OK Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 3:1 (superliga play-off final, 4th match)

That’s it. End of the story.
It’s... just no. What an injustice. We have been undefeated for the entire season, and we failed here, in the final.
It started terribly, Zvezda won the first part to 25:14. We were again like a U14-team. 4:1, 10:5, 15:10, 23:13. We picked ourselves together for the second period. We were on the lead, Zvezda was always behind us with 1-2 points. They even took the lead here and there (5:4, 17:16), but we could always equalize and gain back our advantage. It was a battle of giants, finally thanks to Petar Nikolić and his blocks (among others) we won the set to 22:25.
The third part... Well, I don’t know what happened. I mean, to Partizan. Because to Zvezda a 8-point (!!!) series happened at 16:13. They were leading with 10 points (23:13). The one and only thing left for us was the glorious death. We got it. The result of the period was 25:17, Zvezda was leading to 2:1, but still at this point Average Fan had a struggling, stubborn hope that not all was lost yet.
The last part was the battle of nerves. It was a nip and tuck game, at a point we were on the lead continuously with 3 points. Marko Nikolić took the team on his back, he scored 25 points during the game.
Then for unknown reasons we halted at 16:20 and Zvezda reduced the difference. It was 21:22. They equalized to 23:23, then to 24:24. They took the lead (25:24). We equalized. Then... well, then Zvezda scored two points. 27:25. They won the set, the match, the final and eventually the championship title as well.

That’s all, folks. It was unquestionably a fantastic achievement to get to the final without being defeated during the entire season. If not else, then for this the team do deserve all respect.

OK Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 1:3 (superliga play-off final, 3th match)

WE WON!!!!
Oh, God.
It was again a match when we came back from the grave.
The first part was the bloody, ice-cold, ruthless death itself. Zvezda took the lead, made it to 12:3 (!!!). As if they would have been playing not against a so far undefeated team, but against a group of U14 players. We were struggling for the entire set. 15:6, 19:7, 21:11. Finally at 25:14 our sufferings have come to an end.
Average Fan was looking forward to the second part in a "whatever"-mood. And then again I don’t know what happened here, what Vladimir Vasović said (or didn’t say) to the boys. Because in the second part of the game the two teams had a nip and tuck battle in the beginning, but then we took the lead (3:4) and didn’t let control out of our hands until 9:9. There was a short period, when Zvezda overwhelmed us again. (16:12)
And then the volleyball team made the Resurrection of the Year.
We equalized. 17:17.
We took the lead!!! 17:18!!!
And from this point on we did not let it go. We won the second part to 22:25.
In the third part Parni valjak ran through the red team, led by Marko Nikolić. 1:5, then 3:8, 5:10, 9:14, 10:17... what a joy it was to see. The end was 20:25, we switched the standing!!! 1:2
For the last part Zvezda picked themselves together. The battle got more tense, but we were on the lead for the whole time. Marko Nikolić carried the team on his back, he scored 26 points during the game. At a point Zvezda equalized, it was 20:20, they tried not to let us sneak out of their hands (22:22). Finally the two Nikolić’s, Marko and Petar fired up restored energies, the first with attacks, the latter with blockings, and finally we won the last set to 23:25 as well as the match.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

OK Partizan - OK Crvena Zvezda 2:3 (superliga play-off final, 2nd match)

Do you know what it feels like when the one and only available stream collapses 10 minutes before the match?...
It is just one bit less worse than a goal against us in the 90th minute.

For my luck I could follow live scores on the league's website. Not as if that would have made me feel any better.
The first two parts could be like a dream. We won the first to 25:17, the second to 25:21. Heavenly music, fanfares, flower rain from the skies. We are leading to 2:0, what could happen?
The opponent happened. Zvezda sped up the pace

what kind of doping could they use?...

first reducing the difference (20:25), then they equalized (17:25, this part of the match could be like a nightmare), finally in the very last set they won 15:17 in a very close battle.
The hero of the match was Marko Nikolić with his 22 points. He is followed by Neven Majstorović and Dušan Lopar, they both scored 15-15 points

No. It’s just... no. We have been undefeated in the entire season. Nobody could win over us, not once. It would be the world’s biggest injustice.

