Brian Casey, photo: Predrag Martinovic There are rare opportunities in life that come along once in a great while. Ok, so as ...
 |
Brian Casey, photo: Predrag Martinovic
|
There are rare opportunities in life that come along once in a great while.
Ok, so as of yet you haven’t
made it to the NFL or the CFL, and your combines and workouts have
not gone as planned. Where do you turn to next?
There are always
the multiple levels of Arena football, or semi professional football
in the States, but you are craving something more. Something that is
going to get you out of your rut, and put you somewhere new and
exciting. Well that rare opportunity is playing football
professionally in another country.
Having the chance to see new
things and meet new people. I bet there are some countries you would
never dream of going to, or believe there would be professional
football in those countries as well. This is a series of articles
covering the life of an import. Let’s start by looking into living
and playing football in Serbia.
Going somewhere new and seeing a
country for the first time can bring many expectations. You are
about to embark on a new journey that is going to take you away from
the comforts of home. To some it is the start of a new career that
brings high hopes.
Newcomer to Serbian American football,
and new to European American football, Sean Frezell commented,
“My expectations were to simply see things I had never seen,
learn about a new culture and part of the world, and to see how an
American sport was affecting people in another part of the world. I
don't think my expectations have changed much, at this point I feel
like I have become part Serbian, so at this point I want to expand my
knowledge of the region as much as possible.”
For others it will be getting back into
the same routine, returning for another season that brings new
expectations. Returning for his third season with the highly ranked
Belgrade Vukovi, Tony Washington stated, “This season has
been a lot more challenging than the last because we lost a lot of
valuable domestic players to other clubs in Europe. And other teams
have recruited a lot more talent in efforts to get to the
championship.
My expectation as always, is to win the championship. As returning champs, we can't go backwards we need to keep that reputation and not let that accomplishment be taken from us.”
My expectation as always, is to win the championship. As returning champs, we can't go backwards we need to keep that reputation and not let that accomplishment be taken from us.”
 |
| Will Powell |
I assumed the level of play in
Serbia would be similar to that of France, where I also played at the
beginning of 2014. Those expectations were fairly accurate in terms
of the talent of teams and numbers at practice, which were also low.
When I signed I knew I would miss the professionalism of the German
League, but was willing to sacrifice that for helping to grow the
sport in Serbia and experience a new culture.”
Before committing to a team, it is good
to get an understanding of the country’s lifestyle. In Serbia
there are many differences compared to other countries in Europe, so
there are many questions to be asked. How are the people, what does
the food taste like, weather, living, etc.? Richard Samuel
elaborated, “One cultural aspect I really appreciate about
Serbia is the fact that the people here find so much joy in the
little things in life. A lot of people here aren't afforded the
luxury that most people are accustomed to in America. For instance,
simple human interaction without technology is so valued here.
The food is great, there are tons of
natural meat and fruits that are right up my alley! You also have to
love how gorgeous the women are here, lol.”
Besides expectations and experiences
with American football in Serbia, it is good to understand the team
you will be playing for. How is the organization run, and how does
the club treat their imports?
Many of the imports commented on their
organizations:
“The club is treating me great I
was just voted Team Captain a couple of games ago. Any need or injury
I have had, they were handled immediately.” – Samuel (Nis
Imperatori).
“The club has treated me great we
clicked from day one and its only gotten better I've loved watching
these guys grow and they've been helping me grow at the same time so
it's been a wonderful experience.” – Frezell (Pancevo Panthers).
“The club has treated me very well
as they treat all their imports. They take care of us and the players
are very welcoming to every new import that comes to the team.” –
Washington (Belgrade Vukovi).
“The club for the most part has
honored their side of the contract. As I mentioned, it's frustrating
when players don't come to practice but that seems to be typical for
Serbia. And I have wanted to implement a new marketing campaign but
the team has not shown much support for expansion in Novi Sad.” –
Powell (GAT Novi Sad Dukes).
Every import will have a different
experience with their country and organization. Each one of the
imports interviewed views Serbia in a different way and has
contrasting experiences with their club. It is great to come
prepared for your new experience as an import, but come with an open
mind.
I have had the fortunate opportunity of playing for the
Sremska Mitrovica Legionaries these past two seasons. Serbia has
been an up and down roller coaster for myself, filled with many highs
and lows. In all of my experiences, the good always out ways the
bad! Do your research and get ready for a different world.
Brian Casey
