“The virus doesn’t differentiate between nationalities"

Berlin - “Make the best of it” is a popular saying when people are looking to make the best of a difficult situation. It’s a saying that one might hear often now in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, especially during (FaceTime) talks with parents or friends, in video conferences at work, or during rare trips to the supermarket. But, who can blame people, as we are dealing with lockdown conditions, as social distancing dominates our everyday interactions and as the worry over the future continues to grow. Vedad Ibisevic, who has been quarantined with his wife and their three children for the past week and half, is also clinging to this cliché - all while knowing well that a professional footballer is more well-off than many others. “So far, we’re all doing well and we are all healthy. We’re just trying to make the best of it,” said the Hertha captain.

Normally, the 35-year-old trains nearly every day with his teammates on the Schenckendorffplatz. On the weekend, the Bosnian striker would head off to fight for points and goals in various Bundesliga stadiums. However, that’s not the case currently, as the striker is following an individual training plan in order to keep his fitness levels up. “I usually train in the late morning, and sometimes my wife joins in when the kids are busy playing,” Ibisevic said. When Ibisevic mentions ‘making the best of it,’ this is what he means: being able to spend time with his wife, Zerina, and their two sons, Ismail (8) and Idris (10 months), as well as their daughter, Zejna (3). “I’m away a lot due to football and can’t always spend that much time with them. Of course, I’m really enjoying it now,” said Ibisevic. Those who know him as someone who hates to lose, even in training, will also know that his hot-headed nature only pops up on the pitch.

Balancing parenting, chores and football in the backyard

Ibisevic spends time playing football in the backyard with Ismail. Has his son inherited his father’s nose for goal? “At eight years old, he’s definitely better than I was at that age,” said the former Bosnia international with a laugh. As soon as the kids are asleep, then Ibisevic and Zerina have some time to themselves. The Herthaner also spends time gardening.

His kids still can’t fully understand why Ibisevic is home every day now, although his eldest son has noticed that the coronavirus has impacted their everyday life. “He doesn’t have to go to school and only has to do homework and learn a little bit. Otherwise, he’s at home and can play for hours. For a kid, of course that’s great at first,” said the striker, who joined Hertha in 2015 from VfB Stuttgart. However, Ibisevic wants to shelter his son a bit from the ongoing situation. “We told him that there’s a virus called corona, and that everyone has to be a bit more careful now.” Ibisevic has had more serious discussions with his in-laws and his parents, who live in Bosnia and the USA respectively. “Our parents are usued to taking care of their kids, even though they are long grown and have families of their own. They will always worry about us, but now it’s our turn to worry about them. Together with my sister, who lives in St. Lous, we’re able to convince them to listen to us and to stay at home,” said Ibisevic. “We need to protect the elderly and those who are at risk of being infected. If that means that we have to stay at home, then we will stay at home.”

Lessons for the future

How live will go on after the coronavirus is a complex issue, something that Ibisevic is well aware of. “No matter who I speak to, everyone is concerned and the topic always comes back to the virus. I’m the same,” he said. “I’m shocked and would never have guessed that things would have gotten to this point. We need to do something about the virus, that’s obvious. What exactly that involves, is something that the politicians and the experts need to determine. No one knows exactly what to do in such an exceptional circumstance, which makes it difficult to provide us with answers. We are all hoping that the preventative measures will help to flatten the curve.” Ibisevic also has something he’s hoping will have changed by the time the situation returns to normal. “We all have a lot of time now to learn and to see how quickly things can change. All people are equal, regardless of their income or status. No one can hide from the virus. It doesn’t differentiate between nationalities, religions, or skin colour. All of a sudden, we are all equal. Maybe that’s a lesson we’ll take with us into the future.”

If all goes to plan, then Ibisevic’s life will be able to return to normal. Until then, he - like his teammates - will have to remain patient. “Obviously, we want to return to playing as soon as possible, but there are other things that are more important at the moment. I’m wondering when we’ll be able to return to the pitch, but it’s not the most important question in my life at the moment.” Until then, the Herthaner - like so many others - will be trying to make the best of it.