A (not that long) summer break

I don't mind at all (on the contrary!) that the summer break is this short in the football season. Compared to the two-month-long winter break, when I almost cut my veins, this few-week-long holiday is really bearable, especially that the CL-qualifyings are at the corner and afterwards the championship starts as well. (Meanwhile it's hot as hell, Average Fan tries not to get cooked, nor to get a heat stroke.)

The biggest happening of the transfer season was the return of Danilo Pantić to Partizan. I tell you, I’m one of those few who’s very happy for the boy’s return.

I know it's been trendy lately to curse, mock, spit and threaten Pantić as well as anyone who’s on his side. Yes, I also did get a portion after raising my voice for the kid and/or telling off a few haters. It made me laugh hard to see all those neurotic, spitting armchair-smartasses who put all possible threatenings into sight in case of Pantić’s return. Some of them looked as if ambulance should be called for them. So, I’m happy for Pantić being back to Partizan and can’t wait for his goals and assists.

Danilo Pantić in all smiles at his arrival at Partizan’s training camp in Zlatibor

Posing with Neca at a training

He even played at a friendly against Mladost

(photos: partizan.rs)

Another thing - independent of Pantić - that the team have played two friendlies so far and lost both. One against Zeta (MNE), to 0:1, another against Mladost (again 1:0). Oh well. These games are just friendlies, with no consequences and better to lose now than in the championship/CL.
As for other transfers, little Milenković went to Fiorentina. Partizan's management decided about his fate with the Italians back in the spring, what is more, it seems, Fiorentina takes Vlahović, too, as soon as the kid reaches the coming of age. No news yet about possible arrivals. There are a few rumours about Seydouba Souma though, but Partizan have been trying to get this midfielder from Guinea since forever, so far with no success. (Maybe, if I remember well, there was a Brazilian player as well in the possible transfers, but nothing happened.)
Meanwhile the team travelled to Slovenia for a training camp, there will be friendlies, then on 11th or 12th July comes the Champions League qualifying against Budućnost Podgorica.

***

I honestly admit, I didn't follow the basketball team for a while. Their performance was so very depressing and awful that every single game (among those I actually watched...) made me totally pissed and very sad at the same time. It was painful and infuriating to see the very same tactics - regardless of opponent or league - on every single goddamned game. Same tactics, same half-talents who will probably never have any more chance in life and especially to see every single game have the same screenplay, moment to moment. Shitty first quarter, struggling second (when we somehow equalized), suicidal third, finally (if we had luck) a combative fourth in a style that should have been present in EVERY SINGLE FUCKING QUARTER. Then, if we were lucky enough, we could win the game with this last quarter, if not, then not. It happened every time, on every game. And I hate to say it, but I was right: I said right in the beginning that even though this performance might take us until a certain point either in the freshly baked Basketball Champions League (the Euroleague of the poor...) or ABA Liga or in the Serbian superliga, but it's not enough for happiness. After this in Champions League PAOK smashed us into the face, in the semifinal of ABA Liga Cedevita simply stepped over us (based on our shitty performance we wouldn't have deserved to qualify to the final...), but the really bad surprise was in the Serbian league: we were eliminated in the semifinal by FMP (!!!). They say the last time it happened to KK Partizan to get eliminated in the semifinal was in 1998. Honestly, it didn't surprise me after this very disappointing season. Head coach Aleksandar Džikić has left for Budućnost, the two Americans left - Robinson has left during the season (he added absolutely nothing to the team), Hatcher left at the end of the season (he had some performance, though in a team like this even Michael Jordan himself couldn't make any miracle). I can't pick any player who had an exemplary or just an acceptable performance. I know that everyone is all over Novica Veličković, but the thing is, that in his case it was more about routine and heart than abilities/talent, but as the saying goes, in the land of the blind the one-eyed will be the king. The team is searching for a head coach now, but most of all it's searching for its old self.