Red team is on the lead to 2:0 in the aggregation. The 3rd match will be on Thursday from 18:00, we must fight with our whole heart and soul.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

News and results

There is a bunch of news and results I owe you. Some of them are fresh, some of them are from the previous days. You get them all now, in one post.
I start with the bad news.
Partizan was defeated by the red team in the first match of the volleyball play-off final. This was our first, our VERY FIRST defeat in the entire season. No team could win over us until now.
It was awful. Red players grabbed our throat in the first part and strangled us until they won it to 17:25. They were on the lead for the whole time.
In the second game we picked ourselves together. In the beginning red team still tried to show off, but at 5:6 Lopar equalized, then Majstorović took us on the lead (7:6). We made it to 15:9, then 20:11, finally we won to 25:17 and equalized the result (1:1).
The third part nothing worked for us. Zvezda was ahead always with 2-3 points. There were moments when we could equalize, but it never lasted long. It was a long and tough battle, finally the red stripes won it to 21:24. They were back on the lead. (1:2)
Then came the last period. At first we were leading (4:2), then Zvezda equalized. From then on it was a nip and tuck game. Until 10:9 we kept ourselves quite well, but then, well, it is so hard to say it out, but red team had more resources. Or I don’t know. They won the last game to 13:15 as well as the first match.
The hero of the day was Marko Nikolić, he scored 23 points. He is followed by Lopar and Majstorović, they both had 13 points. Mrdak was playing with injury for the entire match, still he made 12 points. The other scorers are Petar Nikolić (7), Popović (3) and Kostić (1).
Second match will be on Sunday from 16:30.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

***

The basketball team is again targeted by the Serbian Basketball Association. They announced that Partizan would be suspended from the superliga as long as they could reconcile their "outstanding financial obligations".

Let me remind all these jerks, most of all the No. 1. moron Gogić that it was their endless idiotism, servility and narrow-mindedness that drove Partizan into this desperate financial situation. All those impossible and ridiculous punishments of last season threw the team to the edge of bankruptcy, and now you want to suspend them, because they are out of money after your punishments. Congratulations. And I thought last season was the bottom point. How wrong I was. May you all get stuck on a fully crowded, slowly rolling Ikarbus stuck in the Friday afternoon traffic jam, where at least three blood-thirsty Bus Plus controllers are hunting for you, bastards.

***

Let’s pull our boat to peaceful waters (though in the beginning it will still be a bit rocky). The water polo team qualified to the semifinal of the Serbian league play-off, where they clashed with Crvena Zvezda. The first match was terrible, the red team drowned Partizan into the water, winning to 4:9 over us. But in the second game Partizan stroke back and won to 7:9, equalizing the standing to 1:1. It was not easy, the game was a draw even in the half-time (4:4), and red team took the lead in the third quarter (5:4). But then came Gogov and his two fantastic goals (5:6). Vico followed his example (5:7), Stojanović also scored (5:8). Mandić put the dot to the letter "i" in the last quarter with a distant shot (5:9). No matter how hard Zvezda tried, they couldn’t win over Partizan. The end result is 7:9, it’s up to the third game to find out who’ll be Radnički’s opponent in the final.

Dušan Mandić

***

For the end of this blogpost here is the brand new single of Grupa JNA titled Kad jutro svane.
Lyrics are included, you can scream it while dancing pogo. Turn on the volume, so the neighbourhood can also join.

