We keep introducing new faces in the coaching staff of Loko to you. For Janko Pejčić, the upcoming season will be his eighth in Russia. We talked to him about seven years in Runa, about the decision to become a coach – and, of course, about the preparation for the VTB United League with the new team.
- How long did it take you to accept the offer from Lokomotiv?
- You see, the management of Runa where I worked before told me that I would be an assistant in the main team in the season 2024/25. But then the club had changed its plans and quit from the VTB United League. From that moment I started talking with Lokomotiv. As well as I was offered to work in the main team, the decision was made very quickly. Loko is a club with a long history, the winner of the Eurocup, it has excellent training facility – among the best in Europe.
- How were your colleagues welcome you?
- Very well. I like the chemistry between our coaching staff. We have all known each other for a long time, and some of us have played against each other many times. And now we are working together, and I am very glad with this opportunity. The understanding between us is excellent, at my opinion.
- There's a lot of new players in Loko. How do they adapt?
- Establishing of chemistry between them is still in progress. But, as far as I can see, everyone has good-minded – both Russian players and foreigners. It won’t be hard to create a good team of such people. And it doesn’t matter how many new players there are.
- There is also a lot of young players in Loko. Is it real to reach there highest goals with them?
- Of course. When there is a lot of young players in your squad, it's good – both for them and for the club. We will give a chance to everyone, and we believe that our youngsters will use this chance the right way.
- What is your experience in working as a coach?
- I only worked as a head coach in youth and junior teams. I became the first coach in the history of the Runa's DUBL team, then in the history of the club's youth team. We progressed every year, the number of young quality players who signed a contract with Runa rose, but then the project went on some kind of hiatus.
- How did you decide to become a coach?
- Jovan Popović, who is the head coach of Loko-2 now, was working at Runa at the time and invited me to help him in their summer camp in Serbia and Montenegro. I liked it very much, and the people from the club probably liked how I helped Jovan too. They offered me a job at Runa, and I agreed right away. Because even when I was a player, I knew for sure that I would become a coach.
- Tell us about your playing career.
- I played point guard, first for my hometown club Knjaževac in eastern Serbia and for the U16 national team, then briefly for Crvena Zvezda and FMP. I also spent one season in the US, with a prep school team in Las Vegas.
- Was it hard to you to adapt in Russia?
- Not at all. In Russia – especially compared to America – I immediately felt at home. Our mentality is similar, I feel comfortable here, I really think that Serbs and Russians are brothers.
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