SERBIAN BASKETBALL PLAYER RESPONDS FROM THE KINGDOM OF VICE: I am not coming back, guess why? (PHOTO) (VIDEO)

The professional athlete's career is short, most of the times uncertain, so you never know where that path may take you.

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There are ones that choose clubs for their position in the league while the others choose adventure and drive for experiencing new cultures. Serbian Basketball player Vladimir Cuic, who once played for Proleter from Zrenjanin, Kikinda, for clubs in Iran and Kuwait ended up in Columbia - the country of salsa, football, drugs and beautiful women.

The cradle of Pablo Escobar, Shakira, Carlos Valderama and many others has always been an intriguing place for Serbians, especially for our story's hero.

This Serbian went to Colombia with his wife and daughter, but on a completely different occasion, when he had already decided to stop playing professionally.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

- I have stopped playing basketball for some time, I have considered my sports career ended. Then my colleague from Colombia called me to teach English in one prestige international school in Cali. I couldn't really say no to that so I arrived here not knowing what to expect. My expectations were completely surpassed - Vladimir explained how anyone even decides to move to the other side of the world.

- Soon the word got out that I played basketball professionally so they invited me to play for Cali! Since the practice is once a day, in the afternoon, I am at school in the morning and at practice in the afternoon. I play matches on weekends. They tolerate me for they know that I have the other job too, but I manage to accomplish everything - explained this thirty-three-year old.

- Many people have prejudices about Colombia, but once you meet this friendly people you understand most of these are all just stories, whilst some of them are true. They respect foreigners, especially Europeans. They have never heard of Serbia, they do not know where it is, as a matter of fact, but they do respect me as much as they respect French or British. They don't make any difference. Even though they are considered relaxed and laid back, people here are well-organized. thorough and devoted to their work.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

The school that Cuic works for was the first one to be founded in South America and therefore is a place where only wealthy people's children go. He and one French teacher are the only non-native English speakers in the school. Moreover, his experience as a player is highly valued by the rest of the players and the coach.

- The quality of basketball cannot be compared to the Europe's, of course. They start late with preparations. they lack proper technique and tactics. but they based the play on an physical strength. They are very dominant in that aspect - explained Vladimir and added:

- Coach frequently asks for advice considering game and practice, he also gave me a lot of independence on the court too. Fans frequently come to our matches, especially the ones that support football club. Of course, the interest in basketball is not as big as the one for football but they follow us to away matches too, and make great atmosphere. Simply put, everything is organized in the club.

Cali supporters make good atmosphere in the arena but it cannot be compared with the one at the stadium...

- People here indeed live for football. As much as people talk about it around the world, the passion can only be felt when it is actually experienced. No matter which opponent, Kali stadium is full down to the last seat, 48.000 people! The fans are positively crazy, they love and support the club! I watch the matches every weekend, nobody misses that here, as if there's a holiday every weekend.

Talking about life in Colombia, Vladimir explains that it is not like in the movies, Pablo Escobars roaming the streets.

- It is really organized society. By the look of the city, Cali can easily match the European ones. It is divided into six ''estratas'', zones that is, based on the economic status of their citizens. In the zones five and six wealthy people live, there is no crime, rarely anyone smokes, its all top notch. The Colombia we see in the movies is in the zones one and two. I have never been there actually, but I know that Narco bosses and poverty rule there, the drugs are everywhere. The funny fact is that many people from zones five and six never went to one and two, they never mix.

Foto: Privatna arhiva

- But then again, It is understandable that people who don't have any money to pay for schools turn to drugs and crime. School is highly valued, and everyone that graduated from the university have nice salaries. I was surprised that the minimal salary is around 400 euros, but I have then seen that people with university diplomas make even more than 1000 euros - said Vladimir.

Besides football and drugs, the Columbia's capital is also full of plastic surgery

- I can easily say that every woman here had some kind of intervention, and by intervention I don't mean small, I mean huge shapes. It was funny at the beginning but later on I got used to it for they are everywhere.

Vladimir's contact with the school expires next year but the extension of the cooperation is mutual because he has no intention of returning to Serbia.

(N.M)