ZAGREB, 19 Dec, 2021 - The visit by Croatian President Zoran Milanović to Bosnia and Herzegovina set for Sunday has been cancelled due to security reasons, the Office of the President has said.

President Milanović was to have travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend an event marking the 28th anniversary of the humanitarian convoy "White Road for Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena".

The decision to cancel the visit was made on the basis of a security assessment by the competent institutions of the Republic of Croatia, the Office of the President said in a statement today, without disclosing other details.

"President Milanović regrets that he will not attend the commemoration of the event, important for the Croats of the Lašva River valley, and expresses his strong support and gratitude to the organisers for preserving the memory of the humanitarian convoy 'White Road for Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena' alive," the statement said. 

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December the 19th, 2021 - Zagreb parking is definitely an issue for many, whether it is the cost or finding a place in which to leave the car and then pay for it in the first place. How does it compare to parking in other cities across Europe and the rest of the world?

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a specialised website for promotions and discounts on online shopping, picodi.com, has produced a report showing differences in the prices of public parking on the street in major European cities.

The analysis of the site reveals how much it costs to park cars in 48 large cities around the world and what are the discounts offered to residents of these areas on a monthly and annual basis.

To prepare this report, they took into account the price of one hour of parking on the street on weekdays in areas with regulated parking zones, as well as special offers for residents of these areas. The results show that the price of parking per hour can vary depending on the demand for parking spaces in a particular place. In general, the farther from the centre, the lower the price, which is logical.

We also know this practice when it comes to Zagreb parking, where the entire centre is classed as a red parking zone, parking spaces in the next "circle" belong to the yellow zone, and those even further from the centre are green zone parking areas. The price of an hour of parking in some European cities is best shown by the price of an hour of parking in the capital of Great Britain, London, where it is rather unsurprisingly the most expensive: up to 9.9 euros or 74.40 kuna, reports Jutarnji list.

In Lisbon, for example, you pay 3 euros or 22.50 kuna for one hour of parking in the centre, and in the French capital of Paris, it is twice as expensive as it is in Lisbon, but also two times cheaper than in the not-so-far-away City of London - 6 euros or 45.10 kuna. In the capital of Spain, Madrid, an hour of parking is slightly cheaper, and costs from 6.70 to 9 kuna in the very centre of the city.

The cheapest city on the scale is the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, where an hour of parking in a regulated zone in the centre costs only 0.18 euros or 1.30 kuna. Residents of the centres of most European capitals, as well as here in Zagreb, have a preferential tariff with regard to their address of residence, and it is interesting that in 6 of the 48 cities looked at, for residents, parking in the centre is totally free.

With 12 kuna for an hour of parking in the centre, Zagreb parking is at the bottom of the list of 18 European cities with the most expensive price of an hour of parking in the centre, and only Sarajevo in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina is cheaper, costing 9 kuna, Warsaw in Poland costs 6.30 kuna and Podgorica in Montenegro costs 4.50 kuna.

Prices for an hour of parking in the centre of various European cities:

London 9.90 (HRK 74.40)

Oslo 7.50 (HRK 56.30)

Amsterdam 7.50 (HRK 56.30)

Paris 6 (HRK 45)

Zurich 5.71 (HRK 42.90)

Copenhagen 5.24 (HRK 39.40)

Riga 5 (HRK 37.60)

Stockholm 4.96 (HRK 37.30)

Helsinki 4 (HRK 30)

Dublin 3.20 (HRK 24)

Reykjavik 2.48 (HRK 18.60)

Vienna 2.20 (HRK 16.50)

Bucharest 2 (HRK 15)

Nicosia 2 (HRK 5)

Zagreb 1.60 (HRK 12)

Sarajevo 1.20 (HRK 9)

Warsaw 0.84 (HRK 6.30)

Podgorica 0.60 (HRK 4.50)

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

December the 19th, 2021 - OPG Matulic from the island of Pasman just off the coast of Zadar began working only a decade ago, and they have attracted the attention of not only locals, but also the much larger Zagreb market.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/PD VL native tim writes, the Matulic family farm (OPG Matulic) from the island of Pasman was started ten years ago by Krsto and Ana Matulic. This family business includes growing olives, figs and chili peppers. They started with just one hundred seedlings, and today they have over 2000 seedlings of various chili peppers each and every year.

