Nikola Prce
Nikola Prce (born 31 August 1980) is a Bosnian handball player. Currently he plays for Azoty - Pulawy. (Height: 2,01, Weight 114 kg, position: left-back)
He is one of the best handball players and leader of young generation players in Bosnian National team and he was honoured as Bosnian "Sportsman of the Year" for 2014.
"As a child I practiced everything, football, basketball, and a bit of tennis. Then in high school was founded handball section so I decided to try it. We traveled all over Herzegovina and played matches with peers from other schools. It was very interesting and attracted me. One time I practiced parallel basketball and handball. But at the end of these trips and socializing tipped to the side of handball and I was not wrong,"says Prce. For the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nikola debuted 05.01.2006., in the match against the Netherlands in Lukavac, in the qualification for the World Cup 2007. In the 88 games played for the national team Prce scored 323 goals, making him one of the most effective team members ever.[1]
Club career
Prce played for 16 different clubs, including: Čapljina (1994/97), RK Zagreb, (1997/98), HRK Karlovac (1998/99), RK Metković Jambo (1999/00), Izviđač (2000/01), RK Zagreb (2001/02), CB Torrevieja (2002/03), RK Trimo Trebnje (2003/04), Izviđač (2004/06), Bregenz Handball (2006/07), Octavio Vigo (2007/09), Ademar Leon (2009/10), BM Puerto Sagunto (2010/11), CB Ciudad de Logroño (2011/12), Al Saad (2012/2013) and Pick Szeged.[2]
In the 2008–09 season, when he was a member of Octavio Vigo, he ended the season as the third best goal scorer of Liga ASOBAL, with 181 goals. He won the EHF Cup in the 2013–14 season with Pick Szeged.[3]
Prce began his rich handball career as a teenager in his native Čapljina. He says that the start was like a dream, but then steadily throughout his career has had its ups and downs, something in his iniquity, and some because he listened to the advice of various people around him .
After a great debut season in his native Čapljina, as 16-year-old boy, Prce signed for RK Zagreb in 1996, one of the biggest clubs in the region. In the first season, although teenager, he recorded good performances and acquire the necessary experience by training with the first team along with regular education. Then receives an invitation for participation in the cadet Croatian national team. After one season in the Zagreb he went on loan to Karlovac, and then accept the offer of another Croatian first league member - Metkovic. Then he returns to his Herzegovina RK Izviđač from Ljubuski where after one and a half seasons, played qualifying matches for the IHF Champions League, is suspended in order to incorrect registration of the club. After a one-year suspension, he returned to Zagreb, and a year later he began his international career by going to the Spanish Torrevieja. After Torrevieja he goes to Slovenian Trimo, and then coming back to the Izviđač, where he spent two great seasons. Through the group stage of the EHF Champions League, reaches the EHF Cup and then the semi-finals of the same competition. The turning point in his career was signing for Austrian Bregenz where he made a lot of progress with Dagur Sigurdson, the present coach of Germany national team and Berlin’s coach. After the Austrian episode Prce returned to Spain. However, Prce says that most beautiful part of his career was in Puerto Sagunto and Spain cited as another country where he could live. "Spain is by far the most. It is a country where I could spend my life. Of course, after my California, as we like to call Herzegovina. Spaniards are temperamental people, especially in the south. They have a similar mentality as we really enjoyed it when I played there. In every club where I played we hung out, not only during the club's obligations, but also personally.Spaniards are very welcoming and friendly" says Prce. Zenith of his playing career he reached in late gaming years. With 34, after brief episodes in Lebanon and then in Germany where he played for Emsdetten, it seemed that the career is nearing an end. However, arriving fantastic performances for the national team in the January cycle, a month later came the offer from Pick Szeged, where did well thanks to coach Juan Carlos Pastor and teammates. He played phenomenal half-season and won the EHF Cup, the first European trophy in the club 's history . About 20,000 citizens of gave an unprecedented reception at square in Szeged.
Playing for his current club Azoty Pulawy he won bronze medal in two consecutive years which is the best result for this club in their history. In season 2015/2016 he became second best scorer at the Polish league with 160 goals scored
Bosnian national team
Prce debuted for Bosnian national handball team in qualifications for the 2006 European Handball Championship. In the 88 games played for the national team Prce scored 323 goals, making him one of the most effective team members ever. Bosnia qualified for their first major tournament after they eliminated Iceland in two play-off matches for the 2015 World Men's Handball Championship. Prce was a key a figure with a total of 18 goals in two games. Because of that, he was honoured as Bosnian "Sportsman of the Year" for 2014.[4] Upon receipt of this prestigious award, team captain said: " The dream of every athlete is to be the best in their country. Few people can expect to them to happen during career, and I got lucky . This is probably the greatest achievement in my career, maybe in life".
Personal life
His father, Karlo Prce ( died in a car accident 12.12.1988.) was a civil engineer and manager of the hotel, mother Draga Prce was a cook in restaurant. They did not practice any sport. His sister Karolina is chief of operations in one insurance Company. His girlfriend, Nikolina Kovacic, is Croatian volleyball player, who played in various international clubs and for the Croatian national team. Support of his family means a lot to him because they are always with him either in the best, but also during the most difficult moments. "As much as you need the work and perseverance, so you need to have the luck to find the right time in the right place. At least such is my experience. I had a funny way, caused by my faults but under the influence of others also. From an excellent start of my career, through suspension, incredible adventure and a set of circumstances at my 35, I came to the summit of my career . My advice to young people is that they do not accept everyone's opinion, self-taught coach or manager. You need to do and believe in yourself. In every sport there are plenty of people who are not professionals and can make it difficult time in their career. It's hard when you get a bad name, and I felt it. The most important thing is to believe in themselves and in what they do", says Bosnian national team captain in his message to young athlets.
His plans for the future are still tied for handball: "I still enjoy handball and I feel good on the ground. I intend to play handball as long as my health allows me to".
References
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Zvjezdan Misimović |
Bosnian Sportsman of the Year 2014 |
Succeeded by Amel Tuka |
 | ||