After the success of the Macedonian U19 national team, we made an interview with one of the best performers and member of Swiss side AC Bellinzona, Dino Najdoski, about his and the future of the Macedonian football.

When and where did you make your first football steps and what are your successes managed so far in your career?
 – I started training football in Rabotnicki when I was 9 years old. So far with my former club Rabotnicki I’ve won the junior’s league title of Macedonia in 2004 and 2006, in 2007 we won the cup and we won the 3rd place on a tournament in Foca (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and of course my biggest success is the qualification for the next phase with the Macedonian U19 national team.

How did you feel when you debuted for Rabotnicki in the first league and how hard is it to wear the shirt of the most famous Macedonian club FK Vardar on the age of 16?
 – I can’t really explain that feeling. You have to feel that to know how I felt. I was a little nervous before the match, but it was gone when the match started. I felt great. FK Vardar is something sacred for every Macedonian football player and there’s a big responsibility when you play for Vardar. But for me, it was not that hard to play for Vardar because I see it as an extra motivation.

Does the fact that Ilija Najdoski is your father is a big pressure in your career or it had a positive influence on your development?
 – When I started playing football, my father taught me many things and often indicated to me about some mistakes I did. But now I’m older, I’m more independent and on my own. I’m aware that I can be successful only with hard work and trainings.

How was the whole transfer with AC Bellinzona accomplished?
– They followed me and watched my performances on few matches, so in June this year I just arrived here to arrange the personal details and sign the contract.

How does your working week look like and make a comparison with the conditions in Switzerland and Macedonia?
–  We train here on higher level then in Macedonia and we have up to two trainings daily. We work a lot on form and stamina and what I really like is that they focus a lot on working with younger players. I can’t even compare the conditions in Macedonia and the conditions for trainings here in Switzerland which are held on one of the many pitches, some of them on artificial grass.

What’s your status in AC Bellinzona? Do you expect to have your debut on a match for the first team?
– I am with the first team and I train hard so I can use every chance given by our coach and soon I expect and hope that I will play for the first squad.

How do you see yourself as a player? What are your good and bad sides?
– I will leave to others to comment about what kind of player I am, but I can say that I am satisfied with myself and with hard work I can develop in better player. I think that my good sides are my play with head, the one on one and duel plays and determination, while the technique is my weaker side.

Who is the best player that you have ever played with in the same team and from which other Macedonian player you expect to have bright football future?
– I have played with many good players, but still the best player that I have played with is Lazar Stanišić who is now in Hugarian Győri ETO FC. I expect a lot from Stojan Stojcevski. He is now target of many injustices, but I expect him to have great career because he is one of the most persistent people that I know.

What is the success of the Macedonian U19 national team based on? Does Macedonia finally have one generation of young players which will have big success in the future? What do you expect from the future matches?
– The success is based on the good work of the whole collective, the Football Federation of Macedonia and the players. FFM arranged us good preparations during the whole year with many trainings and friendly matches, so I think that this is the key factor for our success. We are all very happy with our qualification for the next phase, but we will not stop here. The next qualifiers will be played in April and we will play against the “big” teams, but we are not afraid because this generation of players born until 1992 is playing together for long time and we know each other very well and I see bright future for all of us, but only if we are insistent and work hark. I think that we will do our best if we fight hard on the pitch and play with our hearts for Macedonia.