Kad jutro svane, da brojim dane

Kada će doći nedelja

Da bodrim šampione

oblačim crno-bele boje

i odlazim na stadion

Hiljade Grobara misli isto što i ja

Humska jedan JNA

Mi smo tvoji Grobari

U porazu il’ pobedi

Mi smo tvoji Grobari

I kad se reflektori pale

I kad zagrmi stadion

I kada šanse su nam male

Samo da bori se bori se on

The volleyball team qualified for the superliga final

My bad. I have forgotten about the volleyball team, being overly busy with basketball eternal derbies. Still our basketball players were victorious three times over Novi Pazar, qualifying themselves to the final of the Serbian superliga.
The first match was on the 16th. It was won to 3:0 by Partizan. We won the first set to 26:24, which was definitely a nice job, after Novi Pazar took the lead to 20:22. Finally, after the guest team's mistakes we won the period.
The second set was a nip and tuck game. It was unsure for long who would win. Finally Partizan made it to 28:26, after being able to control the game.
For the last part Novi Pazar slowly but surely fell to pieces. We made it to 14:10, then with the imposing series of Dušan Lopar we won the last period to 20:10.

Group hug after the first match

We won the second match to 3:1. The first part was a smooth 25:18. The second was a bit more difficult, because Novi Pazar resisted hard (at a pont they were leading to 14:17), but Marko Nikolić took the team on his back, that’s how we could win to 25:22.
The guest team cranked themselves up for the third set and they won to 22:25 after a huge battle. But the Mrdak-Majstorović duo took things under their control for the last part and the Parni valjak rolled through Novi Pazar with a result of 25:12.

Marko Nikolić in action

The last match was a victorious 0:3 away game. In the first part we made it to 11:16. We kept the five-point difference (16:21), with the final result of 18:25. The second part was even easier in the beginning (9:16). Novi Pazar stroke back and reduced the difference to 19:21, but we were unstoppable and won this set to 22:25. The final period gave a sweat to both teams. Partizan again took the lead (10:16), Novi Pazar reduced the difference again (19:21), what is more, at a point they equalized (24:24). Finally we turned out to be stronger and keeping the game more under control. We won the last set to 26:28. We qualified to the final, where we’ll meet Crvena Zvezda.

(Photos: zurnal.rs)

Radnički Kragujevac - OK Partizan 0:3 (SuperLiga play-off, 1/4 final, return match)

We made it to the semi-final!
The Marko Nikolić-Milija Mrdak axis got sped up and didn’t let the Kragujevac-based team even to find their breath. They contributed to the victory and qualifying with 13 and 17 points, respectively. (The third best scorer was Neven Majstorović, he earned 10 points.) We won the first set to 19:25, the second to 23:25 and the last one to 26:28. This latter one was a bit tough, Radnički came a bit too close, but eventually they couldn’t reduce the difference and switch it to their own benefit.
In the semi-final we’ll clash with Crvena Zvezda.

Radnički Kragujevac: Anđelić, Dobanovacki, Goić (9), Trifunović (2), Protić (libero), Perović (9), Vulović (11), Rajković (3), Ilić, Premović (18), Pantović (libero), Dačović (5)
Head coach: Predrag Srećković

OK Partizan: Ivković, Lopar (6), Kostić (2), Mulćan (libero), Mrdak (17), Majstorović (10), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Velićković, P. Nikolić (6), M. Nikolić (13), Popović
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

OK Partizan - Ribnica 3:0

Yes. Partizan is still undefeated after the 18th round.
It was about Milija Mrdak.
The entire game was about him. 77 % of our attack started and/or ended with him. He earned 20 points for the team. (The second best Marko Nikolić earned 12.) Ribnica could only assist to our victory.
First set ended with 25:13.
Second set with 25:15.
Third set with 25:20.

Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 50 points
2. Crvena Zvezda 46 points
3. Vojvodina 42 points
4. Novi Pazar 28 points
5. Ribnica 22 points
6. Spartak Ljig 19 points
7. Inđija 19 points
8. Radnički 17 points
9. Mladi Radnik 17 points
10. Đerdap 10 points

All in one (handball, volleyball, water polo, ice hockey)

I owe you a lot of results and news, I make them up now in this post.

