Marko Vidalina interview
Well, as you all know by now, CroatianSoccerReport.com was featured last week in the highly circulated Croatian Newspaper, 24 Sata. On June 20th, I was fortunate enough to meet with the writer of that article, Marko Vidalina. Here is how the interview went:
Once again, I would like to thank Marko Vidalina for spending a few minutes with me for CSR and making us famous on 24 sata. For those of you that missed the article:
CroatianSoccerReport featured on 24 Sata
Update from Šibenik
After spending a day less than three weeks in Zagreb, I arrive in Šibenik on Monday June 22nd hoping to add something to the Bad Blue Boys visit, credentials for Croatia-Ukraine match, Alexander Žic interview, and Marko Vidalina interview.
Well it turns out that I jinxed myself with "the greatest news ever on CSR" a few weeks back. This news was supposed to be the beginning stages of a possible Dinamo Zagreb friendly in the United States. I spoke with one of the lead members of the Bad Blue Boys for about an hour, visited their headquarters, and was convinced that we would work together to make this happen.
This member of the Bad Blue Boys, made the trip to Toronto on July 12, 2005 to watch the only time Dinamo was featured in the United States against the powerful Glasgow Rangers. He( I am forbidden to mention his name) mentioned about his time in Toronto and how he and the rest of the Bad Blue Boys luckily had housing arranged with local Croatian families in Toronto.
Dinamo Zagreb-Glasgow Rangers Summary
Dado Pršo, Glasgow Rangers interview
"The small but vocal Rogers Centre crowd of 18,159 was split evenly between Rangers and Zagreb fans, but the Croatian's supporters were definitely louder. At one point they started a Glasgow Celtic chant to the ire of Rangers supporters."~ TSN Summary
He, lets call him Bob, was super friendly, offered me a beer and we exchanged T-shirts. However, my requests of interviews(on and off camera), filming the Bad Blue Boys headquarters, and any other related Dinamo or Bad Blue Boys were denied by a simple phone call he made numerous times to his boss.
Still hopeful of an interview with the Bad Blue Boys, I tried the Dinamo headquarters. After playing phone tag with Dinamo secretaries about a dozen times, I finally got through to a Mr. Jagotić. I informed him where I was coming from and my intentions of one day hosting Dinamo Zagreb in North America. He explained to me that he was "very busy at the moment and will contact me via email if interested." next I contacted the Croatian Football Federation. After playing phone tag with them about a dozen times, they finally gave in and said "I need to contact Mr. Srebrić when he returns from U16 training outside of Zagreb sometime this week." Next I tried to get a hold of "Bob" hoping to get at least some little information to carry home with me, but no luck. Bob declined to answer my half a dozen phone calls and text messages. I still don't know how business gets done in Croatia.
Now, my objective is to connect with some big shots at Hajduk and/or Torcida in hopes of getting answers to a Hajduk friendly across the pond. I will keep you posted with my status and if anything new develops.
After reading the Dinamo Zagreb-Glasgow Rangers Summary, anything is possible
~ Denis Svirčić, reporting from Šibenik, Croatia
29 comments:
Question--
Where did you go? The Udruga Navijaca Dinama or Klub Navijaca Dinama?
Croatian media reports Dinamo's Mandzukic to join Spurs!
ŽELI U NJEMAČKU
Metro: Tottenham spreman potpisati ugovor s Mandžukićem
Autor: Totalsport, S. Hebar
Objavljeno: 25. 06. 2009. | 19:51
Ekipa bi mogla uskoro opet biti na okupu
Ekipa bi mogla uskoro opet biti na okupu
Foto: Marko Lukunić
Dinamov nogometaš Mario Mandžukić jedno je od najspominjanijih hrvatskih imena na ovoljetnoj europskoj tržnici. Engleski ga je Metro u četvrtak smjestio u Tottenham.
Metro piše već poznatu činjenicu kako je za napadača 'plavih' zainteresiran i njemački Werder, ali dodaje i kako su Spursi spremni potpisati ugovor s njime.
Englezi pišu da Mandžukić ne bi imao nikakvih problema oko prilagodbe na London jer ga na White Hart Laneu već čekaju njegovi reprezentativni suigrači Luka Modrić i Vedran Ćorluka.
U članku se navodi kako je zanimanje za prošlosezonskog prvog strijelca Hrvatske nogometne lige pokazao i Portsmouth, ali procjenjuje se kako je klub našeg Nike Kranjčara autsajder u utrci s Tottenhamom.