***

As for the rest of the team sports: the water polo team has won the Serbian league. After practically the whole team left last year, it was a miracle even that there were a few remaining in Banjica to continue the work. They continued, so much that they won the championship title and will enter Champions League.
The handball team were running the gauntlet during the past season. Key players left, one after the other, a new coach was needed, too, plus the play-off became play-out at the end of the season. They finished on the 3rd place of the play-out, avoiding relegation, but who knows what comes in the next season.
The volleyball team ended much worse. OK Partizan was factually an U21 team for the season and they got releagated to the 2nd league. Honestly? I'm not surprised. My heart breaks for the team, but knowing their circumstances, it couldn't be avoided. It's no wonder at all, with so young players and such financial possibilities that are worse than worst. The team was practically on an amateur level.
That's all, folks.

Jadran Split - VK Partizan 12:13 (Triglav Liga, round 3)

It was a tough, nerve-racking game, and we had to miss two key players. Nikola Jakšić was knocked out by some sickness

get well soon!

and Đorđe Tanasković also had to stay at home.
Well, we could thankfully solve the problem. Stojanović took the whole team on his back and scored his first goal in the middle of the first quarter (0:1). Croatians equalized (1:1) then took the lead with a distant cannon shot two minutes before the end of the quarter (2:1).
In the second part Croatians barely splashed into the pool when Drašović equalized (2:2). The answer was immediate with Gluhaić’s score (3:2). After some wrestling Toholj equalized (3:3).

There are some new names in the team we must learn. One of them is 19-year-old Nebojša Toholj, who scored two goals on this game, the other is our goalkeeper, 20-year-old Lazar Dobožanov, who made a few great saves, especially in the last few minutes of the match.

Two and a half minutes the home team was leading again (4:3), but just one minute later Stojanović, who played in his best form, equalized (4:4). That was the half-time result.
We just came back from the pause, the Croatian team was leading once again. (5:4). We immediately equalized with Radojević’s left hander cannon shot (5:5). Then we even took the lead! Drašović possessed the ball. He was about to make a distant shot. He was swaying the ball, swaying, swaying, the entire Croatian defense line was sinking like Titanic, then Drašović shot with a wide grin and scored. 5:6
What is more, Dobožanov could demonstrate his skills by saving a shot that was almost in the box... Someone from Jadran shot, Dobožanov saved, but the ball slowly started to float towards the goal line. It was almost in, just one little wave was needed to push it inside, but Dobožanov could catch it, right before a cardial arrest and screaming, and saved (probably quite a few lives as well).
Then Jadran took advantage of a double power play and equalized (6:6).
No worries. Two minutes before the end Toholj took back the lead (6:7) and even though Jadran equalized from penalty (7:7), Drašović took back the lead again just 12 seconds before the buzz. I swear I could see a small twitch on Croatian faces after this goal.
Then came the final quarter.
Average Fan died in the final quarter at least five times.
First Croatians equalized, right after the start (8:8). They even took the lead with Visković’s goal (9:8). Stojanović equalized (9:9). It’s unbelievable what this 20-year-old kid was doing. Lukić took us the lead (9:10). What is more, what is more, Stojanović scores and we are leading to 9:11! Jadran’s head coach asks for time-out. Afterwards Croatians didn’t just reduce the difference, didn’t just equalize, but they took back the lead (12:11). Less than one and a half minutes were left. Stojanović. Again Stojanović. He equalizes. 12:12. Less than a minute is left. Average Fan is praying, this draw is enough, hang in there, boys...
For them this draw was not enough.
Dobožanov makes a great save. Partizan attacks. 20 seconds are left. Stojanović possesses the ball... and Stojanović throws a cannon shot, tearing the net into pieces, scoring Partizan’s 13th goal, earning another victory for the team. Well done, boys!

Ognjen Stojanović, the hero of the day

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs/screenshot/ArenaSport 1)

The hero of the day is - of course - Ognjen Stojanović with 5 (!!!) goals. He is followed by Radomir Drašović with 4 scores. Nebojša Toholj scored 2, Filip Radojević and Nikola Lukić both earned 1-1 goal.