On 20th the handball team played eternal derby against the red team in the 14th round of SuperLiga. We won over them with an exciting, spectacular game, to 36:30.
It wasn't easy though, in the first half Zvezda kept the lead for almost the whole time. We equalized around the 25th minute (14:14), Vanja Ilić tackled the Zvezda-player, ran up and smashed the ball into the net. The half time result was 16:14.
In the half time pause there was a small celebration. Sunday was Miša Tumbas’s birthday and the handball team greeted him and gave him a gift.

After this the boys ran back to the court for the second half and humiliated reds. They ground Zvezda’s otherwise rock hard defense line to pieces, took control into their hands and from then on they kept on leading. In the 56th minute the standing was 33:28, with the difference of 7 goals. The end result was settled by Radojković. The hero of the day was Igor Mršulja with 9 goals.
And now, cuteness overload: grim Grave Diggers vs. children.

The entire match is available on Youtube, the first half can be viewed here, the second half here.

Current championship standings:
1. Spartak Vojput 21 points
2. Jugović 20 points
3. Metaloplastika 19 points
4. Partizan 17 points
5. Železničar 16 points
6. CZ 15 points
7. Požarevac 12 points
8. Planinka 11 points
9. Rudar Kostolac 9 points
10. Kolubara 0 point

***

The volleyball team is still undefeated. On Saturday they clashed with Radnički and won easily over the Kragujevac-based team to 3:0. The Marko Nikolić-Milija Mrdak duo was again on top, scoring 15 and 14 points respectively. The first two sets was won by us, both to 25:20, then in the last one the guest team took the lead to 6:13. Partizan picked themselves together, made a 7:0 series and equalized to 18:18. From then on there was no return, we won the last game to 25:18.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 45 points
2. CZ 40 points
3. Vojvodina 36 points
4. Novi Pazar 25 points
5. Ribnica 21 points
6. Spartak Ljig 19 points
7. Inđija 17 points
8. Radnički 15 points
9. Mladi Radnik 13 points
10. Đerdap 9 points

***

Miša Tumbas celebrated his 61st birthday on Sunday. It was something that had to be celebrated properly.
His house still needs a lot of restauration, but it is already much better than it used to be (a million thanks to those who donated!), but it didn’t keep back Grave Diggers and the members of Grupa JNA to gather there together to greet Miša. They brought all kinds of food and drinks, they baked a birthday cake and the pictures (and video) all talk about them having fun.

Baking the cake (the Cyrillic script says: Grave Diggers love you)

The birthday gift Miša got was an image of Duško Vujošević. The basketball team’s head coach is Miša’s well-wisher

Celebration, joy, emotions

With Grupa JNA

Miša Tumbas’s house still needs a lot of work. You can help by sending donation to this account number:

You can also help by purchasing this T-shirt. All money that comes in from this will be spent on helping Miša Tumbas. It costs 1000 din, at this moment you can order it only at the phone number under this image.

(photos: Facebook/Restoran stadiona Partizan, Гробари ЈУГ!!!)

***

On Wednesday the water polo team got defeated in Triglav League by Mornar. The Split-based team was on the lead to 6:7 in the half-time, and they made it to 6:10 for the end of the 3rd quarter. We scored 3 goals in the last period, but it wasn't enough. The end result was 9:11. Nikola Jakšić scored the most goals (3). With this loss we got down to the 7th place of our group. There is only one team behind us, Crvena Zvezda. Both us and them have 7 points.

***

The hockey team defeated Szegedi Tisza Volán to 6:5 with penalty shots. The end result was 5:5. We won the first part to 2:0 with the goals of Ogrizović (assist: Brkušanin) and Čuković (assist: Filipović). In the second period we were leading to 4:2. Our goals were scored by Raković (assist: Pajević) and Ristić. From Tisza Volán the two goal scorers were Ambrus and Fülöp. In the last period Szeged equalized. From our team only Raković scored (assist: Ristić), Tisza Volán players Strenk, Pápa and Salánki scored the equalizing shots.
Penalty shots were started by Komazec, he scored (1:0). Next was Egyed, our goalkeeper saved. Filipović scored (2:0), so did Strenk (2:1). Janković’s shot was saved by Szeged’s goalkeeper, while Pápa's one missed the goal line.

