One of the most talented young players in Serbia, Vuk Vučković, has managed to fulfill a part of his goal in life and sports. Until now a player of last year’s SELAF champions, Wild Boars, this 21-year old is soon leaving to the United States where he will continue playing football at Mesa Community College in Arizona.
When and why did you start playing American football?
At that time, two years ago, the Royal Crowns were founded in Kraljevo and on a friend’s suggestion I joined the team, and that’s when the love I have for training and playing football started. I started as a wide receiver, and I’m really glad I scored the first touchdown for my first team. Of course, one of my favorite scores will always be a touchdown against Pančevo for a win in the final seconds.
That game was in some ways a turning point in your career?
That’s right. Even though up to that point I had already scored 4 touchdowns in official games, in that game I scored 4 touchdowns, had around 200 yards receiving and the before mentioned winning touchdown for the Crowns win and 5th place in our debutant season. After that I received an invitation for the national team from the coach Igor Hoffmann.
Beside that invitation, you received one more?
Because of my desire for progress, late in 2005 I joined the Kragujevac Wild Boars. In that period I played two more friendly games for my original team and in one of them, against Pančevo, I achieved two noticeable results – 100 yards rushing, 180 yards receiving, and three touchdowns. Later with the Wild Boars I scored one more touchdown, against Ljubljana, had a couple catches and we won the trophy in SELAF. In Kragujevac I started as a wide receiver, but changed to tight end at midseason.
How did it happen, you continuing your career in USA?
It all started during the first visit to Kraljevo in 2005 by coaches from Arizona, Kentera and Felker. They told me I was very talented, to continue practicing and that, when they come back next year, they’ll evaluate how much I’ve progressed, and if I’m ready for certain standards in America. Of course, that conversation gave me great motivation; I increased my training and even got a personal trainer to help me with running and to be faster. I realized that if I want to achieve my goal I have to work hard to make it happen.
At that point I was helped a lot by my coach at the time from the Crowns, Goran Seničić who maintained contact with Felker and informed him of my progress.
In 2006 Kentera and Felker were in Kragujevac again. By then I had already progressed physically and at one practice Felker called me and asked if I still wanted to continue playing on some college in America. We agreed that he would, when he goes back to Arizona, tell me all about me going there. Not long after, I found out that he got me in on Community College Mesa Arizona and that I would play for their team Mesa Thunderbirds.
Do you have any information about your new team?
The team is called Mesa Thunderbirds; they play against Division II and III teams. They have a good cooperation with Division I teams, and according to the information I have, a lot of players continue playing on a four year college. Besides information I receive regularly from mister Felker, I’m also in everyday contact with my future offensive coordinator Roger Schenks who’s getting me acquainted with things in Mesa. These two coaches will wait for me at the airport in Phoenix and will help me to fit in. My head coach will be Dan Dunn.
Your expectations?
The first thing I expect is to get accepted by my new teammates and to become a starter. Still, the most important thing for me is to get a scholarship and to work my way and leave for a four year college.