Serbian → English transcript

… in the world in that under- 16 competition, 16 and 18. So that Prince Cup,

Orange Bowl……

and so on, that’s there in Florida.

And we had never been to America, now, you know, you’re coming from Serbia……

which is not in good standing, visas, problems, access, this and that.

I skipped a lot of tournaments in the junior category because there was no money.

You simply can’t travel and that’s it. It’s something… when my father couldn’t,

maybe the club would help a little…

… the Federation with great difficulty. So,

but it just wasn’t there, you know. And that’s… and then he for such a

big financial undertaking… …

the trip to America for me and him, the two of us went…… had to put aside,

imagine that at that time the total was…… for the stay there, travel, everything,

let’s say five thousand dollars. Up to five thousand dollars. Um, to be sure that

we had enough money to stay there…… and so on, and left and right.

And at that time…… to get that money

was almost impossible. And then he…… he told that story,

so I will not quote him now, but in short… … he went to those notorious loan

sharks back then and, well……

just plain criminals who at that time were

the only ones who could give you money…… just like that, but with interest.

And you know, that famous story…… when he went to ask them, they said, well… …

I need this much and that much, for this and that… … uh, are you in a hurry?

Like they ask… they ask him. He says," Yes, I am in a hurry, we need to set off,

these tournaments are scheduled then and then." He says," All right,

the interest is…

the interest is I do not know how much, fifteen to twenty percent…"

but because you are in a hurry, it will be thirty," you know. And so, he now… …

what could he say? He says,“ I grit my teeth,

I give my hand…”“… and I say fine. Let it be what it will be,

and I will somehow make the money to pay it back.” I mean, those were hard times

because he has

a lot of stories… … that are not for the public,

but there was some car chases and all sorts of things… … where he was trying to

simply find an act… …

and then in the end to get out of trouble,

and in the end he managed to pay it back.

But I think those were really scary times.