In accordance with more than 40 years of tradition now, Vojvodina Football Club will organize the memorial tournament Stevan Nešticki, honoring their member of the first championship generation who tragically died.
This year the tournament will be held from June 7th until June 9th at Karađorđe stadium, and aside from the host – Vojvodina FC, the participants are the national academy of Singapore FC, Rijeka, Partizan, Borac Banjaluka, Pelister from Bitolj.
The press conference regarding this tournament was held today at Karađorđe stadium, and the speakers were: director of the Youth Academy of Vojvodina FC, Duško Grujić, president of the Organizational board of the memorial – Miodrag Jović, president of the Veteran Association of Vojvodina, Miladin Purać, the coach of the cadets – Borivoje Filipović, and the captain of the team, Vukašin Topić.
- It is our great pleasure to organize this tournament for the 42nd time, and this year it will be played at Karađorđe stadium. The participants are the national academy of Singapore FC, Rijeka, Partizan, Borac Banjaluka, Pelistar from Bitolj, and Vojvodina as the host. The tournament starts on Friday at 5pm, with the match between Vojvodina FC and the selection from Singapore. It is our great wish to attract as many fans as possible to come to the stands, enjoy quality games, and we will present our team of cadets who will fight in the Cadet League of Serbia next season – said the director of the Youth Academy, Duško Grujić.
President of the Organizational board, Miodrag Mika Jović is one of the rare people who follow and participate in the organization of this tournament from its beginnings.
- I am one of the two, three people who lives and remembers the start of this tournament, and I was always active in the organization of the tournament. I would like all guests who come this year to feel great and welcomed, like it has been the case for 40 years now – Miodrag Jović said.
President of the Veteran Association Miladin Purać reflected on that tragic night when Stevan Nešticki died in a car accident.
- This tournament celebrates 42 years of existence, and it is a memorial with the longest tradition in Europe. I would like to use this opportunity to evoke the memory of Steva. The night when he died, I was in the audience at his last game. It was a rainy night, our selection played against the selection of Czechoslovakia, and Steva played at the highest level. It was his last match, and today we are organizing the 42nd memorial in his memory, and I hope that this tradition will last – Miladin Purać pinpointed.
The coach of the cadets, Borivoje Filipović highlights that he is honored to lead the team at such a tournament.
- I have been in the club for 11 years, and I finally got the role of the coach for the generation that will participate in this tournament, the biggest in Europe. It is a great honor and privilege to represent our cadets at this tournament. We will give our maximum on the pitch, and will also give our best to host our guests and make them feel comfortable and welcomed. This is a nice opportunity to see how ready we are for the Cadet League of Serbia. The best team will win, and we are inviting everyone to come to Karađorđe – Filipović said.
Finally, the captain of the team, Vukašin Topić announced the fight for the trophy.
- To me and the rest of the team it is a great honor to play at this tournament. The previous generation were the vice-champions, which is an extra motif for us to reach the finale and return the trophy in our hands. We are playing at Karađorđe, which is also a privilege to us. Motif and desire will follow – Vukašin concluded.