Vojdan Stojanovski one match short of 100 caps for North Macedonia
Captain Vojdan Stojanovski will earn his 99th cap in Vienna; the 100th is expected at home against Cyprus in November.
Vojdan Stojanovski is one match away from the milestone 100th appearance for the North Macedonia national team as the side opens the second — and decisive — pre-qualifying window for EuroBasket 2029 in Vienna on 30 August 2026.
Coach Jose Maria Berocal leads a squad that faces Austria in the opening game; a win would significantly boost North Macedonia's chances to reach the next phase of the qualification process. Stojanovski keeps the captain's armband as he prepares to play his 99th cap today, with the century expected at home in November against Cyprus. He already holds the record for most appearances for the national team.
Stojanovski — a model professional and long-serving captain
Stojanovski remains a constant presence for the national side, admired for his commitment and leadership. He described what wearing the national jersey means to him: "For me it has always been an honor and a pleasure to play for Macedonia. I always wear the national jersey with great pride and want to give my all for the national team. No matter how many appearances you have behind you, each new game is special and you always have extra motivation when you play for your country. In sport there are tough moments, there are also moments when it might be easiest to give up, but when it comes to Macedonia, you always find the strength to continue. I know what this jersey means to us and I will fight to the end, in every match."
His first senior call-up came in 2008 from then-coach Jovica Arsić, a moment Stojanovski still remembers vividly: "My first call for the senior national team was in 2008 from then-coach Jovica Arsić, it was the fulfilment of a dream to play alongside Pero Antić, Vrbica Stefanov, Todor Gečevski, Gjorgji Cekovski…It was a huge experience for me, I learned a lot from every practice, from behaviour to approach to training. Every practice for me was like playing a game, the passion at that time was like that. Most importantly, I was welcomed well and I never lacked anything," he said.
Stojanovski also highlights the collective memory of EuroBasket 2011: "EuroBasket 2011 is at the top; I remember it as if it was yesterday, from the success we achieved to all the months we spent together, we were like a family. I remember every game, from the first to the last."
Looking ahead to the match with Austria, Stojanovski set a simple target: victory. He warned against underestimating Austria despite their loss to Cyprus and noted the difficulty of facing a home team. He underlined the squad's preparation despite minor fitness concerns and regretted the absence of Andrej Jakimovski, which prevented a fully complete roster for the first time. He also expressed hope for vocal support from the Macedonian community in Austria, saying their presence could be decisive.
Photo: press material from the event
