Interview: Happy Valley AA's: Igor Miović
Interview by Christopher KL Lau
Igor Miović, the tough tackling Serbian defender, is back in the Hong Kong Premier League with former giants, Happy Valley AA.
Happy Valley were one of the dominant teams in Hong Kong during the eighties and nineties but have fallen, until recently, on difficult times. The sleeping giants have slowly worked their way up the domestic Hong Kong leagues to the top again.
Miović has now played in Hong Kong for about six years and is one of the most respected defenders in game here.
In an exclusive interview, Miović discusses the importance of having Happy Valley back amongst the elite of Hong Kong football and his most memorable game in Hong Kong.
Miović stressed why it was important for clubs like Happy Valley, who have a strong tradition and history, to be back at the top of the game.
"All leagues have big clubs and it is good as big clubs draw in the fans. In Serbia, there is Red Star and Partizan. I am fan of Red Star and imagine if Red Star went to the second division! They have so many fans but luckily they now play in the UEFA Champions League.
Hong Kong needs big clubs like Happy Valley and South China in the Hong Kong Premier League; some long term fans may not know much about some of the new clubs but if you mention teams like Happy Valley then they will know instantly."
In Hong Kong football, there have been some transitional teams who come and go as fast as the sponsorship money that they can secure. This in turn means some teams have literally no history or fan base which in turn means some stagnant atmospheres at games.
"You have a few new teams who play one or two seasons and then who change their identity again. There needs to be some continuity in the game.
The young Happy Valley players know the history of the club as some of the players where in the team when we were in the lower division and they know what the team represents."
Miović has been playing in Hong Kong for several seasons and believes the standard of the game has improved during this time in the domestic game.
Hong Kong has been graced by players such as Diego Forlan and Miović believes that players like Forlan and their experience is good for Hong Kong.
"I think the game has improved season by season. When players like Forlan come to Hong Kong then it is good for the game here. I played against him and he was really good and it was important for clubs like Eastern and Kitchee to play in the Asian Champions League as well."
"Forlan was really good as he played for big clubs. He was smart and he knows how to play and what to do. He was not as fast as he once was but he knows how to move. He was smart and experienced and he knows how to run and he always know where the ball is."
The Serbian is realistic and believes that this young Happy Valley side has great potential for the future. He was happy to discuss his best game in Hong Kong.
"I think it was a game for Pegasus against South China and I think we won 5-3 and I scored twice. It was a great game and it was a large crowd in Mong Kok."
Like all players when they were young, Miović had some legends whom he looked up to and tried to model himself on.
"I liked Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) and Lillian Thuram (Juventus). Thuram could play as a central defender and also right back. Maldini played for AC Milan for so long at a high level. Thuram was amazing at Juventus. The best player ever for me, though, was the Brazilian Ronaldo!"
Miović also delved into his past and the challenges and sacrifices he made to become a professional.
"I love football so much. My older brother is six years older than me and played football in our city and I followed him everywhere.
I knew I wanted to be a professional and when you love something so much you train and work hard. For example, waking up at 7 am to go to school then finishing at 1 pm, then training at 3 pm and then coming home and doing homework and doing it all again. I made some sacrifices.
"My mother worried but mothers are mothers and worry. You must listened to your heart. I played in my birth city of Smederevo and I played in the youth teams, when I was 17. I went to the third division for three seasons and then I played in the super league for four to five seasons."
Thank you!
Hong Kong Stadiums
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world