Aleksandar Gigović

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aleksandar Gigović (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар Гиговић; April 20, 1983, Kragujevac, Serbia - July 28, 2007, Ivanjica, Serbia) was a Serbian volleyball player who spent his entire career at OK Radnički Kragujevac.

Gigović started playing volleyball at the age of 11, he begins by playing as a setter. He later decides to play as a receiver, as he develops into a truly great player. It is in only in 2002 that his talent is acknowledged, and this by Dejan Brdović, former volleyball player and national team captain, and he joins Radnički Kragujevac, then playing in the Serbian Third Division. Gigović, almost by himself, lifts the team to eventually reach the Serbian First Division. The 2006/07 season league table shows his club at the very top of the standings prior to the playoffs. It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that the team enters the playoffs with Gigović at their helm. Unfortunately, the young star injures himself in the first game of the playoffs. From the stands, he sees his team lose to Ribnica Građevinar from Kraljevo in the semifinals.

Igor Kolaković, national team coach, received heavy critics for not selecting the prospect on the senior national team to play at the FIVB World League 2007. Without him, the team achieves a very deceiving 12th place.

Due to his amazing performance in the past season, Gigović receives a call to play for the national team at the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand. The team begins preparations for the tournament in the city of Ivanjica, Serbia. Only a few days later, on July 28, 2007, Gigović's sudden death shocks the entire country of Serbia as well as the volleyball and sport world.^[1]. It is reported that he died in his sleep during a short break.

Gigović leaves behind his family, friends and team but also his great ambitions of one day wearing the Serbian jersey and becoming one of the best volleyball players the world has ever seen.

His team can no longer count on his presence in the dressing room or on the bench, they can no longer count on his ball-receiving, amazing serves or blocks, but one thing is sure, during timeouts or between sets, they will have the opportunity to cry out a cheer, "FOR GIGA!", get out on the court and win.