Mr Personality: Janjetovic talks Arnie, Madge and super-fights

The Sydney FC goalkeeper tells TWG: Why flares are so annoying; What Marc Janko is all about; That two goalkeepers vying for the same position really can get on; How coach Graham Arnold builds trust with his players; Why it's a 'no' to free Madonna tickets.

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Sydney FC goal keeper Vedran Janjetovic in action against Brisbane Roar. (AAP) Source: AAP

Goalkeepers often get the brunt of the effect from flares thrown from the crowd, because they usually land behind the goal. What does that smoke smell like up close? Is there a variety of "fragrances" or what?

It's happened a few times to me - it seems to be part and parcel of football. It smells almost like burning rubber - it's pretty ordinary. They all smell the same, so none of them smell any good. Fingers crossed that it doesn't happen, but it hasn't irritated my eyes so far. It's just annoying because of the smell of it and because it can get in the way of your vision of the game. But what can you do? Until they can stop them bringing flares into the ground you've just got to put up with it. They must have some weird ways of getting things in, but you've just got to brush things like that aside and concentrate. There's much more happening in the actual game that you've got to worry about.

Did you see film of your coach, Graham Arnold, singing along to INXS on the sideline before your recent game against Newcastle? Did any of the players give it to him about that?

I did see it. We all had a bit of a laugh about it. A few of the boys gave it to him and he had a bit of a giggle about it himself.

Are you an INXS fan yourself?

Not really, no. A bit before my time.

What music are you into?

R&B and hip-hop sort of stuff. A whole bunch of artists - Chris Brown and Drake are a couple of the ones I like.

Marc Janko is an interesting individual. He comes across very well in his interviews and treats the game with a lot of respect. What is he like among the players?

He's just like you described him - very professional. He takes his football very seriously, like everyone should at this level. He's definitely someone to look up to, the way he presents himself. Before training, during training and after training, he's a great example. He puts in 100 per cent at training and in games and wears his heart on his sleeve - he's a top guy to have on the pitch and in the dressing-room.

As a goalkeeper, you see opposition strikers from close range when they get a chance and sometimes players panic and snatch at shots, but Janko would be one of the calmest finishers the A-League has seen, wouldn't he?

Yeah, he's got a very cool head on his shoulders. He takes his chances really well and that's why he's managed to put 16 in the back of the net this season. A few strikers are a bit edgy when they get that opportunity in front of goal, but he seems to nail it every time. Fingers crossed he keeps on doing it for the rest of the season, going into the finals.

I saw you and back-up goalkeeper Ivan Necevski hug on the field after last Sunday's game against Wellington, as teammates tend to do. But how can goalkeepers vying for the same position like each other?

Oh well, it's a team sport at the end of the day and we all contribute in some way. At training - and I've been the second choice before as well - you still put in 100 per cent and you work with the other goalkeepers. You're there as part of a squad and whatever the other players are going through, you're going through it as well. You push your teammates to get the most out of them at training and when we play we win as a team or we lose as a team - it doesn't matter if you're on the bench or not even in the squad. We're all there to help each other and push each other to get the best result for our team.

Are you sure Ivan's not trying to sabotage you in some way, behind the scenes? He hasn't got a Vedran Janjetovic doll that he's sticking pins in, has he?

Ha ha, I hope not. Everyone's just vying for a spot and that's just the nature of the beast in sport.

Who are the guys you hang out with most at Sydney FC?

Probably Matt Jurman and Bernie Ibini. A few of the young guys as well. If we go out we try to go out as a group of players and help keep a good team spirit that way.

Do you get a lot of fans coming up for a chat when you're out?

Every now and then someone stops by for a chat and a photo. It's always a good vibe.

You mentioned Bernie Ibini. He loves his earrings, a nice car and a good suit. He presents himself pretty well out and about, doesn't he?

Yeah, he scrubs up all right. He loves his bling toys - his watches, his earrings, cars, fancy stuff. He's a good bloke as well, good personality.

Would "Arnie" blow up if he heard you were out at a nightclub until 4am?

Oh, most probably, yeah. I'd be shocked if he didn't, to be honest.

Does he run a tight ship? What's the player-coach relationship like?

Yeah, it's fine. Arnie and everyone else on the coaching staff is very approachable. He does run a tight ship, so before we do anything we run it by him if it's a team night out or a team dinner. He usually gives us the go-ahead anyway - we're a pretty responsible bunch of guys. We do the right thing by the coaching staff and when they see that, they give us a bit more leeway. If there's something being arranged, we'll all go out as a group, so that no-one is left on their own.

I probably know the answer to this after you were telling me what music you liked earlier, but Madonna is touring here next year. Will you be going to see her or have you got no interest at all?

I'd love to say I'm going, but I've got to be honest and say I have absolutely zero interest.

Not even a free ticket would get you there?

Probably not.

If you had had the chance to go and see a big sporting event anywhere in the world, with front-row seats, whether it be the World Cup, the US Masters golf, the Olympic Games, the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao super-fight that's coming up, or the Super Bowl, what would you pick and why?

I'd probably pick the Mayweather fight. I'm very interested in that. I was hoping it would be a bit later than 2 May, so a few of us could try and get tickets and go over for it in the off-season, but the A-League finals series starts that weekend and we're obviously looking forward to being involved in that. It's probably going to be the biggest event in the history of boxing, so sitting front-row would be an awesome experience, I think.


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Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service.
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7 min read
Published 2 April 2015 4:02pm
By Greg Prichard
Source: SBS

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