˝We're a small family farm, currently there are three of us, we have one hectare of land and we don't sell raw materials, only the finished products. We grow chili, figs, aloe vera, and we also have a lot of wild plants. My husband Krsto is in charge of the field and spices, and I'm in charge of cosmetics. This year has been very challenging and intense. Throughout the pandemic, we set up a production facility and devoted a little more time to online sales. There were also some other novelties. I launched three new products: Sea Tail - hand cream, Belle - face foam and the summer hit Lady sunshine. Krsto made some amazing chocolate with fig and maraschino acetate and olive oil,'' Ana Matulic said as she began OPG Matulic's story.

They started online sales a year and a half ago, and as they point out from OPG Matulic, they're very satisfied with the results and sales they've experienced so far, especially during the festive period. In their shop on Pasman, you can buy only their products, from hot sauces, flavoured salts, fig oils and acetates, to cosmetics based on olive oil and new sorts of chocolate. Back in the beginning, the majority of their products were bought by foreigners, and today there are more and more domestic customers who visit them and buy them as gifts for others and for themselves. The best-selling and most sought-after products are Pasman Libre fig aceto and Immortelle face cream.

The products from OPG Matulic have been awarded the Croatian Island Product label, three times they received the Sunflower Award of Croatian Rural Tourism, and they also received the Superior Taste Award for their Pasmanero in 2017 and for their Pasman libre fig aceto back in 2018, making them the very first small domestic producer with that award.

The International Taste Award in Italy back in 2020 went to the Pasman Libre for gold and silver went to their Pasmanero and wine vinegar. The latest award OPG Matulic took home was the Great Taste Award, and they received as many as three stars in England for Pasman Libre. Out of over 14,000 registered products, only 211 received three stars. They aren't aiming at having their products placed on the shelves of retail chains, as they say, they prefer small delicatessens and specialised shops, for example, Gligora has their products in its larger stores in Zagreb, Zadar and Kolan, and during the season they're present in a number of small shops on the coast and islands from Vis to Korcula, Hvar and Brac.

˝A lot of our restaurants in Pasman take our hot Pasmanero and Pasman Libre fig vinegar sauces. We're represented in catering and hospitality trades on Murter, Korcula, in Dubrovnik and in Zadar, and most recently in Zagreb in the new restaurant Al Dente in Bogoviceva street. In fact, someone often calls us from various restaurants and asks for an offer. However, since we don't sell our spices in larger packages than those available on the website, this will be a problem for most people in catering and hospitality. Some people, however, decide to take what we offer them and are generally satisfied. We don't have classic collaborations with hotels, but a few of them take our products for their souvenir shops, and some occasionally for gifts for their VIP guests. One of the longest collaborations we have is with Adriatic Sailing Charter, which takes our gift packages for guests on their luxury yachts,'' they stated from OPG Matulic.

When it comes to their spices, they produce most of the raw materials themselves, they buy figs from the local population right there on the island of Pasman, and when it comes to the production of cosmetics, they also cooperate with other family farms from which they purchase hydrolates, essential oils and beeswax. The production is located within their family house on the ground floor, and as Matulic explains, it is both an economic and residential space, and the production plant covers about 40 square metres in total.

For more, check out Made in Croatia.

December the 19th, 2021 - Croatian hoteliers are seeking concessions from the National Civil Protection Directorate as epidemiological rules remain in place, limiting their time of operations to midnight on the clock. They're after ''wedding rules'' in which they can remain in operation until 02:00.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, unlike back on New Year's Eve 2021, in which celebrating was practically banned for Croatian hoteliers and others in the catering and hospitality sector due to then then very strict epidemiological measures, a welcome to 2022 is on the cards for many Croatian hoteliers, with great interest shown so far from guests.

However, this year isn't really going very smoothly either, because according to the current measures of the National Civil Protection Directorate, gatherings are still allowed only until midnight, so unless something alters, it won't be possible to test that glass of champagne we all enjoy without the risk of a penalty. That's why the Croatian Hotel Employers' Association appealed to the Directorate back in November to set out some different, more relaxed business conditions which are in force at the moment for weddings only one night, and that the party should be allowed to go on until 02:00, confirmed Bernard Zenzerovic, the director of the aforementioned association.

"We conducted a survey among the members of our association and it turned out that a little more than 200 hotels will be opened for the New Year festivities, and we hope that there will be more guests here than last year. But when it comes to organised New Year’s Eve parties, we have an operational problem because we don’t know how we can work, and guests want to know what awaits them when they arrive at the hotel. Our proposal to the Civil Protection Directorate is to organise that one night according to the ''wedding regime'', to make it possible for people to enter with valid covid certificates, to report the gatherings to the Civil Protection Directorate and to be allowed to work until 02:00. We believe this is a reasonable and rational proposal given the context. We're in contact with the representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and the Civil Protection Directorate, and we have information that the decision on this matter will be made next week,'' explained Zenzerovic, adding that since the beginning of the pandemic, Croatian hoteliers have proved themselves as very responsible.

