Striker Mirko Ivanovski told Polish newspaper Przegląd Sportowy that it’s tough to find motivation playing in the second division after being part of the Macedonian national team.

Mirko Ivanovski stated, “It is not easy to come back after national team matches to the second division.  In the Macedonian national team, I play against players such as Arshavin and Denisov and then return to my club team and sit on the bench.  I do not know what to think.”

Ivanovski was speaking about the Arka vs. KS Polkowice game on 15 October when he was on the bench after returning from the national team.  While Mirko was on international duty, the manager even criticized him by saying the club will not be doomed without Ivanovski.  Despite those comments, the Arka manager has started Ivanovski in the past two matches, the 3:1 win over Polonia Warszawa in the Polish Cup (where Ivanovski scored a goal) and the 4:0 win over Polonia Bytom in league play.

After the last game against Polonia Bytom, Ivanovski was criticized by the Arka manager for being too selfish.  The manager said Ivanovski could have assisted on another goal in the 92nd minute by simply passing the ball but he tried to take it upon himself and squandered the opportunity.

Ivanovski responded by saying, “Every striker wants to score goals because that is our main task.  When it comes to passing or shooting, I will shoot.  If you score, then no one would ask you why you did not pass the ball.”

Mirko Ivanovski joined Arka last year as a free agent but his club was relegated to the Polish second division after finishing in the bottom two.  He was one of the few players who was kept on the team from last year.  However, he seems to have a difficult relationship with the manager and with him being a free agent at the end of the season, Ivanovski will likely be playing for another club next year.