One of the people you`ll meet during SELAF matches is Igor Gajić, League Commissioner. Not on the field but in the background as someone who takes care of rules and regulations being enforced and as such, someone without whom SELAF couldn’t function properly.

SELAF.com: What have You been doing so far, when it comes to American football?
Igor Gajić: I entered the world of American football as the founder, president and coach of one of the first teams in Serbia, Steeds. After the Serbian Federation was formed, I was a member of the Governing Body, authored the Competition Rules, refereed, was involved in preparations of the first referee`s seminar as an organizer and lecturer, was one of the lecturers at the first coaching seminar, etc. I had spent some time in the coaching staff for the Serbian national team when upon its forming.

How did you become SELAF`s Commissioner?
I.G.: With the founding of SELAF, there was a need for the League Commissioner. It was necessary that it would be someone responsible, and with prior experience. Through working in the Serbian Federation, I was already involved in such things, I had insight in teams` problems and in the state of the sport from it`s beginnings here, so I was approached by SELAF. I wrote the league`s propositions, and everything went on from there.

What are Your exact responsibilities?
I.G.: As SELAF`s Commissioner, I do administrative work: take care of the competition`s regularity, registration of players, teams and scores, setting the rules, propositions, official acts, deciding on appeals etc. When it comes to appeals and fines, I work closely with the Disciplinary Comity. Also this season I was a league official during matches.

How do You find yourself in it?
I.G.: Well, let`s say perseverance helps more than enthusiasm. Will comes from love for the sport and some inborn righteousness. All teams have equal treatment, and I see them all as friends in sport. I try to base my decisions so they benefit everyone, and not at anyone`s expense. However, when it comes to protecting the league, one needs to be decisive. For the position of Commissioner professionalism is above anything else.

What is better for You, being a commissioner now, or when you were a coach?
I.G.: I take a serious approach to everything I do. This is a job where there`s no room for improvisations, there`s a procedure that needs to be followed. The work is behind the scenes and there`s not a lot of place to make a name of yourself, and the reward comes in a different way, with the satisfaction when the competition ends successfully, and when you know that you have contributed to all of it. But, I miss working with players on the field. I still watch the games with eyes of a coach.

How do You see SELAF`s future and Your position in it?
I.G.: Development of SELAF is carefully planned and followed and that will surely continue. There`s a lot of work from everyone involved in the League and it`s giving results. That`s why I think SELAF has a bright future, which lies in regional connecting. That will give it both quality and importance, and with that comes everything else. Like so far, I`ll try to help in all of it with professional work and further improvement.