Borca’s midfielder, Stefan Savić, is set to face a familiar opponent in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The Austrian footballer spent three years playing for the club from Ljubljana.
During his time in Slovenia, Savić played 127 official matches for the club, scoring 24 goals. His impact could have been even greater if friendly matches were counted—something his current teammates at Borac know well.
On October 13, 2018, Olimpija Ljubljana visited Banja Luka during the international break and defeated then-first-league side Borac 4-0 in a friendly match. Although Savić entered the game in the second half, he managed to score a hat-trick in just 45 minutes, becoming the standout player of the match.
Now, he will be on the other side, facing his former club.
“It will be a great experience to play against my former club. I spent a lot of time there and have fond memories, so I’m happy to face them and hopefully see some old friends. However, on the other hand, I am a professional, and my priority is to do everything I can to help my current team, Borac, win this two-legged tie and advance. I remember that friendly match in Banja Luka, but in the upcoming clash, it doesn’t matter who scores as long as we progress,” Savić stated from Antalya, where Borac is holding its training camp.
Preparations going according to plan
Borac will remain in Antalya until February 6, and Savić emphasized that the training camp is progressing well.
“Everything is going great. We have excellent conditions, and the team atmosphere is fantastic, which is very encouraging. There have been some squad changes, and our goal now is to integrate the new players into our system as quickly as possible. I believe we are on the right track, and these new additions will bring extra quality. Every new player needs time to adapt, and we are doing our best to help them settle in,” the midfielder added.
Borac is fully focused on its preparations to be in the best possible shape for the remainder of the season. While they are not overly fixated on Olimpija just yet, the players are keeping an eye on their opponent’s performance.
“Olimpija is a team that combines youth and experience. They are led by a Spanish coach with a system that has produced results. They have several experienced players, but also promising young domestic talents. They can definitely be a dangerous team. Fortunately, we have enough time to prepare properly and analyze them in detail. Right now, our focus is on training,” said the former Austrian national team player.
With the match still some time away, excitement is building among fans in both Banja Luka and Ljubljana. Discussions about the upcoming fixture are increasing, and it is expected that both stadiums will be filled to capacity, as supporters are already looking for travel arrangements to attend the away leg.
“For us players, that is only additional motivation. We all love playing in front of full stadiums. I believe our fans will create an incredible atmosphere in the first match, just as they always do. That’s where we will look for our opportunity to secure a good result. I think this home leg will be a significant advantage, and I hope we can make the most of it,” Savić concluded.
Exceeding expectations
Savić noted that Borac has surpassed his expectations since he arrived in Banja Luka.
“We had an excellent first half of the season and exceeded all expectations. The team has improved tremendously, and now we want to continue in the same rhythm,” Savić stated.
Source: Glas Srpske
