Fan blog of Partizan Sports Society (JSD Partizan) in Belgrade, Serbia. Football, basketball, volleyball, handball, ice hockey, water polo, news, players, all that are a matter of curiousity.
A subjective blog. English is not my mother tongue.
English version of http://jsdpartizanfan.blogspot.com/
This was a game to remember - not just because we tore Metalac to pieces, but because Edo Murić returned after almost half a year, recovering from his serious injury.
Here is how he was warming up.
Aleksandar Cvetković also returned, though thankfully he didn’t need such a brutally long rest.
Players were wearing these T-shirts when entering the court.
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: mozzartsport.com)
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
With these T-shirts they sent a big high five and a support/love bomb to their teammate Mihajlo Andrić. (Andrić’s injury has renewed, and it was so serious now that Andrić had to undergo surgery. He was sent to the Acibadem Clinics in Istambul. The surgery was successful, Andrić is fine, but it will take months until he recovers.)
Mihajlo Andrić was moved a lot.
A photo posted by Mihajlo Andric (@miha21andric) on
Meanwhile Murić kept on warming up...
...and Average Fan’s nerves got more and more wrecked, because on ArenaSport 1 it was still the extra time of the previous Igokea-Cedevita game going even in the starting time of Partizan’s match. When finally the broadcast started from Pionir Hall, Metalac was leading to 2:7 already. Wonderful, isn’t it?
No problem. Marinković and Murić (who was in the starting 5) quickly modified it to 7:11.
Murić was still wearing bandage on his arm
(photo: hotsport.rs)
My net connection was lagging in the first half. I could still follow the standing, but I might have still missed out a few things. Mea culpa.
We slowly reduced the difference, step by step, then we equalized (15:15), thanks to Wilson and his baskets. What is more, we even took the lead with Marinković’s 3-pointer (18:17). Metalac didn’t let it go at that (18:19), but the Empire Wilson struck back.
Then Vrabac sped up as well. He scored a 3-pointer (23:19), then after 25:22 we finished the first half with his basket (27:22).
From the second quarter on we had an assertive lead. We didn’t let control out of our hands for a moment. Aranitović threw one basket after the other, the half time result was 47:43, but even this result turned out after we were leading to 47:40, but then Metalac got a free throw (47:41) and at the very end the ball was stolen from Cvetković and Rakićević scored right at the buzz.
Partizan’s former football player Petar Škuletić was present in Pionir Hall. Fans found him and overwhelmed him, and he eagerly posed with children
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
At the beginning of the third quarter the guest team equalized (47:47). We urgently had to do something. Marinković immediately scored a 3-pointer (50:47), because the Captain doesn’t want to act as chance directs. Vitkovac took the Captain’s attitude into consideration (52:47), then Vrabac scored after a fantastic solo (54:47). Metalac reduced the difference, they made a 5-point series, it started to be a bit narrow (54:52), but no problem, Wilson came, saw and scored (56:52).
Then nothing happened for long minutes. None of the teams could score at all. Both Partizan and Metalac hardened their defense wall into concrete at least for 3 minutes, but maybe for more. Finally, there was less than half a minute left from the quarter, when Murić scored (58:52). One basket was scored at the other side as well, we could enter the last part with 58:54.
In the fourth quarter the Valjevo team kept it narrow (60:57), what is more, Kutlešić scored the weirdest basket of the season.
But no problem. Aranitović immediately answered (63:57), Jones and Murić increased our difference to two-digit (67:57), Wilson even crossed the 10-point line (69:57), then he even assisted to Aranitović’s basket (71:57). Metalac collapsed slowly but surely. 74:60, then 77:63, Wilson was in royal spirits. Metalac pressured in two points from free throw (77:65), Jones increased our difference again (79:65). After a 3-pointer by Metalac Vrabac scored again (87:68). One Metalac-basket left (81:70) and end buzz.
It was time to celebrate.
(photo: Facebook/KK Partizan)
Highlights:
KK Partizan: Cvetković, Aranitović (17), Jones (8), Murić (9), Marinković (13), Vitkovac (4), Đumić (4), Magdevski, Milutinović (2), Vrabac (9), Wilson (15), Anđušić
Former goal scorer and demigod of FK Partizan, current Lokomotiv Moscow player Petar Škuletić celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday.
A belated Happy Birthday to him! Srećan rođendan, Škule!
His teammates made him a video as a gift, where they all tell what a great guy Škule is.
He got cake, too.