Currently, Croatian hoteliers are advertising what their offers are differently, most of them aren't clearly defining how long they intend to keep things running, but the programmes typically show that they are counting on ''wedding regime'' working hours. Many have live music, a late breakfast offer, and some even communicate quite openly that the fun will continue after midnight.

''Liburnia invites you to an unforgettable party in Opatija, announcing that the big celebration and New Year's Eve will be held in a spectacular place with the most beautiful view of the Mediterranean, with a five-course menu and live music,'' reads one such tempting offer.

Welcoming in 2022 with Maja Suput...

That offer might work as an instant way to turn some people off, but still... the luxurious Maistra Grand Park Hotel is also announcing a 5-course dinner, New Year's Eve with live music, and after midnight a party and late snacks in the Viva Eufemia lobby bar. The New Year's Eve 2022 party at the Olympia & Olympia Sky hotels is announced with a performance from Maja Suput, and a replay of the welcome is even planned one day later. Valamar's website clearly states that their programme of events in Porec is subject to changes in accordance with the epidemiological measures that will be in force at the time of the event, and currently each event seems it will definitely end at midnight.

It will also offer a New Year's Eve programme at noon, intended for families with small children, and the Spinnaker restaurant will host a New Year's Eve dinner with 7 courses, with a glass of champagne for a toast at midnight.

So far, the agencies are selling New Year's arrangements well and aren't currently recording cancellations, but everything is still on a slippy surface and depends on the epidemiological situation.

"We've noticed a great level of interest from both the organisers and guests for the New Year's packages and so far there have been no cancellations, but we are aware that there could be if the situation with coronavirus becomes more complicated. This weekend there was unofficial information circulating around that Istria is canceling things, but we called the hotels there and no one is planning to do so yet. We received a number of packages from the hotel that we can sell as a welcome, the rest can only be sold as accommodation if there are free rooms left. In this way, Croatian hoteliers have limited the number of people gathered at the New Year's celebration itself,'' they said from Azur tours.

For more, check out our business section.

December the 19th, 2021 - Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic has spoken out about plans regarding the unfolding epidemiological situation which is being heavily influenced across Europe by the new Omicron variant of concern (VOC), touching on NYE celebrations, masses at Christmas and so on.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, at the ceremony marking the final completion of the demining of Zadar County, a certificate of complete exclusion from the mine suspected area of ​​the county was formally handed over, writes Dnevnik.hr.

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic, Zadar County Prefect Bozidar Longin and Director of the Civil Protection Directorate Damir Trut, who held a presentation entitled: "Solving the mine problem of Zadar County."

"Strength, will, skill and courage," Longin said, adding that eight deminers had tragically died during the demining process.

“We'll remember all those who worked on demining, on a huge task and a job that was done successfully. "Today, it was a pleasure to submit a certificate on the mine-cleared area,'' Davor Bozinovic said. "This is the moment when we remember all the victims," ​​said Bozinovic, adding that the last person killed was in 2016, and a child also died in 2014.

"We hope to clean everything up by 2026," the minister said, concluding that seven to eight counties remain with mine issues which need to be resolved. "There are a few mines left in Split-Dalmatia, Sibenik-Knin, mostly in forest and mountainous areas, as well as where battles were fought," he said, recalling a situation where police rescued migrants from mine danger not so long ago.

Davor Bozinovic handed over the symbolic "last mine" to the mayor of Pakostane, Milivoje Kurtov, because the last demining work was carried out in that area.

Turning to coronavirus and anti-epidemic measures... 

As for the New Year, Davor Bozinovic said that at this moment in time they are primarily focused on monitoring the unfolding situation with the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"There's been exponential growth, which is attributed to the new Omicron variant. The Delta variant also spread much more rapidly than the previous strain, and Omicron is now spreading much more quickly than Delta did. We have a mix of these two variants of the virus and we have to take the appropriate precations as a result of it,'' Davor Bozinovic stated, citing the issues other European countries such as the United Kingdom are currently facing.

He pointed out that in Dalmatia there is a growth of newly infected across all four counties. "We're asking people to please stay outdoors as much as possible. Enclosed spaces are a big danger. We've had several cases across Europe where Omicron has easily infected people indoors,'' the minister warned.

“South Africa has a much younger population and it’s summer there. We know that then the virus spreads less. We're now entering the winter period, more and more people will be spending a lot of time indoors and it's extremely important that everyone takes care of themselves and doesn't underestimate the situation at hand,'' he warned.

