'Overseas stints helped me mature' - Bogdanovic

It has taken Daniel Bogdanovic 90 minutes to eradicate the bad memories of his first spell with Sliema Wanderers in season 1999-2000.

At the time, Bogdanovic's impact on the Sliema team that landed a cup double at the end of the season had been limited to a handful of cameo appearances which, however, were marked by some well-taken goals.

Bogdanovic, now 23, has blossomed since that uneventful season, cementing his reputation as one of the best talents around, even though his short-lived spells overseas may have cast a shadow over his pedigree.

On Wednesday, the Yugoslav-born striker showed that he is the player for the big occasion as his stellar performance inspired Sliema to a surprising but merited 2-0 win over Latvia's FC Skonto.

"My two stints overseas helped me to mature a lot and strengthened my character," Bogdanovic said.

"I did not receive any money during my stay at ChernoMore Varna but the experience of being a professional somewhat compensates for the loss of income."

Bogdanovic's performance in Wednesday's home leg of Sliema's Champions League first qualifying round tie was greeted with glowing reviews in the local sports media.

It is a measure of the high standards the 23-year-old sets for himself that he is not 100 per cent satisfied with his contribution.

"I only had one week of good training before Wednesday and it showed in the early stages of the match. I betrayed signs of rustiness... my control and sharpness were not as good as they should be.

"Had my physical and technical conditions been optimal, I would not have missed that chance early on. As the game progressed, I gained in confidence and in the second half, I felt much better physically as reflected by the significant improvement in my performance," the former Valletta striker added.

The Wanderers won the league in emphatic fashion last season, wrapping the issue several weeks in advance. The addition of established players like Bogdanovic, Stefan Giglio and Jamie Pace to their squad has inevitably evoked suggestions that again they will be a dominant force next season.

Bogdanovic says Sliema are the Real Madrid of Maltese football.

"Considering the number of international players in our squad, I think that Sliema can be safely described as the Real Madrid of Maltese football," Bogdanovic said.

"No other team could have performed as well as this strong Sliema side did on Wednesday. We literally outshone FC Skonto. Some might argue that the heat may have been a factor but we must not forget that their players have already been involved in 15 league matches. They certainly did not have any fitness problems going into Wednesday's match," Bogdanovic said.

Sliema's double lead from the first leg gives them a good chance of a berth in the second qualifying round but the mission is only half-done.

"We haven't qualified yet but the 2-0 victory is a good cushion," Bogdanovic said.

"An away goal would make life easier for us in Latvia and I am confident we can score there. Personally, I relish away games because the home team tend to be more adventurous and that gives us a good possibility of hitting on the break. A counter-attacking approach suits my game because I thrive on open space where I can have a go at defenders.

"If we repeat our performance in Malta, I believe we will reach the next round. All the players in our team must strive to remain fully focused during the match.

"Our team is saturated with experienced internationals, players who have been involved in several tough matches against France, Slovenia, Israel etc. The majority of the players at Sliema are used to playing in high-pressure games."

Bogdanovic's coming of age has intensified calls on national coach Sigfried Held to play him more regularly for Malta.

His performance in Corradino added weight to arguments that Bogdanovic shows his best when given an advanced, roaming role.

"I have produced my best when playing as a roaming forward. I like to drift from one side to the other to open up space. I can play in other positions and with the national team, I have been mostly deployed as a wide midfielder.

"Obviously, it's up to the coach to decide where to deploy me. I have the utmost respect for Mr Held who gave me my debut with the Maltese team," Bogdanovic added.

Bogdanovic's career in the last three seasons resembles a musical chairs game as he has turned out for no fewer than five clubs, namely Sliema, Hungary's SC Vasas, Naxxar Lions, Valletta and ChernoMore Varna in Bulgaria.

Although speculation about interest from foreign clubs is likely to intensify if Bogdanovic continues to deliver the goods for Sliema, the Malta striker is looking to complete a full season in the Wanderers' blue shirt before considering any offers that may originate from abroad.

"I have no intention to move to a foreign club before the end of this season. A day before I joined Sliema Wanderers, I was offered a contract by a Greek club but I turned it down.

"I want to spend a full season in Malta because I have a number of goals which I want to fulfill here. My sights are set on winning several domestic honours for my new team."

Sliema's success in midweek provided a welcome boost for the erstwhile fading image of Maltese football.

Bogdanovic believes that our game can improve if local players have more experience of professional football.

"The future is not as bleak as it looks. Players like Michael Mifsud, Stefan Giglio, Gilbert Agius are still young and they are very talented. I believe that the standard of players who, like myself, had the chance to play abroad, even if it was for a short time, has increased immeasurably.

"We need to have more players going abroad to get a feel of what it's like to be a professional," Bogdanovic said.