Spajić: Government to allocate €60,000 in bonuses for handball players and coaching staff

The Government will allocate around €60,000 in additional one-off bonuses for the young handball players and coaching staff, along with scholarships - Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced after receiving the Montenegro U-18 national team players today following their historic silver medal at the World Championship.

Spajić thanked the handball players for, as he put it, showing the world the greatness of Montenegro.

- From bronze last year to historic World Championship silver this year - a generation that refuses to stop! It was with particular pleasure that I welcomed our young handball players today. I will remember the honour of hosting them twice following their tremendous successes as one of the most beautiful moments of my term in office - Spajić said.

He congratulated the young Lionesses on their historic achievement.

- There are victories measured in goals. And there are victories measured by what a country learns when it watches its children on the world stage - the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that the success was neither accidental nor a one-off, but rather the continuation of a story that is still unfolding.

 - Step by step. Medal by medal. A generation that refuses to stop. Limited resources, fewer clubs, fewer opportunities - none of that was an excuse. It was simply the beginning of a story about character, your character, which must serve as a lesson to our entire society, particularly as we complete our efforts to demonstrate that our place is among the most developed European countries - Spajić said.

He also singled out the words of handball player Sofija Delević, who said after the final that the Lionesses’ performances had united the country.

- I truly believe that is the recipe - finding a common goal. Sport is the means, while the European Union is the path, and that is the fundamental policy that guides me as Prime Minister. I want us to forget everything that divides us and focus on what unites us. Sofija recognized the importance of that at the age of 18. We, the older ones, sometimes forget it. That is why I am glad that her words serve as a reminder to us - Spajić said.

As the Prime Minister announced, the Government of Montenegro will task the Ministry of Finance with paying the handball players and coaching staff a one-off amount of around €60,000 in recognition of their major achievement, in addition to the scholarships provided by law for promising female athletes.

Minister of Sports and Youth Zoran Jojić said that the silver medal at the World Championship was an achievement worthy of the highest respect.

- I know how much work, effort, talent, sacrifice and discipline it takes to achieve a result like this. This silver is a great achievement, but for this generation, the most important things are still ahead. I wish you every success on the road ahead, and I am certain that you will bring home gold from one of the next championships - Jojić said.

He congratulated the handball players, coach Miloš Perović and Handball Federation of Montenegro President Petar Kapisoda.

Team captain Anđelina Orbović thanked the authorities for their support on behalf of the team.

- We knew that we were a small country. But on the court, we showed that great dreams do not require a big country - they require a great heart. We won a silver medal, but also something much greater - respect, pride and a place in the history of Montenegrin handball - Orbović said, thanking Montenegro for believing in them.

The captain promised that they will continue to work, dream and fight for this jersey. 

- Because we believe that this is not the end of our story. This is only the beginning – Orbović concluded.