A great player and a man goes, while another one, who should still fight for his place, arrives with the determination and the desire to prove himself.
They have several common things, like place of birth, cheerfulness and openness in eyes and smiles, unobtrusiveness, perseverance and honesty carried by people from that region.
The first impressions are usually not forgotten and are very important, so also for Nastić, who says:
“Frankly, there are many positive impressions for this brief period. I did not know anyone personally except Cimirot who play in Standard. I am pleasantly surprised how all the guys received me, it means a lot to me and I feel nice.
Here, we did the first training session when I was a bit cramped and then I got rid of it and there was no problem. Nevertheless, I must point out that I was most impressed by our great stars Pjanić and Džeko. They are both simple and normal guys and they are world stars. Somehow they left on me the most memorable, strongest impression.”
You played for the youth teams of Serbia, how did you come to choose to play for BH?
“Some serious interest in me as a player seems to have begun when I signed for Genk. In one of the talks, I mentioned that I would like to play for the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and when I became a standard in the club, I also received an invitation from the head coach Prosinečki. I hesitated neither a second, because playing for the national team of your country of birth is an extraordinary honour and pleasure. Of course, my parents, who always support me, accepted this decision with approval. They also wanted me to get back in some way, because I belong here and naturally the native land is something you cannot change and what you always carry with you. My entire family and all friends will come to Zenica to a match to support both me and the national team.”
Do you expect to debut in a match with Montenegro?
“I always think positively so that I hope to get a chance to play in front of our fans in Zenica. If that happens, I will try to make a good impression and justify the confidence of the head coach.”
How did your football track start?
“I loved the ball when I started walking; it was my first toy, probably because my father also played football, so I started going to the local club for training at the age of 5.
I stayed In Vlasenica until I was 14; I finished elementary school and at the same time passed all the youth teams. I even entered several performances for the first team.
After that, the football takes me to Novi Sad, where I played 104 matches in seven years and came to the captain’s tape.
In that period, my games did not remain unnoticed, so I received an invitation from Milovan Đorić to play for the U-17 team of Serbia that I accepted. I played one European Championship for that age category, and then I also played for U-19 and U-21 team. In that period there were no indications that I might play for any BH team, and as a player I did not want to miss the chance that I was given.
Mostly my way was leading me somehow spontaneously, and at the age of 21, I signed for Genk where I have already stayed for two years and I slowly get used to living in Belgium.”
And finally, what is football for you, what is it that sets you apart from other players?
“I think that this, above all, is my style and fighting spirit and maximum commitment to football. I always try to give my utmost, and to transfer the energy I have to my teammates. I understand football as a job, but a job that I love very much and that provides me with many opportunities. I want to prove myself, to progress and enjoy in football.”
