If you fall in love with rugby, there is a real danger that you will love it for the rest of your life. It is a sport whose rules are quite complicated, but once you master them and get the big picture, then you begin to enjoy the complex beauty of rugby. It is no coincidence why Đorđe Veličković-Bata is a great lover of rugby, why rugby is an indispensable part of life. From the 60s until today, Đorđe enjoys rugby, and what’s more, he lives rugby.
What is rugby in its core, what is it in basic, what is it about that sport that is so essential that you would be guided by its values throughout your life? We think that the interview with Đorđe will give you inspiration and guidance on how to find the answer to that question. Rugby can’t give you a concrete answer, rugby gives you experience that you improve and refine over time. Hard work and dedication, with respect for yourself and others, is just one of the life lessons that rugby teaches us. And there is so many lessions.
We are extremely honored and even more pleased to have had the opportunity to interview Đorđe, and we are very grateful that he took the time to dedicate to rugby readers in Serbia. We tried to tell an interesting and interesting rugby story that is still going on. Enjoy.
Rugby.rs: When did you start training rugby? How did you learn about rugby?
Đorđe Veličković: In my day, when there wasn’t much money, television or cell phones, the only hope was membership in as many club sports as possible. Success in sports also opens up better opportunities, popularity in society, and if you are a prospect, then also equipment and trips. Due to mass interest, breaking through and progressing in any sport was not easy. Growing up I spent time doing gymnastics, wrestling, boxing, rowing, swimming, etc. In high school, I ran, played basketball and handball for school, and played football in the street and in the yard of the nearby school. My neighbor, later a close friend, coach and teammate, Serbian rugby legend Branko Piper is the one who directed me to rugby. He looked from the balcony at the school yard and saw that I was fast but too rough for football, so he just ordered me “Bato, you’re going to training with me”. In those days you had to listen to your elders. Apart from the fact that a few of them from the area played rugby, I had no great understanding of the sport.
Rugby.rs: What attracted you to stay in rugby during the first training sessions?
Đorđe Veličković: Since I was the youngest, it impressed me to compete with other older and experienced players such as Branko, Cajnko, Aca, “bilder”, Drakulić, “yellow”, Šaponja, Zdravko, Vitas brothers and others. I quickly realized that it is a sport where you have to use everything you have: speed, quick reactions, skill in passing and shooting the ball, fearlessness, endurance and I got the opinion that it is one of the fastest sports. I went home with one thought: “I found myself and my sport”.
For me, it was a pleasure to be part of the team, training, socializing and traveling. We traveled to Pula, Ljubljana, several times to Zagreb, Split, Zemun, Pančevo and games in Belgrade. I travel also in neigbour countries. The valuable experience from Romania showed me how much this sport can be perfected
Rugby.rs: Brodarac was at the top of Yugoslavian rugby at the time, which game left the most impression on you?
Đorđe Veličković: Matches with Nada from Split, Dinamo from Pancevo and Mladost from Zagreb were always tough. From Zagreb, the match was even on television, so I was in trouble with my parents because they saw that it was a “rough sport” and they didn’t like me playing rugby! Branko and I had a whistle as a password when we went to training. And the match with “Politehnika”, the first visiting team from Russia, was interesting in terms of the composition of the players and the positions. However, fighting for first place with Nada from Split and traveling by charter flight is an unforgettable experience. Not only because of the plane flight, but also because of the atmosphere and circumstances in the stadium and the interrupted game.
Rugby.rs: How much did the enthusiasm of Branko Piper and the experienced rugby players of that time influence the development of rugby in Serbia?
Đorđe Veličković: Branko was “both father and mother” to us. We called him “black lightning from Teslina”. He knew rugby and pushed us to exhaustion to be successful. We went to the French and English reading rooms to look at pictures from rugby magazines. We trained on the sand between two bridges, on the Proleter playground in Žarkovo, passing the ball in a fast run through the forest. The trees were a tough opposition that did not know how to move. An unforgettable experience. Training in the new sports center in Kosutnjak was a real luxury.
Rugby.rs: Were there differences in quality between the rugby players who came from all the republics in Yugoslavia?
