Following his recent hat trick with Astra Ploieşti, MacedonianFootball.com conducted an interview with striker Mirko Ivanovski.

Mirko Ivanovski, a 22 year old striker, has already become an experienced player internationally despite his relatively young age.  He originally began his career with hometown club Pelister from the city of Bitola.  Mirko’s first transfer was domestic as his next club after Pelister was Makedonija Gjorche Petrov, where he also became league champion in the 2008/09 season.  Since then, Ivanovski has featured for Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic, Arka Gdynia from Poland and his current club is Astra Ploieşti from Romania.

MF: Although you are only 22, you have played in three international leagues where you have managed to secure a first-team place rather quickly. What is the secret behind your quick adaptation to a new club?
MI: First of all, I was lucky enough to sign with a strong club like Slavia from Prague. I did manage to get a place on the first team through hard work and consistency. Of course, the staff and teammates were really helpful and important. I was accepted well and tried to repay them with good performances. The fans play their role as well. In Gdynia, for example, the home games were followed with excellent support as were the away matches. And, of course, the language. One needs to learn the foreign language quickly so they can get accustomed to everything in the club.

MF: You had a rough exit from Arka when the club was relegated to the Polish 2. League and you failed to secure a transfer. How did you feel at that point?
MI: The worst feeling for any athlete is to give your all and not get a chance to play. Although I was benched for the large part of the second half of the 2011/12 season, I continued to train hard believing that a transfer would occur after the end of the season. Luckily, that is all behind me now. Astra was interested in me, submitted an acceptable offer and I am here.

MF: The transfer to Astra, an ambitious Romanian team, came as a surprise to many. The club has high hopes and you are already in the starting line-up. Does it serve as further motivation for you, considering you got another chance to play abroad?
MI: As I already said, Astra showed the most interest in me and the negotiations went smoothly. I was informed of their ambitions and where they see me within their club. I was very happy to accept their offer as their project seems great to me. I am always motivated and after a couple of seasons, I see myself in an even bigger European league. But, until then – I will be giving 110% in Astra and will repay them for their confidence in me.

MF: What is your natural position on the pitch? Where do you see yourself playing the best football?
MI: I play equally well with both legs, that is why I can play on both flanks, behind a center forward and as a center forward as well.

MF: What are your current impressions of Romania? Do you like it there? Are your intentions to stay there for a long time?
MI: I am extremely satisfied at the moment. The city is excellent, the club works flawlessly, the president is pleased of what we have done so far. As I said, I hope that an offer from a major European club will arrive at some point, until then I need to work hard. I need to stay fit and think my best is yet to come. I am young, I still have a lot to learn and still need to prove myself. That is why I am fully focused on Astra and the Macedonian national team. 

MF: Your hometown club Pelister returned to the First League this season. Do you follow them over the internet?
MI: I am in touch everyday with my family and friends from Bitola. And because sports and football are the number one subjects we talk about, Pelister inevitable comes up. That is where I started my career and where I hope to retire many, many years from now. On the one hand, I am sad that I haven’t played longer in Pelister, but I promise to be back at some point in the future. I am happy for their wins, like the last one against Bregalnica (note: this interview has been conducted on Monday 27.08). I wish them to return to their winning ways and qualify for a European competition for next season.

MF: You are coming off a hat trick in the last round.  Your current form is a big reason why you were included in Macedonia’s squad for the upcoming qualifiers. What do you think of the group and Macedonia’s chances?
MI: New qualification tournament, new manager, new chances, new hope. This is surely the most equal group. There is no one strong favorite, but every team is pretty good. Besides Wales, we have played with all of the other teams in the past but did not achieve many positive results. I hope this will change this time and we will be able to bring joy to Macedonia’s fans as the basketball and handball players did. If I’m given a chance to play, I will surely give my best as I always do.