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Jug Dubrovnik 12 points
2. VK Partizan 9 points
3. Primorje 7 points
4. Jadran Carine 7 points
5. HAVK Mladost 6 points
6. Budva 3 points
7. Mornar BS 1 point
8. Vojvodina 1 point
9. Jadran Split 0 point

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 15, 20th August, 2016

THE WATER POLO TEAM IS THE OLYMPIC CHAMPION!!!

They won!!!

They are the best!!!

What a game it was.
They splashed into the water and sank the Croatian team. It was no question even for a moment who'll win.
The Croatians could keep the pace only in the very beginning. They equalized after 0:1, but then they couldn't. Not once.
Serbia was leading to 2:3 at the end of the first quarter. Goalkeeper Mitrović made amazing tricks and saves. He saved everything. Every possible and impossible shot. I’m sure he allowed those 7 scores into the box by fraternal sympathy. To keep those poor neighbours away from complete destruction. He saved 12 from 19 (!!!) shots.
In the half-time it was 3:6 for Serbia.
The other hero of the day was Dušan Mandić. Partizan’s former team captain was more wicked than all the devils of hell. He scored such goals that made the pool dry. Both from distance and from nearby. All you could see was the water started to boil as if you’d threw a piece of raw meat among piranhas. Then a mighty left hand raised, swung the ball, shot and scored a giant goal. Then Dušan Mandić appeared, too (belonging to the left hand mentioned above) to celebrate.

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

For the third half the standing was 5:9, even though Croats substituted their goalkeeper in the meantime. Josip Pavić arrived and the totally done Marko Bijač could have a rest.
Filip Filipović nevertheless had a nice welcome gift for Pavić (4:8).

It was already sure even at this point that the Croatian team needs a smaller miracle to be able even just to equalize.
For the last quarter the Croatians fell apart. The most typical moment was when the Croatian coach asked for timeout at 6:10, then when the teams returned to the pool Mandić scored just another goal. Serbs started to celebrate in the very last minute of the game already, and then when the end buzz came...

ŠAMPIONI!!!
Posted by Partizane naš si ponos on Saturday, August 20, 2016

Champions.
They totally deserve to celebrate and to be celebrated.

Živko Gocić, one of the toughest players of Team Serbia could not keep his tears back on the podium. Next to him there is Dušan Mandić celebrating

And big big congratulations to the Serbian female volleyball team for their silver medal...

...and to the Serbian female basketball team for the bronze!

Predrag Danilović was there to support the basketball team...

...as well as Saša Đorđević

(unmarked photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 13, 18th August, 2016

Another silver medal for Serbia!!!
Congratulations and salutations to Marko Tomičević and Milenko Zorić for their silver medal in men's 1000 m kayak double!

Asmir Kolašinac could not qualify to the men’s shot put final. He finished 8th in Group B at the qualifications with 20.16 m.

Ono što je trebao biti san,pretvorilo se u košmar...jedan veoma loš dan,odnosno veoma loša sezona. Povreda je nažalost ostavila predubok trag...uključujući ovo takmičenje samo 8 sam ih imao ove godine a to je za mene malo da udjem u pravu formu i da rutinski bacam blizu 21m i preko. Ovu prvu dvojicu Amera ne zelim da komentarišem ali bronza sa 21.36m i da sam onaj od prošle godine...možda je moglo sve biti drugačije. Ali tako je bilo sudjeno,takmičenja i šansi će uvek biti Treba samo biti spreman i strpljiv. Hvala svima na porukama podrske koje ste mi slali i svima koji ste uz mene i kada gubim...slavicemo mi akoBogda jos puno puta!

