Stories from the other side – Rok Vodišek: I used to be a ‘bone cutter’, but after my debut at Olimpija I went to a pub and got a surprise

Published on 28. September 2024 28. September 2024

Text: Rok Vodišek. Poto: Vid Ponikvar / Sportida

Football is far more than just live broadcasts, dry match reports, transfer rumors, and stale clichés from the main actors. What the public sees is just one side of football; it is interesting and often exciting. But there is also that side hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals. On the other side, things happen that you would never think could happen. There are complications, incidents, anecdotes, incredible stories, bitter disappointments, failed plans, and much more. These are stories from the other side. Their stories. The stories of the main actors.

Recently, Rok Vodišek, once one of the most promising goalkeepers in Slovenia, joined the Planet nogomet team. He made his debut for the senior team of Olimpija as a teenager. After his adventure in Ljubljana, he went to Italy, where he experienced many interesting and noteworthy things. And many things remain hidden from the public eye, from the eyes of fans. Rok Vodišek, now the goalkeeper for the former Slovenian champion from Domžale, came to Planet nogomet to share as many unheard stories as possible. Stories from the other side.

I can hardly believe that more than 8 years have passed since my debut in the Prva liga Telemach. It was September 11, 2016, when we hosted Gorica at Stožice – at that time, I was a member of Olimpija. I was 17 years, 9 months, and 6 days old. At least that’s what Transfermarkt says…

If I remember correctly, we played a cup match against a lower league team in Turnišče the week before the game against Gorica. Surprisingly, I knew the pitch well, as many years earlier, I had attended a football camp in Turnišče with my first team, NK Dolomiti Dobrova. By the way, I was still an “up-and-coming” center-back, a so-called ‘bone-crusher’. In short, we played a cup match, and I had known for a few days prior that I would be playing.

“Rok Vodišek, today’s match is crucial…”

I vividly remember how our physiotherapist, the legend of Olimpija Klemen Pavlinič, approached me before the match and quietly said: “Kid, today’s match is crucial for the weekend’s game.” He meant that, depending on how I performed in the cup match, it would determine whether I would get a chance in the league match we played on the weekend.

This statement surprised me, and to be honest, I didn’t believe it. I thought the legendary Pavle was just “talking nonsense,” as I was convinced that even if I played well, there was no way I would get a chance in the Sunday match because, at that time, Gorica was even at the top of the table, with us right behind them.

To be honest, I don’t remember the match in Turnišče very well. I only know we won 2:0 and that I did my job well with the work I had. Still, even after the match, I didn’t believe I would be standing in goal for Olimpija again four days later. I found out it would happen a day or two before the match during training at Stožice. Before training, we had a video analysis session, after which our then-coach Luka Elsner kept us goalkeepers in the meeting room to reveal his plans.

He said he had decided to give me a chance, to trust me, and that this was his decision. When I heard this, I initially couldn’t believe it, but of course, I was extremely happy. I would like to sincerely thank him for the opportunity and trust he placed in me, as well as the then-goalkeeping coach Andrej Kračman. I would also like to highlight that my then-goalkeeping colleagues Aleksander Šeliga and Darko Brljak provided me with incredible support and helpful advice. Not to mention my wonderful family, who always stands by me – thank you all from the bottom of my heart. With such support from the people around you, everything becomes much easier.

“Oh, you are our goalkeeper!”

My memory may not be very fresh anymore, but I know that before the match, I didn’t feel overly nervous. I had trained well and was confident that I would rise to the occasion. If only I could approach every match with that mindset… And indeed, a “dream” debut happened; we won 1:0, and I kept a clean sheet. I don’t remember any other events before or during the match, but one event after the match remains in my memory. Naturally, all my close ones came to the Stožice stadium, and after the match, we went to celebrate my debut in the center of Ljubljana.

When we were sitting in one of the local establishments, and the waiter brought us drinks, he looked at me and said: “Oh, you are our goalkeeper!” At first, I was surprised, as I wasn’t used to being recognized, and to be honest, I didn’t expect anyone to address me that way after just one match that I had played. Of course, I felt very good at that moment and was even slightly proud of myself.

Read also

Now that I look back, I should have been extremely proud of myself and should have enjoyed those moments even more. I urge you: take a step back and look at your life objectively, outside your emotional frame. Think about what good things you have done in life, congratulate yourself for it, and be proud of who you are.