He said that new anti-epidemic measures have now been adopted and given the situation across Europe, and at the minute they cannot make concessions. "If the numbers don't keep on increasing and if the trend of a slight decline continues - then we can talk. All I can say now is please be irresponsible because nobody knows what will happen in the next few days,'' he said, pointing out that no one, not even experts, can say for sure what will happen.

"The fact is that we have a certain number of cases and judging by everything we've learned so far, it's more realistic to expect that there are more cases than less," Davor Bozinovic said about the new Omicron variant. "We need to wait and see if these big European numbers lead to more hospitalisations," the minister said.

He said that the best suggestion is for the New Year to be celebrated outdoors in as much as is possible and that those who are religious watch the mass when it is broadcast on television.

"It's safer for everyone," Davor Bozinovic concluded.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English.

December 19, 2021 - Split Gastroadvent at Chops Grill featured an impressive culinary display of steak and prosciutto-inspired dishes as radio journalists were honored on Sunday. 

Radio journalists and representatives of the tourist boards and project partners lit the fourth Gastroadvent candle, decorating the wreath made this year by artist Tonka Alujević. Along with the herbs of the Mediterranean, the wreath represents a lifebuoy, which Tonka says is a maritime object that serves to save a man who, for various reasons, is helpless in the sea and is in mortal danger. And that is exactly the health and political position we are in at the moment." 

Gastroadvent is a unique event that has promoted the Mediterranean diet for decades through a fusion of nutrition, gastronomy, and tourism. Thanks to the engagement and participation of dedicated journalists, who continue to bring light to Split, the event persistently shares scientific knowledge woven into gastronomic skills, the numerous health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and the preparation of dishes from unique ingredients. The event's philosophy is to pass on the existing advantages to fellow citizens and offer them to guests.

The Mediterranean diet is not a closed and defined list of foods or a list of dishes that guarantee the sequence of this diet model. This is evident in the way UNESCO described the Mediterranean diet in 2010 when it recognized it as an intangible cultural heritage:

“Mediterranean nutrition is a set of skills, knowledge, practices, and traditions ranging from field to table, including crops, harvest, fishing, canning, processing, preparation and, in particular, food consumption. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a dietary model that has remained unchanged over time and space and consists mainly of olive oil, cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, moderate amounts of fish, milk, and meat, and many spices and moderate wine consumption, respecting the habits of individual communities. 

Today, science and the protagonists are not talking about the Mediterranean diet, but about the way of the Mediterranean diet, which is not just a list of food and dishes. The mentioned term covers a much broader spectrum, so this gathering of ours shows it as well," says the Gastroadvent organizer, Olja Martinić.

Inspired by prosciutto and herbs, the culinary table was designed and prepared by the head chef of Chops Grill, Ivan Nikolic, sous chef Toma Tripalo, and Pastry Chef Filipa Jurcević. The menu featured fritters with prosciutto, bomboline, classic cold prosciutto / cheese platters with homemade fig jam and pickled vegetables, baked fruit wrapped in prosciutto served with burrata mozzarella, homemade Žrnovo macaroni with prosciutto and truffles, steak bits with prosciutto and plums, monkfish with prosciutto, and much more. 

And for dessert, chocolate cake and grandma's cake with raspberries and almonds, to name a few. 

Rizman wine accompanied the delicious dishes. The philosophy of the Rizman winery is based on a long viticultural tradition and an ecological approach in the vineyard and cellar.

"With this ecological certificate, we give legitimacy to the original and autochthonous thing we strive for. Ever since Rizman's great-grandfather, who was not driven away from the hearth by the downy mildew and who returned and replanted the vine in the Neretva Valley, we have been tirelessly telling the story of the harmony of man and nature, stone and vine.

We are telling a story about sustainability, about the great potential of autochthonous Dalmatian and Croatian varieties, about our ecological vineyards from the youngest Croatian vineyard Komarna."

Split-Dalmatia County and the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board are avid supporters of Gastroadvent in Split, thus promoting the Mediterranean diet and local producers, entrepreneurs, and tourism workers.

The Split Tourist Board has worked hard to position the destination, harnessing a natural combination of history, gastronomy, and modernity, all to protect the components of the Mediterranean diet. The City of Split is determined to support projects that benefit its residents and demands guests after authentic experiences and new technological opportunities.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce has advocated for years to encourage the representation of domestic products, and since 1997 has implemented the national project "Let's Buy Croatian." The project aims to increase the consumption of local products and thus support the economy. This project is of particular importance, emphasized by the director Joze Tomaš, and confirmed by the cooperation with Gastroadvent.

