Photo: Jean-Francois Nicollet Stan Bedwell has arrived in Kragujevac, Serbia and is ready to start working with his new-old team - the...
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| Photo: Jean-Francois Nicollet |
Stan Bedwell has arrived in Kragujevac, Serbia and is ready to start working with his new-old team - the Wild Boars, current vice champions of the Serbia. He spent the last season in India, Poland and Italy successfully leading teams on and off the field, but, we're sure everyone who follows football in Europe already knows who is Bedwell and his impact on football in Europe. This season - he will coach the Wild Boars with the help of coach Lonnie Hursey, as well as lead the team on the field. Wild Boars will compete in the Serbian domestic league and CEFL.
Unfinished Business
I had some much bigger offers from a financial standpoint with some of the top teams in Europe, but at the end of the day I had to follow my heart. I have been involved with the Wild Boars since 2008 and we had won the Serbian championship each year until I broke my leg in the EFAF Cup Final in 2011. Two weeks later, I had to watch from the sideline as Belgrade Vukovi defeated us for the title. I still think about that loss to this day and I will do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't happen again. Outside of that, Kragujevac is a second home to me. These guys are like my brothers, I have a great relationship with the city, and it's a place that I generally enjoy being.
New Everything
I'm working a lot harder from a physical standpoint. I've been successful in Europe for the past seven years by being a cerebral player. I admittedly haven't worked near as hard off the field as I should have. This year is a different story. With a 16-game season in 17 weeks between the Serbian league and the CEFL, we have our work cut out for us. I have to take care of my body. Right now I can say that at 28 years old, I'm in the best shape I've been in since college and I'm more motivated than ever. As head coach, I'm bringing a new attitude to the team. My own philosophy. We will play to the extremes and do a lot of things no one in Europe has seen before. It's going to be an exciting year.
Expectations
Get better everyday. We are a very talented team, but we will not talk about winning championships All that I want our guys to do is improve every single day. In the gym, on the practice field, in the class room. Compete with one another, push each other to get better. Beat the man across from them, whether they are wearing a Wild Boars jersey or another team's color shouldn't matter. If we are able to do this, then success and championships will come naturally.
The Real Competition
Ourselves. Not to say that I think we're the favorites, but we are not too worried about who is lining up across from us. We will treat all teams the same. Our job is to step on the field and for each player to give everything they have to beat the man across from them, regardless of their jersey color. If you're asking what teams stand out, then I obviously have to mention defending Serbian champion Belgrade Vukovi (SAAF/CEFL) and defending CEFL champions, the Ljubljana Silverhawks. Both teams are ran very well and could compete with anyone in Europe. This is not to take away from any other team. I expect all five teams in the CEFL to be very competitive and the Serbian league continues to improve each year.
Mia Bajin
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