The captain of the national team is a pleasant conversationalist, measured in his statements, and humble when speaking about the significance of this award:

"I’ve always focused on improving myself and achieving collective success, but individual accolades are always welcome. I received this recognition eight years ago, and it motivated me to keep working hard and set even more ambitious goals. Now, it carries a responsibility to lead by example, inspire more young athletes, and help them excel in whatever they do. For a while, there were no individual awards in futsal. I’d love to see them become an annual tradition because they give this sport greater recognition, motivate individuals, and confirm that their efforts have been worthwhile and recognized. Hopefully, we’ll keep heading in that direction, perhaps with even more creative initiatives."

How’s your current form?

"If we’re talking about form, I feel that it could be better, but judging by the start of the new calendar year and the club matches, I'm in good shape. When I was younger, I had brilliant moments but also greater inconsistencies. Now, there’s more value placed on consistency, and in that regard, I’ve been satisfied over the past few years."

You play for Torpedo from Nizhny Novgorod. How does BiH futsal compare to the Russian league?

"The Russian league is one of the best in the world, and there’s a lot we can learn from them in terms of organization. We have plenty of room for growth in that regard. Their marketing and promotion are at such a high level that the arenas are always packed. Another difference compared to our futsal is that their players start training futsal from a young age and stick with it. This means they automatically have an advantage in terms of technical and tactical development. Here, we mostly start with traditional football and later transition to futsal. Specifically, talent-wise, we’re not lagging behind; we have plenty to offer, but there’s a noticeable gap in physical preparation and game discipline."

How did you assess our performance in the first two Euro 2026 qualifiers?

"I enjoyed these gatherings, and overall, I’m satisfied. We achieved our goal, which is very important. The match against Spain gave us valuable experience, and the team showed great unity, so I’m quite happy with that too. In the national team, there’s not much time for adjustments because gatherings last only a few days, but every individual works on themselves, and we all strive to come as prepared as possible. However, there’s always room for tactical improvements, and the coaching staff works hard to make sure everything's effective and efficient. Realistically, we’re aiming for the playoffs and plan to use that opportunity to secure a place at the Euro. It’s clear that all members of the team, including the fans as well, are motivated, eager, and positively driven. I’m genuinely looking forward to the rest of the qualifiers. Also, this time we’ve got stronger support from the FFBiH, which is very important for us."

Switzerland is the next opponent, with the match scheduled for February 4. What can we expect from this game?

"We don’t see the Swiss as an easy opponent, but winning is our only goal. We’re definitely better tactically and individually, but we need to approach the match mentally prepared, responsibly, and with great confidence. Honestly, I was thrilled with the crowd against England and can’t wait to step onto the court again and see at least the same number of fans, if not a full arena. It’s truly a beautiful feeling to fight for our team and bring joy to all our fans with a win."