As a head coach of the women’s U-19 team, but also as an assistant coach of the women’s “A” national team, he is in the immediate training process and has a complete insight into the status of women's football in our country.

Why choose to establish a women’s club and work in it, how girls are interested in playing football, whether field behaviour is important, are just some of the topics discussed by the head coach of the U-19 women's team, Dragan Jevtić.

“First of all, my sister, Dragana, planted my love for women's sport. She was a player of the basketball club “Jedinstvo Aida” from Tuzla, then European champion and multiple champion of Yugoslavia. I did not miss her training sessions and matches. When a group of girls, many years later, came up with the idea to set up a women’s football club with great enthusiasm, I accepted their proposal, because for me, at that moment, this was a big challenge. I have been in the men's football for many years, and in 2010 I was a sports director of FK “Radnik”, so in spite of the challenges, there were also sceptics of whether they can play and deal with this sport. Why they chose me, I do not know! But now, after eight years of work, I do not think we have made any mistake, neither me, because I accepted their idea, nor them, because they chose me. I cannot imagine my life without a woman's football any longer, without my female football players.”

How much are the girls interested in playing football?

“From day to day, our club is growing and progressing. We are doing constant promotions and more and more girls are joining us every day, who want to socialize, train and play football. It is certain that women's football is becoming an ever-increasing movement every day. These girls destroy all barriers and prejudices, and slowly but surely occupy their place on the Bosnian - Herzegovinian sports map.”

How much does FF BH contribute to the development of women's football and are you satisfied with the attitude of the Federation towards a national team and club football in BH?

“To achieve something with no support, especially at the very beginning, is almost impossible. Women's football in our area has lived and, thanks to FF BH, headed by the President Begić, it is progressing and developing on a daily basis. As a member of the UEFA Committee for Women's Football, General Secretary Baković is surely more sensitive to all the problems of women's football, because without the help of our umbrella house, most clubs could not function, and the national teams could not achieve better results at international scene.”

There has recently been a draw of qualifying groups for the European Women’s U-19 Championship for the next season. How do you comment the group of our team?

“The WU-19 team I lead in the next qualifying cycle has got an extremely tough group. Norway has been at the top of European football for many years, the Czech Republic, with the establishment of academies, made a big move and both of its youth teams play within the Elite Round of qualifications. Georgia is unknown, but comes from a Russian school and therefore it is not an opponent that we can underestimate. However, I think that with a good preparation plan we can match all these teams and make one step forward in this age.”

What do you think about a quality of the BH Women’s Premier League?

“As for the quality of our Premier League, it is improving each year. In addition to my club, I think that “SFK  2000” will get a decent rival in other clubs in the coming years. In many areas, local communities, then social and private entities recognize the work and commitment of people running women's clubs. That, as well as the fact that we have more and more girls playing football, motivates them to help us more and more.”

Are the results in the women’s U-17 league an indicator that other clubs are doing more with girls and that other teams could be more competitive with the SFK 2000 team in the future?

“It is certain that the foundation of the women’s U-17 league is a great ‘wind in the back’ in the development of women's football. This is another indication that FF BH invests in the long run, but certain progress is surely expected at a national team level in this category. This season, the championship title will come to my club. This is a proof that we worked well in the previous period and that we are on the right way. It is certain that “SFK 2000” is far ahead of us by all criteria, and it is an excellent example of how to work. Women's clubs in our country have the opportunity to follow their experiences in the system of work and in good organization, apply them and, why not, win them one day. It is in the interest of the women's football that we have more teams that can fight for the championship title; because we can go further and make progress only through strong competition.”

As a head coach of the women's team, how important to you is behaviour of players on the pitch, but also outside of it? How do you think the combination of sport and education should look like?

“I’m sure that besides a good result, the behaviour of players both on the pitch and outside of it is maybe more important. We have a prescribed code of conduct and they have to respect it. I am not even sentimental and anyone, who does not respect the norms of behaviour, cannot be a part of my club. The combination of sport - education is a topic that must be introduced as a lecture in all clubs, both male and female. Unfortunately, most average players, after finishing their careers, if they have not been educated, cannot found some other occupations later. That's why our players are obliged to continue their educations at the end of secondary school, and we have also introduced a mandatory English language course.”

Can you describe the way you communicate with the players during the match and in the dressing room? How do you motivate the team to provide its maximum on the pitch?

“I belong to such group of coaches who take great care of how to communicate with the players. I try not to hurt them in any way, but at the same time, to point them out to some failures. I also use every opportunity to praise them. Of course, sometimes happens that I raise the tone, but they know that it is in good faith and do not accept it as blame. Always before the game, we find some special motive to be even better and we do our utmost to achieve that on the pitch. They also have their ritual before the start of each match.”

Finally, do you have any recommendations for even faster development of women's football in BH?

“It can be sometimes devastating quickly to reach the top. I think we should continue with our tiny but sure steps to the top. I have many ideas for faster development, but I have never been in a hurry in my life, so I think we need to make a development strategy for the next four years. Through this strategy, we would find a way to continually promote football, whether through school competitions, women's football festivals or regular gatherings and preparations. With quality and professional work, and with the talent that our girls already have, there would certainly be better results.

Finally, I would tell the parents to support their daughters, if they love football, and allow them to deal with “the most beautiful side thing” in the world.”