***
In the meantime Partizan signed Cameroonian player Aboubakar Oumerou. Aboubakar has already played at numerous clubs of the Serbian superliga, e.g. Vojvodina, OFK Beograd as well as Crvena Zvezda. He signed for 2 years and after the medical checkup he joins the team that is currently on training camp in Slovenia. Aboubakar's jersey number will be 15.
I could say so many things on it. Probably the same that comes to your mind right now, dear fellow fan who is reading this. Let's agree in the jolly-joker term "we'll see".
***
Meanwhile our sons found their place at Arena Hotel and training complex in Pohorje, Slovenia, where they continue the preparations for the 2015/16 season.
Bojinov is full of life
His fellow citizen Bandalovski is a bit less enthusiastic, while Fabricio tries to look determined
The young forces are doing great
Brašanac is explaining something keenly
They are followed by the two Slovenians
"I see what you did there" - nothing avoids Lukač’s attention
Hard work
Interesting excersises...
Light jogging to channel the training down
Živko Živković has taken Bogosavac under his fatherly wings
The boys will surely not take the chair-lift to get to the top
They are getting ready - forever joyful Kojić and determinated Ninković
Saša Lukić chose the optimistic menu point
It was great to see Predrag Luka in the team. Not so long ago some rumours were spread that Luka might be put on loan to Novi Pazar. I don’t want to quote those nasty curses the humble author of this blog started to yell when hearing about it. Come on, people! We want Predrag Luka to the starting eleven!
(feel free to use it as a hashtag #PredragLukaToTheStartingEleven)
"Okay, boys, so there's that winding road. You run uphill on that 3 times in a row, until then we go and have some ćevapi. Good luck!"
Here is an approx. 15-minute-long video about all the training camp fun.
Time-table of preparational matches:
1st July, 18:00: Rudar Velenje, venue: NK Brunšvik Stadium, Rače, Slovenia
4th July, 10:30: Aluminijum Kidričevo, at Arena Hotel's football field
4th July, 17:00: Terek Grozni, venue: Wildon Stadium, Wildon, Austria
8th July, 10:30: Kovinar - Tezno, at Arena Hotel's football field
8th July: Amkar Perm (time and venue tba)
We won!!!!
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!
Independent of the results of the two rounds that are still left, we won the 2014/15 season.
There was an amazing atmosphere in Kruševac even before the match. Grave Diggers made it clear, they had come there to celebrate the championship title.
Residents of the neighbouring houses came out to the balconies to watch the game.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
On the other side Napredak was facing the game from the 13th position of the league table. They needed every single point to avoid even just the possibility of being dropped out of the SuperLiga. Knowing this they attacked Partizan very heavily right from the kick-off. Every player of Kruševac had someone from Partizan to thrust himself upon the other’s back, hanging on him for the whole time, not letting him even to take breath. They used pressing tactics, they ran a lot, fought a lot, they got into almost combat fighting for the ball. Yet Partizan also had to win to make sure the championship title will be theirs.
The pace was fast with lots of battles, which was no wonder knowing all these facts above. The game was going on mostly on the midfield, none of the teams could make it easily to the goalmouth or even to the penalty area. In the 11th minute Napredak got a free kick 30 metres from our goal line, but Živko Živković easily caught it. We were about to run up for a counter-attack, but Andrija Živković was tackled by a defender somewhere halfway.
Two minutes later Babović’s pass arrived from the left to Šaponjić, but Frimpong headed the ball out before the stiker could grab it. In the 14th minute Andrija Živković dribbled through the right side and shot from 18 metres, but it was too high.
Another two minutes later a great chance was missed out by Napredak
but not the heart attack by me
defender Gobeljić ran up with the ball on the right and passed it to Trujić in the middle. Partizan defenders got stuck behind, for our luck Trujić shot it too high from the goalmouth.
The battle was going on, it was more or less even. In the 29th minute N’diaye tried from a sharp angle on the left, but Živko Živković easily caught it.
In the 31st minute Bandalovski gave a great pass to Šaponjić from the right, but Napredak’s goalkeeper threw himself in the way. A minute later Andrija Živković got the ball and ran up immediately, passing the ball to Šaponjić. Napredak defenders quickly ran there and tackled Partizan’s striker.
In the 34th minute came a Napredak free kick from about 40 metres, almost at the right line. (The sun was shining right into the eyes of Partizan-players.) The ball came in, N’diaye headed it, but missed.