A photo posted by Kolasinac Asmir (@asko_kolasinac) on Aug 19, 2016 at 5:04am PDT

The Serbian water polo team had a sweeping victory against Italy to 8:10, and they qualified to the final!!!
The truth is that it was a totally smooth game, the reason the difference is "just" 2 goals is that Serbs practically joked the end off. The first quarter finished with 0:3, the half time was 2:6 (it was 0:6 in the middle of the second quarter, Italians scored their first goal less than two minutes before the end). The third quarter brought just one single goal (2:7), in the fourth it grew to 5:10, Italians scored three goals in the last 4 minutes, while Serbs were just chilling on the waves with a big smile, knowing well, that whatever Italians try, they won’t be able even just to equalize.
The finall will be tomorrow against Croatia. It will be a real, true derby, the best kind.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 11, 16th August, 2016

Serbia won its first medal at the Olympic Games!!! And it's a gold!!!
Big big congratulations and salutation to Davor Štefanek, who is the Olympic champion of Greco-Roman wrestling in 66 kg!!!
He won over Migran Arutyunyan from Armenia in the final. First the Armenian was leading to 0:1 after pushing Štefanek off the mat, but then he got a caution that brought one point for the Serbian. According to regulations in case of draw the winner will be the one who earned a point the latest and the Armenian didn't have enough time to gain any more points.

Davor Štefanek with his gold medal

During the national anthem

Yes, that’s the Serbian flag on the top... above all...

Posing for the photographers. Only Bokvadze from Georgia was willing to pose with Štefanek. The Armenian was so down by the end result that he was not willing even to shake hands. (The Azeri medalist doesn’t seem to be too happy either.)

But the gold medalist is Serbia and no one can take it away from them

As for Partizan’s athletes, the water polo team clashed with Spain in the quarterfinal and washed them off. It was an easy game, the Serbian team was leading to 7:3 in the half-time. In the third quarter Spain could reduce it to 7:5, but in the final part they capitulated, and Serbia won to 10:7.

Filipović celebrating

Mandić (on the right) supports his teammates

Unity is strength

Question of the day: how did that Yugoslav flag get there?

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 9, 14th August, 2016

The basketball and water polo teams have played their last matches in the group stage. In the swimming pool the water polo team won over Japan at a seemingly easy game to 12:8. In reality it could be a nightmare. At the end of the first quarter Japan was leading to 2:5.
To 2:5. Against Serbia.
Against the world and European champion Serbia.
You get what I mean.
I bet Jakšić, Filipović, Mandić and all the others will remember this even at their old age.
As if FK Partizan would be leading against Real Madrid to 3:0 in the 30th minute.
I have no idea what could be going on, I’m looking at the statistics, but I see e.g. no missed out attempt by Serbia, or overwhelmingly lots of power play for Japan. There could be a very heavy water wrestling, the Japanese team entered the game as underdogs, they knew the Olympic Games have ended for them anyway, so they just wanted to have fun.
The Serbian team equalized in the second quarter struggling. Nothing happened for about 6 minutes, then Serbs scored 3 goals in the last two minutes. In the third quarter they could finally take the lead (9:7), the world’s order was back and at the end they had a convincing win to 12:8.
Huuuhhhhh. (relieved sigh)
So, the water polo team qualified to the next round, where they’ll clash with Spain tomorrow, on 16th August at 21:30 CET.
All the best, boys!!!

The basketball team clashed with China. They won, as it just had to happen, to 90:64 and qualified to the next round. (No info yet about the upcoming opponent.)

The entire water polo team rushed from the swimming pool to the basketball hall to support the boys

National anthem

I want such a flag. Where can I get/buy/find/steal/rob one?

Ole ole ole!

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 7, 12th August, 2016

Friday brought two games at the Olympic Games with Partizan-players. The first one was a basketball game, where the Serbian team got definitely the best team from which everyone (or almost everyone...) expects gold medal: the United States.
The fact these hamburger-fed yankees Americans could score only 3 (THREE) more points than Serbia, that's really something to be proud of. Team USA won 94:91, at a surely very heavily struggling game and I'm sure if any of their players might see again the clenching teeth and sweaty face of Bogdanović and Mačvan in their nightmares, they wake up crying, chewing on their pillows. Compared to the half time score (50:41) and to Americans still leading with 10 points in the third quarter (72:62), Serbia could make such a final that is written in the Big Book of Basketball.

