Written by Filip Jakjimoski
Senior team Manager of FK Sloboden
It’s been one year since I told President Angjel Jankov I would accept his offer and get on board with his ambitious project. It certainly has been a year to remember as this football club is unlike anything I have encountered in my previous endeavors.
I had heard of the club from my very close friend Blake Porter. He was very much involved in the foundation phase and has been very excited about the whole thing. When I first saw the concept becoming a reality I laughed it off as most people would, but as time went on, the determination and ambition of the owner has led to an explosive start marketing-wise.
FK Sloboden is a new club, but the action it’s capable of producing can perhaps only be matched by some of the biggest and oldest clubs in the country. This is the story behind our club, our organization, and what makes us the most exciting team in Macedonia.
Early days
So much has happened over the course of my stay that the early days seem like a distant memory. At the time I had become somewhat discouraged from pursuing a career in football because of the previous negative experiences I’ve had while coaching in Macedonia’s bottom tiers. The opportunity at Sloboden was to become a football manager in the true sense of the word and much to my wife’s dismay, it was too good to pass up.
For my first game, there were around 25 players present which made it extremely difficult as there weren’t enough kits to begin with. Then again, I was never going to give everyone a chance because I came to implement radical changes and make this a serious team. The atmosphere was one of the gloomiest I had ever seen despite our emphatic victory and it was only fair to tell some of the players that there won’t be any room in the team.
Be it as it may, I inherited some solid players in Bosheski, Aleksej, Vesov, and Mirchevski, all of whom have been a mainstay in the first team for the past 12 months.
The President
Angjel’s determination to bring me to the club was unlike anything I had ever experienced. He was never going to budge and never took no for an answer which is an attitude he has maintained for the past year. His work rate is second to none and he doesn’t shy away from responsibility. He is very much hands-on when it comes to organizing a football game and likes to be the driving force behind every aspect.
What Angjel has done with the club in such a short time is a small miracle when you consider the finances and logistics involved. He has taken an idea and has created what is now becoming a formidable force in Macedonian football out of thin air. Naturally, he’s had help along the way, but it was still him bringing all of these people together.
Whenever I see how hard he works to make his dream a reality I cannot help but be inspired and work extra hard myself. This positive influence and leading by example deserves the highest form of gratitude from everyone involved with this team and it can only be done by winning football games.
The Community
The most attractive thing about Sloboden for me was its unbelievable community. During the FK Sloboden Winter League, we’ve had over 50 people taking an active part as players even though we’ve only had three teams. At Sloboden one never feels alone and more importantly, you always feel surrounded by top individuals that are always ready to help the club grow.
People like Angel Kostoski who always contributes to the marketing side of things and on matchday with COMET registrations and photography. Kiril Zarinski, who like Angel, has been with the club since the very beginning, is also responsible for numerous roles both on and off the field like being my assistant and producing content for the club’s mediums.
Boris Churlinov who joined the club later has been a breath of fresh air in terms of energy and determination. He was the main driving force behind the formation of the FK Sloboden Football School and he contributes his fair share as a player whenever called upon. Filip Zdraveski, a.k.a. Vidal, is one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to Macedonian football, and having him on our side is a massive advantage.
The Journey
Initially, the league results weren’t as favorable as I would have liked. Some of the signings crumbled under the pressure of being part of this great team and many of the players from the “old” guard had to reinvent themselves to help me discover their new best role.
We finished last season below the decent teams and above the shocking ones. It felt that we’ve massively underperformed and the players certainly felt they had a lot to prove coming into this new season. Right now we find ourselves at 4th, still some way off promotion, but the progress we’ve made is evident. What’s more important is how obvious it’s become that this team will go places with plaudits coming from all corners of the football world.
Quite recently we’ve won a friendly tournament playing away from home in Kumanovo, which I believe is the team’s greatest achievement this far. To win under those circumstances has been nothing short of impressive and a good sign for things to come.
The Future
The biggest problem when setting targets at this football club is that you might end up looking stupid in a couple of months as it might turn out that you were aiming too low. Goes without saying that we must clinch promotion to the 3rd tier at any cost as we simply deserve to be in better company as a football club. Apart from that, my targets for our organization are mostly structural.
In the near future I would like us to have at least four generations of kids playing in the FA’s junior league and at least two more coaches working closely with them. I can see us acquiring an official team vehicle, which is certain to elevate our work both with the youth and the senior sides, and I can envision us getting a quality sponsor that will be our partner during our future battles.
Finally, my greatest wish for this football club is to find a permanent ground that would allow us to extend our work and do a better job at developing these players. A football pitch wouldn’t only help us become better hosts, it will also provide us with the platform to sign up many more youth and junior players and achieve our long-term targets.
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