No, Marijo je nedavno izjavio kako bi radije u Bundesligu, jer njemački govori kao 'od šale', a tamo mu živi i sestra. Dakle, da mora izabrati, bio bi to vrlo vjerojatno ipak Werder...
Great stuff Denis! Sounds like its gonna take a lot to get the NT over here. Too bad money is the first thing mentioned. If only those hns officials and nt players knew how bad we want to see them play over here. I guess you and Ante better start printing out some more tee shirts lol. Have some faith, it got you this far, who knows where it can take you.
More on Mandzukic from the UK's Metro.
Spurs in chase for Mandzukic - Transfer Talk
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tottenham are ready to add to their Croatian contingent at White Hart Lane by signing Dinamo Zagreb striker Mario Mandzukic.
Spurs already have his compatriots Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka on their payroll so the 23-year-old, who also interests Werder Bremen, would have no difficulty in fitting straight into life in London.
RE: interview with 24Sata writer
Marko misses the point. We're not talking about Croatian clubs, either the national team or club teams, playing in North America just for the sake of playing here. We're suggesting they come here to commune with tens of thousands of Canadians and Americans of Croatian heritage.
But then again, perhaps his attitude really speaks volumes. Perhaps the Croatian soccer insiders couldn't care less how much North American Croatians adore them.
Maybe its just me but this indifference really permeates the entire interview.
@ Dennis or any other contributor to CSR.
I may have missed some articles while Dennis was in Croatia. Was he able to find out from local writers why Ante Rukavina keeps on getting overlooked for the National Team.
Also, just my thought. I think Slaven Bilic has become a victim of his own success. The first thing he did that brought him immediate success when first joining the national team ie. allowing the youngsters such as eduardo, Corluka and Modric to break into the team is the very thing he will not do for players like Mandzukic, Kalinic and Sharbini. I personally hope that Mandzukic doesnt go to the EPL, I feel that the Bundesliga or La Liga is a much better fit. I am just glad to see that he made the most of his last cap in the National team. His introduction injected allot of life into the squad. I am hoping it was enough to persuade Bilic to let the young strikers show what they can do, It is painfully obvious that Klasnic and Petric are taking their caps for granted.
I agree Mandza should not go to EPL and especially not to Spurs who have a history of wrecking players. He wants to go to HSV or Bremen. In fact i think he's a bit angry he's not already gone as Bremen made a good bid and we rejected it.
I disagree that Petric and Klasnic are taking there caps for granted. I think Petric is just not a number 9 and is struggling to play that role. I think when Eduardo comes back and allows Olic and Petric to do there own thing we will see the best of them. Its simply a fact that Olic and Petric have failed to be the goalscoring strikers we expect them to be. They prefer playing a bit deeper than in striker in the box. I think we can prob change things now. Olic and Petric have had there chance to translate the HSV partnership with the Croatia team. Its not worked despite having Modric, Srna, Rakitic supplying them. When Eduardo's back one of the two will be on the bench and if Mandza or Klasnic are paired with Eduardo i wouldn't have a problem with that. Regards Klasnic i don't think he's actually played since the Euro so we can't blame him. He didn't play against England or Ukraine and we central to the Andorra win so we can't point the finger at him. I think if we gave Klasnic some minutes against Ukraine he could have sniffed out a goal for us as he is the penalty box striker which Olic and Petric just aren't. Olic spends far too much time doing work outside the box. It'll all improve if one is dropped to bench and Eduardo comes back. Regards Kalinic i don't trust him till i see him score a goal in a friendly match.
Last night I went to the Zidane and friends tour in toronto, they advertised PRSO to be playing with him and of course there was no prso, still got to see zidane play tho
Karlovic upsets tsonga
Denis,
Could you please let me know which 'Bad Blue Boys headquarters' you went to - Udruga Navijaca Dinama or Klub Navijaca Dinama?
Yeh I'm interested in which headquarters he went to as well.
FYI
Cilic and Haas have to continue their 3rd Round match tomorrow as play has been suspended due to darkness.
6-6 in the 5th set.
Wow, you guys have come a long way and this is another big step. I really hope you get Dinamo and Hajduk in the US.