(photos: hockeyserbia.com)

***

The upheaval around the football club still doesn't want to calm down. On one hand some rumours say, Tumbaković’s position got uncertain after Ćirić left. Some say, president Zoran Popović talked to Nenad Bjeković, whom some see as the replacement for Tumbaković. Of course everyone is denying everything.
In the meantime the debts of FK Partizan got public and were officially confirmed as well. According to the news the entire debt is more than 14 million euros. The biggest amount the club owes is 4,7 million euros, that should be transferred to the Serbian tax office. The unpaid salaries the team owes for players and workers cost 3,314 million euros altogether. The different managements and player agencies demand 2.534.800 euros, other companies more than one and a half million euros. The team owes Partizan Travel (the company that is responsible for all kinds of trips and travels for the team to both inland and foreign places) 1,189 million euros. Other financial debts cost 1,03 million, while UEFA demands 585 600 euros in still unpaid fees.
That’s it, at the moment.
Meanwhile a group of Grave Diggers visited SC Teleoptik in Zemun, where the team had their usual training session, and as always, ALWAYS they flooded the boys with their love (and a few torches).

Video can be seen here, embed function on sportnetwork.rs is a nightmare.

News and results altogether

I was brutally knocked out by a flu virus, that's the reason of the lack of blogposts in the past days. Now I try and make up all lost ground.

The basketball team has already found a new player for the place of Đorđe Gagić. The new boy is called Božo Đumić and there are only the last arrangements left to sign the contract. He can play for the first time at the match against Cibona the earliest. (On Monday, against Levski it will still be too early for him.)

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

Đumić had an enthusiastic interview with mozzartsport.com where he talked about himself being a Partizan-fan since his early years and with this contract his childhood dream would come true.

***

It’s possible the basketball team won’t take part in Korać Cup this year either. Duško Vujošević explained, the reason behind it is the financial state of the club.

***

Now it is sure Danko Lazović leaves FK Partizan for China. At some places it is also known that the striker signs to Beijing Entertainment, a team in the Chinese 2nd division, where former Partizan (and Videoton) player Aleksandar Stanojević is the head coach.

Tell me it’s a joke. It must be a joke that such a qualified player ends up in the Chinese (!!!) 2nd division (!!!!!!!). Why didn’t you let him to Anderlecht then, where he was (allegedly) waited with open arms?... Who must be kicked in the ass hard for this?...

***

Here you can read an interview with former Partizan legend Dževad Prekazi.

***

Several days ago unknown people attacked and beat Miša Tumbas at daylight, on a street. The reason of the attack has not been found out yet, nevertheless media quickly picked the news and published it with banner headlines. What it was still worth for that we could find out, Miša Tumbas lives in inhumane conditions in a ruined building with no heat and running water in a village named Barič about 20 km from Belgrade. Grave Diggers immediately joined to help him. The house has been disinfected since then and fans are about to paint and clean the place as well as give blankets and a new bed to Miša among others. They even opened a bank account where anyone can send money to help him.

I don’t upload photos about Miša’s place for solidarity. If any of you wants to see what kind of conditions Miša Tumbas had to, has to live in, just ask Google. 
To those who attacked him: you’re rats. The most coward among them. Miša Tumbas is an ill, old man, who couldn’t harm a fly. Yet you attacked him, beat him and kicked him. I just wish you after all these to meet a few of the angriest, most vengeful and strongest Grave Diggers in a dark, narrow street. And if you can still talk afterwards, you can tell me how it was going.