Bogdan Bogdanović

...when Bogdan Bogdanović gets the grip...

Nenad Beđik and Miloš Vasić were there to support the basketball team

The basketball team is now 4th in their group - keep this place, boys, because then you will qualify to the next round!
At the evening game (early Saturday dawn CET) the Serbian and the Australian water polo teams clashed with Serbia gaining their first victory. The first quarter finished with 2:2, Serbia took the lead, then Australian equalized just 6 seconds before the end. The second quarter was tough. A lot. Australians were leading, sometimes with 2 goals (2:4) and even the half time result was for them (4:5). Then came the third quarter and a more or less square water wrestling (6:6).
Then the last quarter.
It started with 7:7.
Then it was 10:7, for Serbia. 3 minutes before the end they performed an amazing water polo show. Australians could pressure out only one single goal from themselves. The end result was 10:8 for Serbia.

Filip Filipović is teaching: see, children, this is the ball, that is. And that’s how you score a goal with it... (BOOOM!!!)

Players celebrate after the victory

The entire basketball team was there to support them

Serbia is now 4th in their group, they have only one game left, against Japan.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 5, 10th August, 2016

This day should rather be forgotten.
The rowing events had to be cancelled again for bad weather. It means, the Beđik-Vasić as well as the Šljukić-Marjanović duos will race for the 7-12th place on Thursday early afternoon CET.
Update: or not. The weather is again very bad in Rio, so the events are postponed to 17:40 CET.

The basketball team was defeated by France to 75:76. After a very tough first half (first quarter: 17:26, second: 36:40) Serbs took the lead in the third part (60:57), but finally the French team won with one point.

Bogdan Bogdanović’s facial expression tells it all

Bogdanović vs. Tony Parker

Saša Đorđević cannot believe his eyes

Simonović comforting Bogdanović after the game

Viktor Troicki was there to support the basketball team. Next to him stands Vlade Divac, former player of KK Partizan, currently the vice president of Sacramento Kings

Viktor Troicki in the company of Vlade Divac and Novak Đoković

The basketball team is 4th in their group. They have two games left, one against the US, and one against China, both will be more than though.

The water polo team surprisingly got defeated from Brazil to 6:5. Looking at the statistics of the game, it could be a real struggle. The first quarter seemed to be smooth (0:2 to Serbia), then the half time turned to be 3:3 from 1:3. In the third quarter the Brazilians took the lead (5:3), Serbs equalized in the last part (5:5), but then, when only 46 seconds were left, the referees gave a penalty to Brazil which decided Serbia’s fate (Duško Pijetlović had an attempt though afterwards, but the Brazilian goalkeeper, who is that Slobodan Soro, who used to be Partizan’s goalkeeper, but in the meantime was naturalized by Brazil, so, this Slobodan Soro saved Pijetlović’s shot.)

Filip Filipović is blocked, Soro is watching from the background

Dušan Mandić with the ball

And well, the truth is, that the Serbian team is very much behind in their group. They are second last, they have only 2 points. Only Japan is behind them. They have one game left against Australia, then one more against Japan, they must win both, if they want to qualfiy to the quarterfinals.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 3, 8th August 2016

The day had a good start. The rowing repechage events could finally happen and Partizan's both duos could make it to the qualifying. Nenad Beđik, Miloš Vasić, Andrija Šljukić and Marko Marjanović will race on Tuesday at 15:00 CET for the final.

The water polo team played draw with the Greek team, the match ended with 9:9. Team Serbia is third now in Group A.

Vladimir Vujasinović was also there, he came to see his "sons"

Dušan Mandić in action

At the tennis fields Nenad Zimonjić and Novak Đoković clashed in men’s double with the Brazilian pair Melo and Soares. They were defeated to 2:0 (6:4, 6:4), the Olympic Games have ended for them, too.

The day finished with basketball. Serbia wrestled played with Australia, then in the very last minutes they were defeated to 80:95. Serbia is 3rd in their group behind Australia and the United States.

Ana Ivanović and Viktor Troicki were there to support the basketball team

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)