SINGAPORE - As one of the four marquee players in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League this season, Goran Ljubojevic knows there is huge pressure on him to light up the competition.
But, speaking to The New Paper before a training session on Monday, Balestier Khalsa's new Croatian striker (right) insists he is not fazed. "I know there is pressure... but this is the same everywhere I have played," he said.
"When I was in Dinamo Zagreb, there was one occasion when 15 supporters, very big guys, came to my apartment (armed) with baseball bats because our team didn't play well.
"Me, (Dinamo teammate Danijel) Pranjic and our wives were inside, and we switched off the lights because we didn't want them to know we were there.
"If I had come out, I think they would have beaten us up, but luckily, the Croatian Special Forces came to disperse the group.
CHILD'S PLAY
"So, the pressure here is child's play compared to that!"
While comfortable with what is expected of him this season, Ljubojevic is not a fan of the "marquee" tag.
As a marquee player, his salary is not subject to the league's $10,000-a-month cap.
"I really don't like it (the marquee label)," said the former Croatia Under-21 star.
"It makes it seem like I am more important than the rest of my teammates, just because I am on better money.
"First and foremost, I am a team player, and I don't want the guys (my teammates) to think I'm some kind of star.
"It was the same case when I was at Dinamo. I was the highest-paid player in the league, and sometimes that makes people - even your teammates - want to see you fall."
