'Professionalism'
If that goal was special, the two he scored against relegation-threatened Banat left him with mixed feelings. "It's never nice to be responsible for the defeat of your former club," said the player who appeared 25 times for Banat in 2006/07. "But I put that performance down to professionalism and duty. I wish Banat all the best for the rest of the season and sincerely believe they can stay in the top flight."
'I'm optimistic'
Tošić, meanwhile, claimed the first trophy of his career earlier this month when Partizan lifted the Serbian Cup, and with just three league games left this season, he and his team-mates are homing in on a domestic double. "It was great to win my first trophy but the league remains the most important objective," he stressed. "We've been top from the first week and always been at least three points clear, so I'm optimistic." If Tošić's recent form continues, Partizan will take some stopping.