About the Petric and Klasnic debate. Olic and Petric are not scoring like they did for their club and so they should not be paired up for the national team. Thank god Eduardo is coming back soon. And Klasnic, I think he should be paired with Eduardo up front because like Eduardo he strikes from inside the box, unlike Petric and Olic. Also, Klasnic is tall which is something we don't have up front for Croatia. I don't know much about our other options up front.
Keep up the great work CSR.
@Ante BBB,
sorry about the delay in reply.. I went on both websites and honestly, i dont remember.. The one I went to is not financed by Mamic.. The other one is financed by Mamic. Hopefully, this helps. Also, the one I went to has a bar, Im not sure on the other one. Just out of curiosity, why you ask? Also, hopefully, this proves that Ante and I are not biased for Hajduk..
@Ivica,
Thanks for the words of confidence. Money is the first thing mentioned because this is the honest truth. I remember a few years back, Croatia played against a second division Croatian club team because they canceled a friendly after a certain underdeveloped nation couldn't come up with the funds..
@Tom in Winnipeg
First, what the hell are you doing in Winnipeg? Not an insult, just a question..
second, 'But then again, perhaps his attitude really speaks volumes. Perhaps the Croatian soccer insiders couldn't care less how much North American Croatians adore them.'
You get the point...
Marko did mention money.. however, he also explained that offers came from Asia and Croatia declined because of distance and lack of competition....
in reality, most of these players dont care about 100,000 Croatians living in North America...
The HNS has a price, and must be beneficial for the team..
Someone in Croatia mentioned this:
'The only way Croatia comes to play in North America is for a reason. Lets say New York is celebrating 200 years of Croatians in NY, and there will be 100s of thousands of Croatians in NY for this historic event... and on this saturday.. the croatian national team will play the US... and will be honored guests..' Get my drift?
@Petar Radman
I never got a direct answer from anyone regarding Rukavina.. No one seams to know. All they say is that mate Bilic, Rukavina, and Galinovic are not favored by Bilic and his staff..
@Tt,
thanks for the kind words. Great analysis on our strikers.. I am afraid that everyone is still hoping for Eduardo... What if he never returns? Like someone mentioned before on this site 'Olic and Petric have failed' We need new blood.. especially in the next friendly..
RE: What the hell am I doing in Winnipeg?
Hey Dennis, well, the short answer to your question is... tolerating it! Oh well, life takes us in inexplicable directions, no?
I will add, 'though, that I actually grew up in Toronto. I am very proud to say I have many great memories as a boy attending Toronto Metros Croatia games at Varsity Stadium with my father. (Just in case you're not aware, the club won the North American Soccer League championship -- yes, THAT North American Soccer League -- in 1976, a remarkable achievement for a community-based team. I wish someone would write a book about it, as it's a story that really should be told:)
As for Winnipeg, the city has a community of roughly 3,000 Croatians. The Winnipeg Croatia Soccer Club has been running one or more teams for 35 years. Soccer, as a whole, is really thriving here, especially at the grassroots level.
Take care,
Tom
Tom,
Canada is a beautiful country. I have cousins in Vancouver, which I visited three times. Summer of 2002 I spent a week or so in Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, and Montreal... short but sweet. Never had a chance to visit Winnipeg or Edmonton even though I heard fabulous things about both places.
I never knew about 'community of roughly 3,000 Croatians' in Winnepeg. Where do you catch the qualifiers? I am thinking about making a short weekend trip for a qualifier.. 'CSR in Winnipeg' How does that sound?
As far as:
'I wish someone would write a book about it, as it's a story that really should be told:)'
you should rephrase yourself... something like this..
'I will write a book about it, as it's a story that really should be told:)'
Tom, a pleasure to have you aboard with us
Why would you go to the BBB or Torcida to set up a friendly in the US/Canada. These hooligans cant make any of that happen.
Its all about $$$$$. No chance Dinamo and/or Hajduk can make any money on such a trip or break even. Not enough croats would come out to watch them play.
@ziva istina
Excellent name! Great to have you aboard..
I dont think you get the purpose of my visit to BBB and Torcida hopefully soon..
1) To get answers
2) To make contacts
3) To promote the site
4) To make friends
Torcida and BBB are struggling to finance themselves.
"Why would you go to the BBB or Torcida to set up a friendly in the US/Canada."
Am I really that dumb to assume that the BBB will finance a trip to north America?
With Dinamo, I have to somehow convince Mamić and Mamić only that a trip to NA would be beneficial for his club..