Đorđe Veličković: The youth from Zagreb had a lot of “diffs” and they were good athletes Their captain Krišković, fast, good with the ball and weighing around 120 kg, was difficult to stop. Nada from Split was a team of friends with leader Štimec who was a good rugby connoisseur like Branko and Duda from Pancevo.
Rugby.rs: What was missing in those years for rugby to be more popular in Serbia?
Đorđe Veličković: As in any sport or business, everything always depends on how much is invested in advertising, constant match reports, audience education, and most importantly, to create a program for guiding and educating the younger generations.. Without that, there is no continuity, and there was none. This has only now been achieved in Serbia and that is why it is progressing. It will take time, but thanks to you who work voluntarily, success is ahead of you. With better quality and success abroad, advertising and through school programs for greater popularity and interest, rugby will also be more popular. If more youth would separate themselves from the imposition of American football as a race for the west and leave Rugby League, we would have a stronger basis for world ranking. In Scotland (1916 – 1918) they noticed it a long time ago, when they said about our Heriot schoolboys in their victory over the Commonwealth selection “Serbs are born for rugby”!
Rugby.rs: Your life paths took you first to Germany, if you were to compare the level of rugby in Germany and Yugoslavia then, what would be your conclusions?
Đorđe Veličković: Since I was a candidate for the national team before going to Germany (I didn’t go to Bulgaria because of the exams and then I emigrated), I was in top condition and immediately played the main role in the club from Stuttgart. I also expected to play against our Cajnko, who I think played for Hanover, but I quickly received papers for Canada. At that time, the quality of rugby. in my opinion, after a few games in their league, he wasn’t much different. Only their training conditions and subsidies were better. This can now be seen by their progress and placement proven in the qualifications.
Rugby.rs: You also played rugby in Canada, which has become your home, tell us more about your career in North America?
Đorđe Veličković: Without knowing English, getting a job as an engineer in Canada was almost impossible. My first job and more permanent residence was in Windsor, where I got a temporary job under contract for Chrysler because the manager was Austrian and the interview was in German. During lunch with colleagues someone mentioned rugby, which I understood, and this led me to one of the three rugby clubs in Windsor. As in Germany, I was immediately noticed as a player and the newspapers started mentioning my name. In that first year, I also received the award of the best player. My competition was players from Wales and England who played for regions (counties) and local athletes without much knowledge of rugby. My career came to a screeching halt when I returned to Toronto. While I was looking for a new job and playing for the Nomads team (as did our Goran Božićković later), I went to Windsor to play for my old club. In one game I unfortunately had an open fracture of both bones and the doctor told me that I would not be able to run anymore and my leg would be shorter. However, since there was no work, I returned to Windsor for postgraduate studies because I was already good at English. After less than a year, with perseverance and the desire to play again and relentless rehabilitation, I had a chance against the University of Michigan. I also played for the selection of Southern Ontario, but I never regained my old form and life took its course. Over 200 people passed through my club in 25 years, which shows the stability of rugby in Canada. The Toronto District is much stronger in that because they don’t have to travel 400 kilometers as guests in the league championship.
Rugby.rs: During your career, which positions did you play?
Đorđe Veličković: I started as a young “speedster” on the wing (#11) and then as a permanent full-back position (#15). As a guest of Dinamo in the cup against the Polish and East German teams, I played #6 in the melee. In Canada I played for my club as a permanent opener (#10) and for over 35 years the Canadian selection “Golden Beavers” in all “Golden Oldies” mostly #10 and sometimes #12 or #15.
Rugby.rs: Did you stay in rugby even after your playing career?
Đorđe Veličković: Yes, I played for a time for the club and mostly for the Canadian national team for over 35 years. Nice impressions from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, etc. I even helped the Manawatu club from New Zealand a few times due to exhaustion and their journey. I played my last game at the age of 58. For a while, I financially helped the club Dorćol until it switched to the rugby league. Now I watch matches wherever I can on television as well as live matches of the only home team.
Rugby.rs: How popular is rugby among people of Serbian origin?
Đorđe Veličković: In my local club there were two from our Serbian community and they were excellent athletes. I don’t know about the others! In my opinion, Predrag Dragičević could freely play for Serbia in his time!
