‘It took me five minutes to decide’: Nurkovic on joining Kaizer Chiefs
Despite having “a couple of offers all around the world” before the start of the 2019/20 season, Samir Nurkovic opted for Kaizer Chiefs and he explains why.
The TS Galaxy forward, Nurkovic hit the ground running, scoring 14 goals in his first campaign donning the famous Gold and Black shirt of the Phefeni Glamour Boys.
Before he was brought on board by the Soweto giants, the 31-year-old was playing for KFC Komarno in Slovakia where he scored 35 goals in 41 matches during his two-year stay at the club.
After an impressive season in Slovakia, he stated he had a couple of offers all around the world but he chose Chiefs.
Nurkovic says an opportunity to play in front of 95,000 fans in the Soweto derby, SA stadiums and the club’s following were the main factors behind his decision.
He revealed that it took him five minutes to decide when the Chiefs’ offer was tabled.
He further insisted that football enthusiasts in Europe know about South African football and the big three.
SAMIR NURKOVIC SAYS IT TOOK HIM FIVE MINUTES TO DECIDE ABOUT CHIEFS
“At that time, I had a very good season in Slovakia, I had a couple of offers from around the world,” he said in the interview with FARPost.
“You sometimes mistakenly think people around the world don’t hear about South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and, recently, Mamelodi Sundowns are doing well on the international stage, especially Sundowns.
“And people who actually understand and watch football, they know about these teams.
“And I can’t regret the choice of coming here because I’m living the best life in South Africa.”
“Once I heard that Kaizer Chiefs were interested in me, looking at the support they have, the stadium and having watched the World Cup in 2010 here, my agent can confirm that with you, it only took five minutes of me deciding.
“I just decided that I want to play for Chiefs, that I wanted to come and play in South Africa.
Nurkovic added his stint with Chiefs is currently the best club spell he’s had so far in his football career.
‘MY TIME AT CHIEFS IS THE BEST STINT I’VE HAD IN FOOTBALL SO FAR’
“Wow, three years [of stay] at Chiefs was amazing. I definitely left a much, much better player.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity they gave me.
“I came there, and before I played for Chiefs, I was playing in Slovakia; the soccer isn’t followed as much as it is in South Africa.
“I came here, and suddenly, I’m playing in front of 95,000 supporters in the Soweto derby. So, coming from Serbia to playing in front of such crowd is a dream come true for me.
“I’m really thankful for everything to Kaizer Chiefs.
“My time at Kaizer Chiefs is the best [stint] at the club I’ve had in my career so far.
“But my career is still on, I’m still pushing, so you never know…maybe another big club will come after,” he added.
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