With Hajduk, I have to somehow convince Kerum and only Kerum that a trip to NA would be beneficial for his club..
This is years in the making my friend. One baby step at a time. Obviously "Its all about $$$$$.".. Obviously, BBB, Torcida, Fans, Ante and myself cant make this happen alone..
Little by little you build to solve the puzzle.
@everyone
There have been talks about Real Madrid possibly playing at the Poljud in 2011 for Hajduk's big 100 year anniversary...
"No chance Dinamo and/or Hajduk can make any money on such a trip or break even."
Will Real make any $$$$$ out of this? If and when they attend, they will arrive as honored guests, as royalty...
This is what will bring Hajduk and/or Dinamo to America...
Hey Dennis,
"CSR in Winnipeg" would be great. If you'll have me, I'd be very happy to be your correspondent. There's a restaurant in the city that ordinarily hosts Croatia's qualifiers via satellite. This year I was very happy the organizers also broadcast a Hajduk vs Dinamo derby -- the one Hajduk won 2-0 -- and the first leg of the Croatian Cup (broadcasting the second leg was deemed pointless given Dinamo's convincing 3-0 win in Zagreb.)
Hey, here's a few tidbits for your reference Dennis. In approximately 1985 Dinamo played in Toronto as part of a three-team tournament. Celtic also took part. I can't recall the third team. I saw Dinamo completely dismantle Celtic. I will always remember the standing ovation and the roaring chants of "plavi!" when the Dinamo players walked into the stadium. Perhaps a mini-tournament of this nature might also help you attract Hajduk and/or Dinamo to North America.
Apparently, although I don't know many of the details, Hajduk also has some history of playing in North America. They played a couple of exhibition games in the 1980's against the Seattle Sounders and/or Vancouver Whitecaps.
Further, the Toronto franchise in MLS also hosts a series of friendlies against international clubs. They've organized a game with Real Madrid for August. I believe an Argentinian side is also scheduled to come to Toronto. So, perhaps you might find a willing ally in one or more of the MLS franchises?
Anyway, keep fighting the good fight:)
Tom
Denis,
The reason I ask is because both (the Udruga and Klub Navijaca) are primary anti-journalist. If you say you went to the one that is not financed by Mamic (news to me) then I would have to say you were at the Udruga. There's no way you would've gotten anywhere with either group though regardless if it was even to go to a friendly.
Denis....here is the differance. Real Madrid coming to Split would sell out the stadium.
Hajduk and Dinamo coming to N. America to play an MLS team would not attract many people. Basically, the only people who would attend are hrvati and this is no longer 1991 when nationalism was flying high.
If it was a one game deal in Toronto you might get 5,000 people or a quarter of the stadium filled. And that might be best case scenerio
Any other city in N. America (Chicago, LA, Cleve) and you wont get even close to 5,000.
Rangers-Dinamo attracted less than 20,000 and Rangers is a big brand name.
It's a great idea, but it wont happen.
The reason bigger squads (Chelsea, Real, Barca, Milan, etc) come to N. America is because it is a money maker and chance for them to sell their brand. This is not the case with Hajduk or Dinamo. No canadian or american will go out and buy a dinamo or hajduk shirt.
The game would be sold out bring Dinamo to LA in CALI! I live in Arizona but man san pedro and everyone would fly in chicago all cities to see the game! I mean the second i find out its happening i would by the tickets...maybe one day haha even a croatia friendly played on US soil would be nice.
@ Ziva Istina its not 1991 but I live in the amerika and i see all the hrvati coming out and supporting out team its not like we get to see it everyday. We have mini soccer goal tourneys in the states and people fly in from west coast to east just to play for a lousy cash prize but they dont do it for that they do it for the get together.
@Tom
Thanks for all the info on Hajduk and Dinamo. However, a lot has changed since 1985. A hell of a lot more difficult to get Hajduk or Dinamo overseas than it was in 1985. I bet back then the players were bunking up with native Croats.
ante and I will definitely look into "CSR from Winnipeg". Canada Air has flights from LA for about $200 one way...
thanks for the support
@Ante BBB
You are right about "There's no way you would've gotten anywhere with either group though regardless if it was even to go to a friendly."
