Coach Aleš Makuc will be defending the pond and stronghold in 2022

GH: In the 2021 season, you returned to the coaching position after a one-year break, where you led the team to second place after regular work with just three defeats. What were your first feelings, and what was the main reason for returning?

The biggest reason was that I missed my FROGS. I got along well with the players, and good friendships were forged. Already at the Errea Bowl, where I helped in organizational terms and watched over the judges and the scorer's table, all the players "pressed" me to come back. The scales were finally tipped in the right direction by the first tournament of the 2021 season, which I also attended as a spectator, where the boys showed a great game and played a 3-0 match a tournament. We found a common language with the club, so my coaching career continued, and I believe it will be so for a long time to come.

Your feelings were incredible when you got back on the field among the players and friends.

GH: Inexperience was evident in the final tournament where you lost against the Tigers and unlucky against the Knights. How do you motivate players to take a step higher next season?

It's true. Inexperience and perhaps a hint of sports luck were known. Against the Tigers, the critical decision was for their penultimate TD, where it was very close and could go both ways. But what it is, and we went to the match for 3rd place without natural energy, although the boys showed fighting spirit in this match and even had the strings in their hands for the final 3rd place, but unfortunately again unsuccessful. A bit of sports luck and some more experience are needed, and the results will come.

How do motivate players? It's mostly in their heads. I know they have the knowledge, and they are capable. However, what is lacking is a little of this mental experience to keep your head in the right place at the right time.

GH: Who are the players who deserve the most praise in the 2021 season, and who will be missed the most in the 2022 season?

Our sport is a team sport, and after all, everyone is responsible for both successes and failures. However, it can be seen from the final statistics that we have some players who are among the TOP 3 in terms of individual positions/successes in the SFFL league. So let the numbers speak for me (laughs).

Who will be missed the most? Of course, everyone who is no longer with us in the team is missing. We'll see how that feels on the court.

GH: We all know that American football is a game of tactics and play that can take many years before the right results come. In 2021, you proved with the games that all teams are beatable and that you can also lose matches won. What are the goals for the third season?

Progress from season to season can be seen. Given that we are still a young club, it seems to me that we are showing better and better games, and the results speak for themselves. If we are right and heads are in place, we can beat anyone. On the other hand, it is true that matches already won are lost. For this season, the goal is primarily to eliminate these fluctuations. The main objectives are first place in the SFFL, suitable games, and visible rankings in other tournaments.

GH: You have an enviable 18 players on the roster. How will you rotate given that you will play SFFL, HFFL and five international tournaments?

The rotations will mainly depend on the mood of the players. So far, everyone is healthy and ready. We will see what the season will bring. I will definitely try to distribute the "minutes" fairly. However, there is a well-known saying, "You don't change the winning horse," and this must be taken into account.

GH: We are also entering the 2022 season with two retired numbers. # 5 and # 64 will go down in history. What is the significance of these gestures?

# 5 belonged to one of the first players and initiators of the club Goran Dujmović OJKA. Ojka hung his football boots on a peg in the 2021 season after our last regular season match in Ajdovščina. He played in the Blitzer position, which is one of the more challenging because speed and thinking and observing the opponent's passes are essential. Ojka was a vital member of the FROGS chain, and that is why we put a jersey with his number in the display case in his honour.

# 64, however, was the number that accompanied me through all these years, from the beginnings of TACKLE to the end of FLAG. And this number has also retired and will remain in the club.