In the 42nd minute Bandalovski was pulled to the ground inside the penalty area of Napredak. The referee didn’t whistle for penalty, even if it was clearly a foul. Hell broke loose, everyone was screaming and yelling, fans shouted vulgar and sarcastic chants about the referee and his family tree. The referee got angry and paused the game. After a short wrangling the match could continue and we could finish the first half.
The second half started with a delay. The goalkeeper of the home team, Janković arrived at the field being late with at least 10 minutes. Then we could start, with the life-saving clearing of Bandalovski right after the kick-off. He shot the ball out of the field in the middle of a dangerous attack, being just one step ahead than the attacker. In the 49th minute again the home team had a chance. Stanojević passed to Dimitrov, who was standing at our penalty area. He shot the ball to our goal line after a few dribbles, but it was too high.
It started to be a bit uncomfortable. Napredak wanted to score by all means, while we had to prevent it by all cost, at the same time we had to score at least one goal at all hazards. Despite this in the 59th minute Urošević tackled Andrija Živković and shot to our goal, but missed.
In the 62nd minute we got a free kick, about 40 metres from the goal line. Drinčić stood behind the ball.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
We all know what it means when Drinčić stands behind the ball.
It means only one thing. A bomb shot, even from great distances.
It was such a big bomb shot that for Branko Ilić it was enough just to push the ball a bit with his head to pass it to the net.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
He made it.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL!!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!
Fantastic, great goal! We were leading!!! 0:1
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The stadium exploded, so much that for a short while the game literally needed a pause, because the field was covered with smoke, while euphoric fans lighted firecrackers and torches.
In the 67th minute Kojić had a chance, while fighting with two defenders at the same time. His trying ended in a corner. Two minutes later Gobeljić shot the ball to our goal, Živko Živković easily saved it. In the 71st minute N’diaye sent a flat but powerful shot, again it did not cause any problem to Živko Živković. In the 73rd minute Bajić tried, his shot flew out near the goalpost, our goalkeeper probably didn’t even wake up.
In the 77th minute Trujić got the ball on the left. He ran up, dribbled then shot from 16 metres. Živko Živković jumped, the ball hit the goalpost.
Napredak was continuously and desperately attacking, at this point we got a bit stuck to our half. In the 79th minute again Bajić shot, but missed.
In the 80th minute Babović could have gone to heaven right from the Kruševac field, but he was just standing around on the penalty area line with the ball, finally defenders tackled him. A minute later Andrija Živković ran up and passed to Kojić. Kojić shot, too high.
Then in the 83rd minute Kojić got the ball and ran up towards Napredak’s goal. He passed to the middle, where Andrija Živković arrived. Živković shot, with his left foot, passing the ball near the goalkeeper, who ran out, and the shot ended in the net.
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
0:2!!!
We are the champions!!!!
We just need to make it for the remaining few minutes of the game.
In the 86th minute Ninković ran up, he was tackled by defenders in the last moment. In the 87th minute we got a free kick, 20 metres from the goal. Napredak players were complaining, but the referee was relentless. Drinčić stood behind the ball, kicked, but the shot flew out near the goalpost.
In the 89th minute Napredak got a free kick at the half line. The shot flew to our penalty area, Trujić got it and shot. Živko Živković caught it. A minute later the home team again tried with a heading, Živko Živković saved it easily. Finally in the 90+1st minute Napredak got a free kick 25 metres from our goal line. The shot flew out above the crossbar.
This was that point when the speaker said, at the other match in Belgrade, that started at the same time as ours, Crvena Zvezda lost to 1:2 against that Radnički 1923, which team is the 16th on the league table.
Then it came to the end. Final whistle.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!
Time to celebrate. Time to scream, jump, roll on the grass. Time to sing, hug, climbing among fans, scream and sing with them.
We absolutely, fully, totally deserve it now.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Former teammate Milan Obradović was also there
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
In the locker room the celebration continued.
Vulićević in ecstasy
Nikola Drinčić, as the subject of joy
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
In this video the reporter of SOS Kanal is desperately trying to make an interview with Nikola Drinčić, who is overflown by his teammates’ happiness.
Former friends, teammates and allies started to send their greetings.
Partizan je šampion, peva cela Srbija! Čestitke mom Partizanu na 26. osvojenoj tituli u domaćem šampionatu! Parni...
Posted by Miloš Jojić on Wednesday, May 13, 2015
A video posted by vovavolkov666 (@vovavolkov666) on
Take a good look at Volkov’s Instagram-posts and on the beer cans the players are holding.
You just had to do it, you trolls, right? :DD
So, the championship title is sure, only a simultaneous volcano eruption, tsunami, earthquake and a plague of locusts could change it. Maybe. But there is something we must not forget. This championship title is theirs, too. Without them it could have never happened.
