Gradske priče - Grk / City Buzz - Greek
utorak mart 19, 2024
CULTURE
Dejan Savić - Maestro Narodnog pozorišta...
Dejan Savić - Maestro of The National Theater... Read More...

Solunac iz Zemuna

Gradske priče / City Buzz - EVANGELIOS HATZOPULOS
Grčki Ataše / Greek Attache

Evangelios HatzopulosU Beograd je došao 1982. godine, jer je njegov otac, ubeđeni socijalista, želeo da mu sin studira kod Tita. Verovatno nije ni slutio da se njegov sin, posle završenih studija filozofije, neće vratiti u rodni Solun zato što će ga u Beogradu „zadržati“ lepa studentkinja, Zemunski kej i ljubav prema Partizanu... Evangelos Hatzopulos danas radi kao ataše u ambasadi Grčke. Dočekuje i ispraća ambasadore bez trunke nostalgije. Kaže, lepo mu je ovde, zadovoljan je poslom i mogućnošću da najmlađe uči fudbalu, ni za šta ne bi menjao proleće u Ulici Strahinjića Bana, šetnju Zemunom i druženje sa prijateljima koje je ovde stekao.

Moj otac je želeo da studiram u Jugoslaviji ili u Italiji. Kad smo došli u Beograd, to je bilo to. Otac je rekao: „Studiraš ovde ili nigde“. I, meni se svideo Beograd. Prvi deo grada koji sam upoznao bio je Zemun. I danas, posle gotovo tri decenije, volim taj deo grada. Često sa suprugom i prijateljima šetam Zemunskim kejom, pijem kafu u Grand kazinu, nekadašnjem hotelu Jugoslavija... Neko vreme sam trenirao fudbalski klub Zemun.

Sport je jedna od Vagelisovih ljubavi. Profesionalno se bavio fudbalom. Kaže da navija za Partizan jer je on bratski klub grčkom Paoku i za Zemun, naravno. Otkriva da mu je srce bilo puno kada je 2008. godine odigrano finale Kupa Srbije. Njegov Partizan pobedio je njegov Zemun sa tri prema nula.

Ma, mogli smo i mi da pobedimo. Volim sport, pa sam, pored filozofije, završio i DIF. U fudbalskom klubu Zemun radio sam i kao sportski direktor, i kao predstavnik za medije i kao trener.

Vagelis ne propušta priliku da nam kaže da je počasni član Partizana. Kad pomene srpske klubove, oči mu zasijaju baš kao da je pomenuo svoj Paok. Tada se vidi da ne pravi razliku između Srbije i Grčke.

Mogao sam da biram premeštaj u neku drugu zemlju. Nisam to učinio. Supruga mi je odavde, tu su mi prijatelji, navikao sam se i na ambasadu...

Pomalo se ljuti kada ga pitamo da li mu nedostaje veliki Solun. Kaže da ni Beograd nije mali, taman koliko treba, velegrad sa zanimljivim sadržajima, bez saobraćajne gužve i buke.

Beograd se mnogo promenio, nabolje. Moji prijatelji su oduševljeni Kalemegdanom, Skadarlijom. Sviđaju im se i Kopaonik, Divčibare...

Ipak, od svih mesta, najviše voli stadione. Vodio je Akademiju fudbala. Za dva meseca, kroz besplatnu školu prošlo je oko sto dvadeset mališana od pet do trinaest godina.

Nisam želeo da im prenesem samo fudbalsko znanje, već i da ih sklonim sa ulice i usmerim na sport.

(Nastavak teksta u štampanom izdanju)

 

The Salonian from Zemun

He arrived to Belgrade in 1982, because his father, a convinced socialist, wanted his son to study in Tito’s country. He probably never suspected that, after completing philosophy studies, his son would not return to Thessaloniki, because we has “retained” by a beautiful student, the Zemun quay and the love for Partizan football team... Evangelos Hatzopulos woks nowadays as attaché at the Greek Embassy. He welcomes and sends off ambassadors without a hint of nostalgia. He says that he likes it here and that he is satisfied with his work and with the possibility of teaching youngsters football. The spring at Strahinjić Ban Street, a walk through Zemun and a conversation with his friends are among the things that he would change for nothing.

My father wanted me to study in Yugoslavia or Italy. When we arrived in Belgrade, that was it. My father said: “You will study here or nowhere.” Also I liked Belgrade. The first part of the city that I discovered was Zemun. Even today, after almost three decades, I love that part of the city. I often walk along the Zemun quay together with my wife and friends and drink a coffee at the Grand Casino, at the former Hotel Yugoslavia ... For a while I coached Zemun football club.

Sport is one of the great loves of Vagelis. He actually was a professional football player. He is a fan of of Zemun Football Club and also of Partizan, because that team is twinned with PAOK Football Club from Greece. He confessed that his heart was rejoicing during the finals of the Serbian Cup of 2008, when Partizan defeated Zemun three to zero.

Well, also we could win. I love sports and for that reason, besides philosophy, I also graduated from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport. I worked at Zemun Football Club as Athletic Manager, media representative and coach.

Vagelis misses no chance to say that he is an honorary member of Partizan. When you mention Serbian clubs, his eyes glow as if you mentioned his PAOK. Then you can see that he makes no difference between Serbia and Greece.

I had the choice of being transferred to another country, but I did not do it. My wife is from here, my friends are here, and I got used to the embassy...

He got a bit angry, when we asked him whether he misses the large city of Thessaloniki. He says that Belgrade is not small either. It is just right. It is a metropolis with interesting contents, without traffic congestion and noise.

Belgrade has changed a lot, for the better. My friends are delighted with Kalemegdan and Skadarlija. They also like Kopaonik, Divčibare etc.

However, he loves stadiums above all. He led the Football Academy. During two months, about one hundred twenty children with ages between five to thirteen attended this free school.

My purpose was not to transmit them only football knowledge, but also to take them off the streets and make them focus on sport.

(Continue reading more in printed edition)

Kontakt info

Adresa / Address:
The Globe Magazine
Lomina 44
11000 Beograd
Srbija

Telefon / Phone:
+381.11.362.25.87

Mobilni / Mobile:
+381.60.757.52.09

Internet:
www.globe-magazine.com

E-Mail:
office@globe-magazine.com

issue 13

Izdvajamo / Highlights

Let za Njujork je veliko priznanje za SrbijuPrvi avion iz Beograda za Njujork poleteće sa Aerodroma Nikola Tesla 23. juna ove godine i biće to prvi put nakon skoro 30 godina da se sa avionima i posadom srpske avio-kompanije leti za Sjedinjene amerike države...
Abeer Jaber - Moje putovanjeAbeer Jaber, žena Libanskog ambasadora u Beogradu, voli da putuje i to čini kad god joj obaveze i obaveze supruga omogućavaju. Uživa u obilascima gradova Evrope, ali i u obilascima Srbije, gde se oseća kao kod kuće...
The Flight to New York is a Huge Recognition for SerbiaThe first plane from Belgrade to New York takes off from the Nikola Tesla airport on June 23 this year, and it will be the first time that planes and crew of the Serbian airline fly to the United States of America, in almost 30 years...
Abeer Jaber - My TravelAbeer Jaber, women of Lebanese ambassador in Belgrade, likes to travel and seems whenever her duties and responasbilities allow her husband. She enjoys visits to Europa, as well as visit to Serbia, where she feels like home...