The cup was hidden in Gorski Kotar by the end of the game: Here’s who flew in the helicopter
At more than an hour The drive from Zagreb, through the thick forests and the winding roads of Gorski Kotar, is a discreet resort, which has become the center of Croatian football for one day. Just there, far from the stadium reflectors and the city bustle, the delegation of the Croatian Football Federation, led by President Marijan Kustic, followed the decisive 36th round of the HNL, which decided who would become the new Croatian champion.
01:01
Celebration in Rijeka: fans on the field
In the atmosphere at the same time relaxed and filled with tension, with three TVs turned on and a rich table full of dried meat delicacies, buns and fruits, the assembled followed three parallel transmission. In addition to Kustic, the head of the HNS Security Department Jurica Jurjevic and Goran Djuric of the Supersport Administration were among the attendees. No jokes were missing.
« We play without penalties this wheel, » someone joked in the delegation.
Already in the 12th minute of the match in Rijeka, the home side led against Slaven Belupo with a goal by Nika Jankovic. « A good player, » Kustic commented briefly.
– This is phenomenal. I am delighted as the president of the Alliance that we have such an exciting finish. Three clubs can be champions and this is the best promotion of Croatian football. Wherever I appear, everyone is talking about it only. Let him win better and more adept – Kustic said before the start of the games, not hiding his satisfaction with the raised level of the competitive spirit.
At halftime a helicopter arrived, ready to ultimately transport the cup and medals to the new champion stadium. While members of the delegation, such as children, went out to shoot the scene, Kustic stayed in front of screens, a cellphone in his hand, focused on matches and messages that came from all sides.
Some send me, ‘Go right for the river!’, The other write, ‘Throw it into the zoo – Djuric recounted through laughter, while the results in the second half continued to keep everything in uncertainty.
The President of the Alliance In the meantime, he retreated to a separate room to change into a festive suit, preparing for the potential handling of the cup. The helicopter then entered Kustic, Djuric, Jurjevic and one of the official cameramen.
The name of the new champion, Rijeka, as we find out unofficially, will be engraved only after the official presents ceremony.