This championship title goes to Petar Škuletić, Danko Lazović and Marko Nikolić as well
(photo: srbijadanas.com)
Match highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Mladost Stadion, Kruševac
Number of spectators: 9000
Referee: Dejan Santrač (assistants: Vladimir Jovanović, Nemanja Petrović - 4th assistant: Vladimir Čađenović - goal line assistants: Srđan Obradović, Ilija Brdar)
FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Ćirković, B. Ilić, Volkov - Drinčić, Brašanac - A. Živković, Babović, S. Ilić - Šaponjić
Head coach: Zoran Milinković
Goal scorers: B. Ilić (62.), A. Živković (83.)
Yellow cards: Brašanac (11.), Gobeljić (86.)
Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 69 points
2. CZ 58 points
3. Čukarički 57 points
4. Vojvodina 46 points
5. Novi Pazar 43 points
6. Rad 40 points
7. OFK Beograd 39 points
8. Mladost 37 points
9. Radnički Niš 36 points
10. Borac 32 points
11. Jagodina 31 points
12. FK Voždovac 30 points
13. Napredak 28 points
14. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 28 points
15. Donji Srem 26 points
16. Radnički 1923 18 points
Here I'd like to pay respect to the professional attitude of FK Lokomotiv, sending my love to their PR/communications team. So far I have seen such colourful, informative releases including photos and video conference only from the best Western European teams. Starting with all, really ALL their social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) talking about Petar Škuletić as head news, but when the shocked fan found their jaws dropped on the floor, they already announced to have a live video conference with Škuletić, where our Montenegrin will introduce himself as well as answer fans’ questions. And of course, the entire conference will be streamed live on the team’s official Youtube-channel, everyone’s welcome.
Russian fans (as much as I could understand the comments, my Russian is weaker than my Serbian) had a warm welcome for Škuletić. Of course the entire video conference is available on the team’s Youtube-channel, what is more, not much later a written extract was uploaded to Lokomotiv’s website.
A message to all whom it concerns: instead of bleached blondes please, hire a professional PR-team and a similarly professional team management. Thanks.
I try to resume this whole story. The waves of shitstorm are so high that they have been flowing over the dams and faeces are getting as high as our knees.
The situation is, as follows: Petar Škuletić signed to Lokomotiv Moscow. The price Russians paid for him is 4 million euros. The striker has already left the team in Turkey and came back to Belgrade. They had a short press conference, he had a few hours left to pack up and he left in the evening to Moscow.
A few weeks ago French team Lille wanted to sign him. Everything looked fine, Škuletić went to France, took part at medical examinations. He was loved around, everything looked to be perfect. The French team offered 2 and a half million euros for him. Yet Partizan’s newly elected management said in the last minute that the Montenegrin striker was not for sale. It caused numerous new grey hair for Škuletić’s manager, the striker just said resigned to a sports site, the world would not collapse if he couldn’t sign to a foreign team, just he had financial problems and his bottom would be soon out from his pants.
A Chinese offer showed up as well, but Škuletić refused saying he’d not want to go to the Far East.
I can absolutely understand him.
Things seemed to calm down. Škuleitć travelled with the team to Turkey for spring preparations, the average fan was already thinking of the upcoming season with Škuletić and co. shooting goals, our name can be engraved into the championship cup in advance, thanks.
Then came the news out of the blue: Petar Škuletić signs to Lokomotiv Moscow, 10 days before the start of the season. Marko Nikolić made no secret about how embarrassing it was all for him. He added, he had and would have no voice in it.
Team leadership immediately started to wash their hands.
All that Dragan Ćirić could say was the following to mondo.rs:
- Well, see, I have no decision-making power here.
WTF?...
- It is very embarrassing - he added.
You get what I mean. FK Partizan’s sports director have no power to make decisions. Ćirić swore by all that is holy he knew nothing about Škuletić’s transfer.
Vučelić tried to explain things to mozzartsport.com:
- The club is in a very difficult financial situation. We indeed refused Lille’s offer about 2,3 million euros. There had been offers from China and Germany, even Sporting Lisboa seemed to be interested, but none of them was serous enough. The first really serious offer came from Lokomotiv, they were even willing to pay the price at once.
Reports talk about the management immediately having a meeting in Belgrade to discuss the fate of Škuletić. Finally they decided (9 "yes" against 3 "no") to sell the striker. Ljubiša Tumbaković allegedly left the meeting like an angry stormwind (he was one of those 3 members voting with "no"). Beside him Dragan Bjelogrlić and dr. Nele Karaljić were against the transfer.
