In the pearl of the Balkan Peninsula, Macedonia, the talented Goran Pandev began his soccer career at the age of 18 when he was signed by Serie A giants Inter Milan. He was the soul of SS Lazio during the difficult years of the early 21st century, and was later instrumental in Inter's European Championship win in 2010. However, the politically controversial "Northern Macedonian" name has struggled to show real strength in soccer, and for a long time the international football world seemed to remember Pandev as a unique player.
Postponed by a year to Euro 2020, Pandev and his teammates fought hard and earned widespread attention. For the first time, the country, which has been an independent nation for only 30 years, has made it to a soccer international competition. It has been exactly 20 years since Pandev was first named to the national team roster, and he was showered with praise from the media at the national team's farewell game. As North Marchanton's only soccer star, it is more important to understand how Pandev has selflessly given to local soccer, not only in spirit, but also in money and energy. He has long been a national soccer superstar and a reformer who is expected to be a founding father of North Machildon soccer in the future.
Pandev has seen the ups and downs of soccer in Marchington from the time he was selected for the national team at the age of 17. By the age of 21, he had become a leading domestic footballer and the most reliable ball carrier in the attacking end. Despite being seen as underdogs in Europe, Marchington (who had yet to change their name at the time) managed to draw twice against England and Holland to take the spotlight. The talented player was supposed to go to Europe with his young country (which became independent in 1991), but years have passed and Marchington (North Marchington) soccer is still not on the right track, largely due to the government system and the inaction of the sports bodies.
As a superstar of domestic soccer, Pandev could have cooperated with the rulers "under false pretenses", claiming that "we will be better", but he has long stood for the grassroots and challenged the authorities, repeatedly and openly criticizing the soccer association for its inaction in improving the hardware facilities and systems, and even quitting the national team for a time. Pandev, who was already well known in the Italian Serie A, did not disdain the soccer cause of the "Northern Horse" only after he had won the honor, but he knew where the problems were and tried to improve them, only that some people were stubborn.
"You're so good, try doing it yourself!" People with this mentality love to say things like this, and Pandev has to face these people and these words every time he returns to the country. The problems of soccer in North Malaysia are actually very different from those in Taiwan: an immature industry, a conservative industry culture, and vested interests....... On the eve of the 2021 European Championships, Pandev was interviewed by [442] Magazine, and instead of talking about the scene, he bluntly criticized the domestic authorities, and throughout his entire career he has maintained a clear view of right and wrong, with a straight face.
At the age of 27 (2010), he decided to form a club with his youth coach, with a full ladder and hardware, like a professional team on TV - Akademija Pandev Football Academy was born. Starting out in the amateur league, the club was promoted to the top division of North Malaysia seven years later, and in 2019 won the domestic cup and entered the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League. This year's NLM internationals include players from the team Pandev founded out of his own pocket, and more than half of the club's annual expenses have been financed by Pandev himself, from its humble beginnings to its thriving.
North Marchanton Soccer's hardware is starting to get "artificial turf" and it all started with Pandev's efforts. The willingness of the NMFA (Marchington Football Association) to move forward with the project was, of course, thanks to funding from UEFA's 'HatTrick Program'. Domestically, it was Pandev who kick-started the program, having complained about the poor hard and soft facilities of the national team when he was in his twenties and even clashed with the authorities (the first time he quit the national team). After opening a soccer club on his own, he had to do more, faster, and show the world to more people in the country.
"If you want to do it, you'll just have to come first yourself", that's Pandev, on the field he's the leader of the offense, off the field he's the helmsman that leads North Machtom soccer forward. After 20 years on the national team, he is leaving the opportunity to the youngsters, his struggle will continue, the development of North Marchanton soccer will be on the straight and narrow, and Pandev will still be the leading figure.
Pandev completed the farewell performance of his national team career in the EHF Cup.
