| Fahrudin aims for Europe |
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| Thursday, 16 August 2007 | |
 Fahrudin Kudozovic this week extended his contract with the Bit O’ Red until the end of the 2008 season. He spoke exclusively to sligorovers.com to discuss his expectations for this season and the reasons he has signed up for his fourth season with the club.
The Bosnian has been playing what he describes as “the best football of my professional career” this year and has played a major part in the clubs revival under new manager Paul Cook. Now in his third year at the club he revealed his life off the pitch in Sligo was a factor in agreeing a new deal “I have enjoyed being in Sligo, on and off the pitch. I am very happy here and with my fiancé coming next year I really look forward to living here. Of course the football this season for us - we are playing well and the atmosphere at the club is brilliant, I have never had any thought of leaving. It was just a matter of sorting the contract and deals with the club. The chairman and the manager expressed their feelings about wanting to keep me and that’s all I wanted to hear” Rumours were beginning to surface about other clubs coming in for the Bosnian player but according to the player himself it was pure speculation and he was never really troubled by it. “There were rumours but I never pay any attention to speculation and my heart is where I am. I give 100% everyday no matter what I am doing. Currently that is playing for Sligo Rovers and now next season too. I am very happy about that.” Rovers are currently on a fantastic run of form in the Premier Division and Kudozovic constantly spoke of the good feeling at the club at the moment. Manager Paul Cook has played the lead role in turning around what threatened to be a mediocre season, Faz spoke about what Cook has done for his game “The paperwork was the easy part of agreeing a new contract. As a player you need to be impressed by the club like the way a manager needs he player. I am very happy with everything at Sligo Rovers from top to bottom so it was an easy decision for me. The manager himself persuaded me to stay. I am thankful to him for getting the best out of me. He has given me confidence by playing me in a more natural position and expressing to me that I can be a top player. I am now myself believing in that. I’m enjoying it, working hard and the results are obvious”. With the club now challenging for a spot in the top 4 thoughts turn to just what can be achieved in the remainder of the season and beyond. Faz has set very high targets for he and his club mates as Rovers embark on the final series of games for the 2007 season and now face Waterford in the last 16 of the cup. “The team and club are where we should be and hopefully we will get to even greater places in the remaining season and next year. Our aim of course is a top four finish. Personally I think we can finish top three and we are capable of this. I believe we have some of the best players in the league and from one to twenty we have a good squad. Finishing high up in the league gives us hope of European qualification. Reaching the cup final would give us Setanta Cup football. So we have given ourselves a great chance of qualifying for major tournaments. I hope we can do it……. I believe we can”. Kudozovic and Rovers are away to Waterford on Friday night in the third round othe FAI Ford Cup. Live coverage of the game commences at 7.30pm on TG4. By Rory Houston |
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