REMEMBER THIS NAME: NEMANJA LJUBOJEVIĆ – A GREAT FOOTBALL TALENT FROM SRBAC

Nine-year-old football talent Nemanja Ljubojević, a member of the 2017 generation of the Banja Luka-based SB Academy, recently stayed in Moscow where he trained with the youth team of one of Russia’s biggest football clubs – FC Spartak Moscow.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

During his visit, Nemanja played one match and completed three training sessions, gaining valuable experience and making new friendships while impressing coaches with his mature understanding of the game.

In Moscow, he was accompanied by coaches Dražen Dragosavljević and Nebojša Stjepanović, following an invitation from academy founder and Serbian national team player Srđan Babić, who currently plays for Spartak Moscow.

Nemanja took his first football steps at the age of five at the “Dream Team” Football School in Srbac. Last month, he participated in an international tournament on Zlatibor with Red Star Belgrade, where he was selected for the tournament’s best team. He plays in the position of central defender.

“Nemanja is an exceptional child and footballer. At only nine years old, he already shows maturity and understanding of the game that we rarely see in children of his age. I was with him during every training session and every match, and I can say this experience was priceless for him. He had the opportunity to see a top-level football system while also proving himself as a true leader among his peers,” said Dragosavljević.

The visit to Spartak allowed the Banja Luka coaches to learn more about the working methods of the Russian club’s academy, while Nemanja absorbed the mentality of top-level football and gained a completely new kind of experience.

Dragosavljević highlighted that Spartak offers world-class conditions, from the stadium and first-team training center to the academy facilities themselves, while Srđan Babić proved to be a great host for the young footballer from Srbac.

“What especially stands out is Nemanja’s charisma and presence on the pitch. He is not only individually talented, but also a player who knows how to involve the entire team, communicate with teammates and stay calm in crucial moments. Even now, he meets the high standards expected from young players at Spartak,” Dragosavljević added.

The talented youngster attends the “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Elementary School in Srbac, while the SB Academy where he trains gathers more than 250 children between the ages of four and twelve.

“We work with eight coaches and focus on the modern development of footballers, shaping them into complete players rather than focusing only on results. Nemanja’s visit to Moscow confirms his exceptional potential and opens the door to new football challenges, which is also the mission of SB Academy – to continue developing young talents ready to stand out on the international stage,” Dragosavljević said.

New appearances in the jersey of Red Star Belgrade are already planned, as Nemanja is expected to play at a tournament in Greece, while continuing to compete with his teammates from SB Academy at football tournaments across the region.