Rugby.rs: Are there currently active players of Serbian origin playing in Canada?
Đorđe Veličković: I am not sure because I have no insight or that I can recognize by the last name!
Rugby.rs: Canada has a great rugby tradition, how do Canadians view rugby? How popular is the sport?
Đorđe Veličković: After my arrival, there was a lot of emigration from Great Britain and their Commonwealth, so the interest and the number of players was more numerous.. In the last few decades, emigration from other regions of the world has been much more numerous, and that is why interest in European football has grown and that sport is rapidly expanding and progressing. In order to face the current situation, one needs to get acquainted with the reality of doing business in all of North America. Huge revenues from sports from matches, television and merchandise sales also bring in large revenues from which millions are paid out to players. In addition to hockey, basketball, American and Canadian football, baseball, and now with European football, it is difficult to break through to their level. Popularity, media, advertisements and money that the players get, are eye-openers for younger athletes, and for the older ones, they are good topics for discussion. Interest in rugby is greater for Rugby World Cups as Canada has always qualified so far, the Six Nations Cup is popular with the Anglo-Saxon and French population.
Rugby.rs: How did the Canadians handle the fact that they did not qualify for the next World Cup?
Đorđe Veličković: Except for us rugby fans without any great sadness. It can be seen that the countries that have players under contract and on the payroll are progressing in the ranking of the world. Canada does not have such a great chance because of the huge distances and the money invested. The hope for America and Canada is a new professional league, where only one very successful team from Toronto participates. The interest is slowly but steadily growing, especially since now excellent players from the southern hemisphere such as Nonu from New Zealand are on contract, matches and discussions are being broadcast, local top athletes are quickly getting used to it, so the level of quality of the game is growing rapidly.
Rugby.rs: Who will you support at the World Cup in France in 2023? ?
Đorđe Veličković: Just like back in the youth days for the NZ “All Blacks”. I have been to five World Cups, the most memorable being 1995 in South Africa. Spending 3 weeks and seeing all the finals, being in the hotel with the All Blacks before the final and meeting John Loma is a child’s dream. Spending the weekend with the “Springboks” in “Sun City” and meeting most of the players – unforgettable!
Rugby.rs: What are your hobbies and interests outside of sports?
Đorđe Veličković: Even with a responsible job at Chrysler and a 100-mile trip across the border, three kids, being part of the rugby team, working out to stay in shape, I haven’t really had much free time. Despite everything, I managed to help our Serbian community in Windsor, which has 3 churches and several thousand parishioners. The “Gračanica” church to which I belong, founded in 1946, is one of the most beautiful in the diaspora. As one of the mainstays of the community, I was involved in all actions related to the creation of frescoes, the construction of a large Serbian Center, a recreational park, a playground, the first Serbian museum, etc. I help our people in Serbia through the organizations “28 June” and “Serbs for Serbs”! I traveled a lot, especially now in retirement, until the appearance of this so-called “pandemic” that stopped everything, including me, I take care of my grandchildren and work around the house and follow rugby in the world and thanks to you in Serbia.
Rugby.rs: What would you say to young players in Serbia?
Đorđe Veličković: Rugby is a sport that not only includes all the elements of athleticism and considerable intelligence, but also builds you as a person and prepares you for a better life. Try it and they will see you if it suits you. I am, one of the many examples who have felt the heat of this sport for whom rugby has become a part of their life path.
Rugby.rs: How much has rugby influenced your life?
Đorđe Veličković: Huge! It is together in a group with faith, tradition and family. Rugby helped me build and grow as a person, provide for my family, make a professional career and help where and who needs it. I met my wife Sue, who is Canadian, 53 years ago when she came to the game. I made friends all over the world, who are like family to me. I’ve traveled the world! Helped me at work to be a better HR manager, to be a team player, to persevere until the end of a project and help those who are at the beginning of their career. A small proof is the words of motivational advisor and professor Dr. Terry Lyols, who, at the invitation of Chrysler, held a seminar for managers because he is at a job of 13,000 people, where every day someone had a heart attack. During my conversation with him about how I cope with the pressure (stress) at work, his comment was “you’ve brought your rugby experience to work and it’s helping you”!