@Ziva Istina
Great point on bigger clubs coming to market their brand. However, I still feel this can be done by breaking even. I dont want a penny from this. Hajduk-LA Galaxy would be 10,000 strong for sure.
check this out:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/7111772/
If 3,000 or so Croats can show up to a tennis match, then how about Hajduk or Dinamo?
"Croatia seemed to have almost as many fans as the U.S. team in the lively, drum-banging and somewhat rowdy crowd of 6,584. Southern California is home to a large number of transplanted Croatians."
@Andrej
Im trying brother.
@Anonymous
dont be afraid to sign in. Take off that mask.
Excellent point. Croatians love to get together, and only a Hajduk or Dinamo match can bring so many Croats together from all over north America.
20 teams show up from all over the country to play in a minisoccer goal tournament... Thats 200 people already... plus friends and family...
200 people for a mini goal tourney...WOW, let me do some cartwheels for that. So, that is your arguement. You can even use the bigger Labor Day soccer tournament in the east coast. The crowds are about half of the size they were in mid 90's. Hrvati dont care anymore. they just done. Assimilation and lack of interest.
You still would not get past 5,000 for Hajduk or Dinamo in LA. Random MLS games have a hard enough time drawing a crowd. To the american soccer fan the name dinamo or hajduk or croatia means nothing. As for the David Cup crowd, yeah i was there. No way there were 6,500 people in that crowd on that day. That figure accounted for number of tickets sold, not number of people in attendance. Still, it was an impressive showing for the # of hrvati who showed up.
My friend, gone are the days of 1994 and the World basketball Championships when 15,000 hrvati invaded the old Maple Leafs Garden.
@ Zivi Istina,
There was absolutely 6500 people at the Home Depot Center tennis complex that day. There were people standing up around the top ring of the court the entire match.
I was there that day. There certainly wasn't 3000 Croatians or even close to that number but it seemed like there was 10,000. You would have thought it was a football match and not tennis. Whenever Roddick serves a Croatian was screaming at him or saying a funny remark.
It was like that the entire match. Even the American fans tried to get on the Croatians but we shut them down every time.
The chair umpire must have said "please quiet down" 200 times during the match.
There you go...
@Ziva Istina
"You still would not get past 5,000 for Hajduk or Dinamo in LA. Random MLS games have a hard enough time drawing a crowd. To the american soccer fan the name dinamo or hajduk or croatia means nothing."
5,000 Americans would show up for sure. all we need is another 5,000 Croats to make a decent showing...
"200 people for a mini goal tourney...WOW, let me do some cartwheels for that. So, that is your arguement."
This is not my main argument. There were roughly 500 people that attended an almost meaningless Croatian small goals tournament. Who cares?
My argument is: If 500 croats would fly in from around the country for a meaningless Croatian tournament... How many would fly in to watch Hajduk Split or Dinamo Zagreb?
Also, I can guarantee that 80% of the Croats at Davis Cup have never been to a tennis match in their lives. They showed up for Croatia. For Hajduk or Dinamo, they will not only show up for Croatia, but for football.
We agree to disagree...I just dont think you will have large numbers flying in. 100 or so from Chicago and Clev and 300 or from Canada. That is it.
People realize Hajduka nd Dinamo are shit, so they wont spend money to come see them.
MLS squads have a hard enough time drawing crowds for friendlies unless it is a big name (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, or mexican side) Dinamo and Hajduk are not big names.
Davis Cup....we had the best of the best playing. Plus Agassi and Roddick had something to do with that as well.
A few years ago the croatian junior team toured N. America (Modric and a few others were on the team) and the turnout was terrible.
Listen, I'm not bashing you, I'm bashing the croatians in N. America. They just dont care anymore.
@Ziva istina
yes 'we agree to disagree' haha
I am in no way offended, nor do I feel that you are "bashing" me in any way. For the most part you are right, however, I like to believe there is still a possibility that hosting one of these teams could be successful..
Every year the LA Galaxy hosts a Korean club team. Los Angeles is home to thousands of Koreans. Anyone that follows football will assume that the HNL is miles ahead of the K league.
Also, Marketing plays a significant part as well. People like free shit. example: a free Hajduk/Dinamo vs. Galaxy T shirt.. pin, flag.. something...
We have to market Hajduk as a powerful historic Croatian Club... and Dinamo as Croatian champions..
If you dont mind, where are you writing us from?
@ Denis.....currently in Chicago on work. I travel frequently for work and spend a majority of my time in Chicago and NYC.
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