Young hopes – Niko Kasalo (Mura): the teenage author of a masterpiece that even his famous Portuguese role model would be ashamed of
Lipa, a village of around 500 inhabitants in the municipality of Beltinci, is – according to the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia – best known for its potato production. Every year in the summer months, Lipa hosts a party called Krumpl’s Night, for which the locals prepare traditional potato dishes. Of course, potatoes will always be potatoes, and there will never be a shortage of them on our plates. But who knows, maybe one day the day will come when Lipa will not only celebrate the potato, but also… the footballer!
Lipa is the village where the next great hope of Prekmurje and, of course, Slovenian football grew up. In his last match before the national break, Niko Kasalo proved to the country what he can do and how much talent is hidden in his legs. Although he was in the starting XI for the first time in his career, he played against the leading Olimpija team.
Mura
, his trepidation did not get the better of him.
The hit was perfect
When Niko Kasalo was 15. In the first minute of the match, when Olimpija took the lead after a pass from Mihael Klepač, he didn’t think much. Above all, his knees were not shaken. The hit was perfect. His shot was pure football poetry. Matevž Vidovšek, the best goalkeeper in the Telemach First League this season, was also without power. He stretched as far as he could. Zaman. Niko Kasalo scored an outstanding goal.
“When the ball hit the net, the feeling was… phenomenal! It was the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. And something I will remember for the rest of my life,” admitted Niko Kasalo, who is only 17 years old, and added: “The goal means so much more to me because it was the first time I played in a striker line-up and scored against Olimpija. Even though I know that this is just the beginning, the goal means a lot to me, also because of everything that has happened to me in the past months.”
It is a fact that a lot has happened to him. A year ago, Niko Kasalo was on the verge of leaving for Belgium. A hefty compensation package was on the cards for Mura, and the talented youngster would continue his career at the prestigious Club Brugge. But it all fell into the water. And when the devil has young… Then Niko Kasalo was injured and, at the age of 16, he was confronted with matters that can often be a challenge even for the elderly.
Now Niko Kasalo is back. A masterpiece. And it just keeps on looking. What was, was. On the way to his goal, he also took time for
Planet Football
and was the next to feature in our regular column
Young hopes
.
1. Where and when did you start training football?
I have been coaching football since I was five years old. I started my career at Mora, where I went through all the younger selections and made it all the way to the senior team. I have been with Mura since the beginning of my career.
2. Who inspired you to take up football and who has influenced you the most in football?
Without a doubt, my two older brothers were the ones who got me into football in the first place. In fact, I played football with them all the time from a very young age. My football career was also greatly influenced by my father, with whom I spent a lot of time with the ball.
3. What do you like most about football?
Since I play as a striker, scoring goals is definitely my favourite thing. I also love the fact that every time I step on the pitch, I enter my own special world, which I enjoy immensely.
4. Your favourite football moment so far?
The answer is quite clear: the goal I scored not long ago in a Telemach First League match against Olimpija Ljubljana.
5. Why do you think football is the best sport in the world?
Football unites and is therefore a unique sport. All of us who are involved in football in one way or another are making the world a better place.
6. Who are your football role models – local and foreign?
Cristiano Ronaldo is definitely my biggest football role model. I really like his mentality and his way of working. Unfortunately, I don’t have a specific role model at home, but I look up to a lot of my club teammates, like Mirrind Daku, the top scorer of Mura.
7. Who is your biggest and toughest competitor and why?
I would say that I am, in fact, my own biggest and at the same time toughest rival. Every day I want to become the best version of myself.
8. What do you think is the most important quality of a successful football player?
Discipline, no doubt. And you must never, no matter what, give up. You must never give up, no matter how hard or difficult it may be.
9. What is the hardest thing for you on the road to achieving your football dream?
Probably the fact that so many people all over the world, young and old, are involved in football. It is clear that there is no room for everyone. Not everyone can succeed.
10. How do you deal with disappointment after defeats?
I have to admit that every time I lose, I get very angry because I want to win every match. I always want to be better than my opponent, I always want to be the best. But it’s true that you can learn from every defeat.
11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I see myself in one of the top 5 European leagues, and since I was a little girl I have dreamt of one day playing for the best club in the world. For Real Madrid.
12. Which of your teammates (current and past) are you sure will make it in football and why?
I am sure that Jaka Čuber Potočnik, my friend and teammate in the youth national team, will have a good career. I also believe that Luka Turudia, who is my teammate at Mora, will succeed.
This text was automatically translated using AI.