Earlier Tumbaković said, too, he had no knowledge about this entire story about Škuletić, as he was with the team in Turkey for the whole time. When he got to know about it, he immediately travelled back to Belgrade for an urgent meeting of the board.
After all this the question rose: who is responsible for this all? Whose interest is this, to make the team this weak, selling the two best players, Škuletić and Lazović this very quickly, one and a half weeks before the start of the spring season? (And let’s not forget about Fofana being on loan.) Pantić was also successfully thrown out of the team. Who will score goals?
Vučelić gave a very mysterious answer to the "who is responsible"-question.
- The management, of course. - Then he added: - And the trainer.
The journalist surely made a shocked facial expression, because Vučelić gave this explanation:
- It is not the management’s job to score goals. It is high time for the trainer and the players to stop using the management as an alibi. Everyone knows who are to play football - he said.
I hope it is only paranoia talking from me, but why, why do I have the impression the new management wants to make a scapegoat of Marko Nikolić, that finally the trainer himself will leave the team?... Do you still remember of the last days of 2014, when the newly elected leadership instantly wanted to fire Nikolić - only the rage of fans kept them back from making this step.
Škuletić seems to be tired, worn out, fed up and can’t wait to get over this fuss.
(photo: mozzartsport.com)
- It was an offer you get once in a lifetime - he said during the day. - I said earlier to the team that I want to sign to a foreign club. The only thing I regret is that I couldn't win championship with Partizan. But I do believe my friends will win again the title.
He added, he is very glad with the offer of Lokomotiv and feels satisfied.
- I got a phone call early in the morning with the offer. I couldn't even say goodbye properly to the team, only to those few fellow players who were awake at that time.
Some say, this farewell was not this easy, Škuletić had an emotional, tearful leave from Partizan.
(You shouldn’t have said this. Now I will cry, too.)
The best part is yet to come.
Milorad Vučelić said to mondo.rs: what Ljubiša Tumbaković said earlier, that he knew nothing about the striker’s transfer, is false.
- We got the offer from Lokomotiv on Tuesday evening. We immediately had a conference call, including all board members. Everyone knew about it.
Journalists tried to confront the management with their own statements from earlier, namely they wouldn’t sell anyone from the team (yet they sold out the two strikers and Pantić with turbo speed). Milomir Gligorijević explained it as follows:
- We must never, we should never lie to our fans. We could never do such a thing.
Don’t laugh yet, here’s the best part.
- We would leave this club rather than descending to lie. But everyone must understand, the circumstances have changed in the meantime.
This was Gligorijević’s Nobel-prize winner explanation.
And if you’re still not crying and/or raging and want to burn down the house together with every dirty, corrupted, coward liar pigs, then watch this early morning video, because SOS Kanal could catch a very sleepy, very worn-out Petar Škuletić before he left Turkey, with Vulićević, his roommate saying him goodbye at the exit.
Petar,
Thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for your 21 goals, for being the most reliable member of the team. I hope you'll return to Belgrade one day. And thank you for being able to meet you.
Take care!
The news are fresh, still warm: Škuletić is said to leave FK Partizan, now for real. Sportskacentrala.com tells about Russian club Lokomotiv, mozzartsport.com even mentions the price: Russians offer 4 million euros for everyone’s favourite Montenegrin. Leaders of Lokomotiv didn’t confirm, nor denied the information. As for Partizan, everyone keeps silent.
May God break the sky on those who are responsible for this. On everyone, all those rotten, corrupted rats who push responsibility to the others. (I’m looking at you now, Mr. Ćirić...) "We won’t sell players." Yeah. Sure. Of course. "For the request of the head coach." Since then Fofana has been sent away ("on loan"), Lazović has left the team and Škuletić is about to leave. All these happens when there are only 10 days left until the start of the spring season. At this moment there are 2 (two) strikers in the team: Kojić and Šaponjić, the latter one is not even 18 years old yet. Did those know-it-all’s up there in the management mean it seriously that we must start the championship season like THIS? Not to mention Marko Nikolić being still suspended, which means, he is not allowed to sit on the bench until mid-March. Who is responsible for this? Who allowed it all, the team to be destroyed this way? Who is that rotten traitor who got into the team’s leadership? And why do the others let it all happen, to disorganize that little we still have? So many questions, I know I’ll never get any answer to them ever.
And if you’re still not raging (or crying), then here is a video.
