THE BALL – «We are still celebrating…I think I will go to Porto»
With the clash for a place in the World Cup getting closer and closer, with Portugal having the visit of North Macedonia to Dragão on Tuesday, we went to meet a very special figure. Antonio Filiveki was the first Macedonian to play in Portugal.
In the huge stampede of players from the former Yugoslavia that spread across Europe in the late 1980s, sensing upheavals and ethnic confrontations that generated an infamous war, many landed on Portuguese soil and for great careers. Something unnoticed or little remembered, Antonio Filevski was a Macedonian defender – who played in Rio Ave for six months of the 1993/94 season, recording two games against Chaves and Torreense.
Now 55 years old…he lives in the capital Skopje, away from football, although with credits from several seasons at Vardar and 10 caps for Macedonia. He arrived in Portugal at the age of 28, coming from Vardar at the age when it would be possible to leave Yugoslavia. In a quick but friendly phone call, Filevski makes an effort to pronounce in Portuguese some words that still run in his memory.
«Great game, great game that will be there in Porto. It will be very difficult for Macedonia. But also for Portugal. Our team defends very well. The team is strong and we are confident», warns the former goalkeeper, asking questions in the rush to capitalize on this brief line of contact with Portugal.
«Friend, how is Quinito? Friend how is Quim Vitorino», shoots, remembering one of the coaches of that Rio Ave of 1993/94. The other was José Rachão. He was saddened to learn of the tragedy that befell Quinito and led to a deep depression. Quim had already returned to Vila do Conde, after being an ace and European at FC Porto. But with Filevski we quickly returned to Portugal-North Macedonia. “We are still celebrating, what a game and what a fantastic night. A night to drink a lot of beer » he says, joking and giving an almost certainty.
«Friend, let’s have beer in Portugal too! I love this country and I’ve only been there six months. Even today I wake up dreaming that I am in Vila do Conde or in the countryside of Rio Ave. I’m matching Boban Babunski [antiga figura da Macedónia, entrevistado pela A BOLA, declarações na edição de hoje] go see the game. Let’s see the flights. I think I’ll finally return to Portugal», confides Filevski, a companion, among others, on that Rio Ave, by Carlos Brito, Canberra, João Eusébio, Emanuel, José da Rocha, Gama, Gamboa or Rifa.