Until then, a photo of Miša

(photo: Facebook/Partizan is life)

***

Partizan’s ice hockey team won over HK Vitez to 9:2 yesterday. (1:2, 3:0, 5:0)

***

The volleyball team won 3:0 at Đerdap’s home. (20:25, 20:25, 22:25) Marko Nikolić was the hero of the day with his 19 points, so much that he even became the best player of January.

Nikolić said humbly, it was not his merits, but the team’s and collective work.

We love you, too, Marko.

***

Finally, the block of the day, performed by Bogdan Bogdanović.

OK Partizan - Spartak Ljig 3:1 (SuperLiga Round 14)

Aaannndddd we are still undefeated.
The opponent came with the tranquility of the underdog, saw and won the first set to 23:25 (thanks to mostly Radosav Dojčilović, who returned after a month and a half of pause as well as to the rock hard blocks of Spartak).
In the second game we pulled ourselves together and made the best of our serves. We made it quickly to 6:2, the Milija Mrdak-Marko Nikolić axis brought their usual (great) form. We won the set to 25:18 and equalized.
In the third part the team switched to Steam Roller mode, the guests’ row of mistakes added an extra to it. The game lasted for 20 minutes only, that was enough for us to win to 25:15 and take the lead.
The opponent tried to prove themselves in the final game. They made a series of 0:4, but even that wasn’t enough against Mrdak and Majstorović, who switched to full speed at the end. We won the last set to 25:15 as well.

OK Partizan: Lopar (12), Kostić (3), Mrdak (21), Majstorović (1), P. Nikolić (5), M. Nikolić (16), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Veličković (1), Popović, Buša, Ivković
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

Spartak Ljig: Munćan (6), Perić (13), Dojčilović (17), Stevanović (10), Veljović (2), Radosavljević (5), Todosijević (libero), Simić, Gajević, Vesović, Glavinić (2), Rakić
Head coach: Bogdan Veličković

Highlights:

Current championshp standings:
1. Partizan 39 points
2. CZ 34 points
3. Vojvodina 31 points
4. Novi Pazar 25 points
5. Ribnica 17 points
6. Spartak Ljig 15 points
7. Inđija 14 points
8. Radnički 14 points
9. Mladi Radnik 12 points
10. Đerdap 9 points

OK Vojvodina - OK Partizan 0:3

Yes. We are undefeated for the 13th time now.
The Marko Nikolić-Milija Mrdak axis brought their best form, scoring 18 points (with 3 aces) and 13, respectively. We won the first game to 22:25, the second to 21:25 and the third one's result was again 22:25.

OK Vojvodina: Simić (11), Kolarić, Bojičić (1), Č. Stanković (4), Nadaždin (12), Katić (10), Jovanović (1), Peković (libero), Mehić, Radović, Petković, M. Stanković (7)
Head coach: Strahinja Kozić

OK Partizan: Buša, Ivković, Nedeljković, Zugić, Lopar (5), Kostić (1), Dragić, Mrdak (13), Majstorović (10), Rajković (libero), Jokanović, Mijailović, Veličković, P. Nikolić (10), M. Nikolić (18), Popović
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović

OK Partizan - OK Inđija 3:2 (Serbian Cup, quarterfinal return match)

It was a dramatic match, it was open until the last minutes who'd win. The first set was won by Inđija to 17:25, but we heated up the steam roller and ran through the guests in the second, leaving them breathless (25:13). Inđija didn't gave themselves cheaply, they took back the lead (15:25), then we equalized again (25:21). The standing was 2:2, when came the final game.
The standing changed in every 30th second. We were on the lead, then Inđija equalized, we took back to the lead, Inđija equalized again, then even switched the standings, they were on the lead, then we equalized... Finally we won the last set to 23:21 and qualified to the semi-final.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Milija Mrdak carried the team on his back again with his 30 points. Marko Nikolić brought 18 points, Dušan Lopar did 13. Neven Majstorović scored 11, Petar Nikolić 5, while Ivan Kostić added 3 points to the victory.
In the semi-final our opponent will be the winner of Mladi Radnik - Vojvodina match.