It is often said that you are young as long as there are still firsts in your life – and that proved true last weekend. Vilnius Žalgiris striker Nikola Petkovic scored the first goal of his career at Kaunas’ Darius and Girėnas Stadium. It was also the first time in his Toplyga coaching career that Žalgiris head coach Andrius Skerla celebrated a victory at the venue. He had previously failed to do so while managing Hegelmann.
Perhaps the change in shirt colours played a role? A person unfamiliar with football might jokingly ask. But speaking seriously, perhaps the victory over the Kaunas side is exactly the turning point from which Vilnius Žalgiris can begin moving upwards. The 29-year-old Serbian agreed to share his thoughts on his ambitions to become the team’s first-choice striker.
After missing the entire previous season through injury, the Serbian has fully recovered and has already scored four goals in this year’s Toplyga campaign.
A Libra by zodiac sign, Nikola came across during our conversation as a very friendly and sincere person. As the interview progressed, he even became somewhat melancholic, nostalgically recalling former Žalgiris majority shareholder and director Vilma Venslovaitienė, for whom he had only warm and kind words. Before parting ways, the number 11 shirt wearer also discussed the situation of central defender Younn Zahary, who has not played since May of last year.
More in the interview below.
-Nikola, how did you feel after your injury and rehabilitation?
First of all, I would like to wish all of your readers a happy start to the new season (the interview took place this spring – editor’s note). This is my third year in Vilnius. My first season was good, but in my second season I suffered an injury and was forced to miss the entire year. In the first match of last pre-season (against RFS from Rīga in the winter of 2025 – editor’s note), I suffered a serious injury: I tore my ACL along with my meniscus. After completing my rehabilitation, I feel good and am ready to return at full strength and become a leader in attack. It is normal at the beginning of the season and during preparation after the New Year for your legs to feel heavy and to need time to get going. That happens every year while preparing for a new season. I hope to become an important figure for the club as it progresses.
-Do you expect to be the team’s main striker this year?
You can never know what will happen on the pitch, but I hope I will have a bigger role in the team. The important thing is to stay healthy.
-What are your thoughts on last season?
I would like to forget last season because of what happened to me personally. From that situation I took everything positive that I could and grew as a person.
-And speaking more generally about the team’s results?
We did not achieve our objectives. Our only goal is always first place and becoming champions. After the 2024 season our goal was clear – to win the league – but we failed to achieve it. Despite that, at the end of the season we secured a place in the 2026 European qualification rounds, which added some positivity. Last season Vilnius Žalgiris suffered serious losses in central defence. Balkan defender Petar Bosančič was sidelined for more than half a year, while Comoros international Younn Zahary has still not returned and it remains unclear whether he will return at all. Of course, nobody is protected from injuries and hopefully we can avoid them this year, but last season we suffered a lot because of them.
-So what is the situation with Younn Zahary?
As far as I understand, he is slowly preparing to return to football after injuring his left knee. It is similar to an ACL injury, but his exact diagnosis is cartilage damage in the joint. Nobody knows when he will return or even if he will return at all. I wish him a speedy recovery.
(Editor’s note: Cartilage has no blood supply and does not heal easily on its own, which is why such injuries require specialised treatment.)
-How do you assess the winter signings made by your main rivals Kauno Žalgiris and their squad in general?
They signed many players from us during the winter and, generally speaking, strengthened themselves significantly. I hope we will have an answer for them.
-What was your personal relationship with former club owner Vilma Venslovaitienė?
After I suffered my serious injury last winter, Vilma helped me a lot and did not leave me on my own. The club helped find someone who could perform the operation. At that time she was the key person in the club and she also extended my contract for another season. I am grateful to her for everything.
-Why do you think things ended the way they did for Vilma?
Everything happened very quickly, and then the new management arrived.
-What is the difference between winter in Lithuania and Serbia?
It is colder in Lithuania than in Serbia, although we also had a lot of snow there this year.
-What were your last New Year celebrations like? Where did you spend them?
I did not celebrate New Year. I was looking after relative who was in a hospital. But if we are talking about the most common drinks consumed during New Year celebrations, traditionally it is rakia.
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