We present you Igor Aleksovski, the young goalkeeper and newest addition to the U21 national team thanks to his great form in the domestic league.
Igor Aleksovski is a young goalkeeper, born in Skopje in February of 1995, and so far he spent all his career in Makedonija Gjorche Petrov, where he debuted when he was 17 years old on the first team. Recently, he received an invitation for Macedonia U21, by now former manager Boban Babunski.
MF: Igor, can you say a few words about the very beginnings of your career?
IA: Well, my very beginnings date from the age of 10, when I was a part of the football club Makedonija Gjorche Petrov which was followed with my first success during the pioneer competition when we won the double crown, i.e. the Macedonian Cup and the Pioneers’ League. The following year our success was repeated – again, we won a double Crown, but this time in the Cadets’ League. In every youth categories, I was the captain of the football team Makedonija Gjorce Petrov. Also, I have to mention the successful tournament epilogue, when in Spain during the tournament “Copa Catalunya” or Catalonian Cup, we won the 3rd place and I was elected for the best goalkeeper at the tournament. It was a great competition, since there were 25 teams in total. When I was 17, I started playing for the first team of Makedonija Gjorche Petrov, within the Second League. That season we were the champions of the Second League that was a guarantee to the First League.
MF: What is your opinion on the season that passed?
IA: Personally, for me, it was a very successful season. Even though we did not made to stay within the First League, I have played a lot of great matches, built my self-esteem, as well as have gained more experience. Anyway, we were a very young team without a lot of experience, and there were situations when the starting eleven consisted of 7 players younger than the age of 20.
MF: You’ve passed all the categories as a part of the Macedonian national team, and now the former manager, Boban Babunski, invited you to play for the Macedonian U21 NT, but still you didn’t get the chance to play in that game against Portugal. When can we expect your debut and to you, what does it mean to wear the national team jersey?
IA: It is true that I passed all the youth categories such as U17 and U19, and I was the goalkeeper during the games for qualifications for the European championship, as well as during the Mediterranean Games in Mersin. This year I got an invitation from Mr. Babunski for the U21 qualification match against Portugal, and even though I did not play in the match it was a great honor for me, a young man aged 19 to be a part of the Macedonia U21 national team. I really hope that it won’t be long before I make my debut. Till then, I will continue with my hard work and improve my techniques towards better results. I will say again it is a great honor and pride to wear the national jersey of Macedonia.
MF: You were a part of the football team Belasica during the famous “Coppa Carnevale di Viareggio” where you played in your fullest magnificence, which was followed by a stay in Italy for some time. Are you satisfied by the conditions offered to you in Italy, and can you make a comparison to the ones offered in Macedonia?
IA: Two years ago, after an invitation of the football team Belasica, two years in a row I played on the Viareggio Tournament in Italy. At that time, I showed many great skills and results, particularly during the match against Lazio, and I must say that I was very disappointed that we did not succeed to keep on the track to the end of the match to win a point. We really deserved to pass the group but we weren’t lucky enough. Comparing to Macedonia, Italy offers different and incomparable conditions to the football players.
MF: Can you reveal what is your next destination? Where do you see yourself in five years?
IA: I am hoping that my next destination would be outside the Macedonian borders but if that doesn’t happen, I hope I’ll find my place in the sun within a football team in the First League as a goalkeeper. And for the second question, well, I suppose like every player I really hope that I will set off my great career in some big and famous football club. But above all, I would like to stay in good health, so I can practice my trainings regularly in full strength, and surely not to quit. And what will happen in future, well only time will show.