JU RERA S.D., as part of the MD.net project to establish innovative food products, has cooperated with primary and secondary schools in Split-Dalmatia County and stakeholders involved in producing or marketing Mediterranean food products and promoting the Mediterranean way of life. The MD.net project focuses on development opportunities and problem-solving related to popularizing the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is a part of the Mediterranean identity inscribed in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. The project aims to strengthen research in this area following the UNESCO Convention on Mediterranean Nutrition, raise the quality of nutrition and life in 9 project partner countries, and promote the Mediterranean diet, which is recognized as the gold standard of proper nutrition with far-reaching health benefits.

Apart from the desire to involve as many people as possible and bring them closer to the importance of the Mediterranean diet in everyday life, as well as its impact on their health, the other goal of the project is to establish a standard in the Med Diet Declaration logo to classify Mediterranean areas. The ultimate goal of awarding the Declaration is to position Split-Dalmatia County as a desirable Mediterranean culinary region.

Split Gastroadvent is held every Advent Sunday at a new location, honoring a different group of journalists with new culinary creations at each event. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

December 19, 2021 - Numerous clubs, institutions, societies, associations, companies, and individuals have contributed to the development of modern Split, but only a few have worked for more than a century. The first meeting of Split centenarian institutions was held on Hotel Park's 100th birthday this week.

"We will leave the memories that are created with the great festival that befits our jubilee for some safer times, and now in this holiday season, we want to celebrate in a small circle, with 'our generation,' clubs, and institutions celebrating 100 years and more. They are all mostly considered symbols of Split," said Daria Schirmann, director of the cult Hotel Park before the start of the dinner, which symbolically started at 19:21.

Friendly and business cooperation, exchanging experiences, and mutual support and assistance are just some reasons why the meeting of Split centenarians at Hotel Park will become a traditional event.

"This idea is great, and I'm glad we got together for the first time. Gusar is one of the largest sports clubs in Croatia and the world. The club is a hotbed of talent, and what determines it the most is the upbringing and development of young people, most of whom graduated from college. When they grow up, they always return to their club and help," said Ivica Botica, president of HVK Gusar, which turned 107 this year.

Emin Sarajlić, president of the Cultural and Artistic Association Jedinstvo, which has existed for 102 years, said that the first 100 years were challenging. Then a pandemic caught them and limited their work: "We have a bright future ahead of us, we had a ban on rehearsals and performances for almost nine months, but when everything opened, on the first day of June, 70 members came to us for that first rehearsal, and we were thrilled. Young people are full of enthusiasm, and that is why we can say that Jedinstvo, like Hajduk, lives forever," said Sarajlić.

One year younger than KUD Jedinstvo is the Jadran Sports Association. President Srđan Kovačić pointed out that Jadran has finally returned to where it belongs, considering that it has been playing in the Champions League for the last few years, and reminded of the upcoming anniversary of the first European gold medal in Croatia: "In two months it will be 30 years. The first European medal in Croatia was in February 1992, when we won the European Championship, and Croatia was recognized a month before that," he said.

At the first joint gathering of Split's 'institutional' centenarians, HNK Hajduk was represented by a member of the Management Board, Ivan Matana, who, after congratulating Park and wishing to remain a recognizable symbol of the city, expressed hope that Split's centenarians, including sports, will bring a lot of joy to Split. "Next year, Hajduk will celebrate its 111th birthday. It is a symbolic number; there are a lot of units, so we'll see, maybe that means something," Matana answered the question about the chances of Hajduk winning the championship next year.

In the company of centenarians is Photo Club Split, boasting 110 years, whose president Maja Prgomet pointed out the merits of great colleagues and a team of people who volunteer on numerous projects for the end of this and next year.

The club of proud centenarians from Split, whose representatives took part in the gathering at the Hotel Park also included the Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum in Split, the Croatian National Theater, and the County Chamber of Commerce, whose official year of foundation is 1852.

The construction of Hotel Park in 1921, according to the project of architects Vjekoslav Ivanišević and Fabjan Kaliterna, coincides with the time when Split became a sought-after tourist destination, and even then, the hotel was an unavoidable place for social events. It has maintained this status and is part of the collective memory of generations of Split citizens. Numerous historical events and meetings have taken place at Hotel Park in the last 100 years, the most famous being the signing of the capitulations of fascist Italy in 1943.

The first meeting of Split's institutional centenarians is undoubtedly an event that will mark the hotel's history. 

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

December 19, 2021 - The best Croatian MMA fighter Roberto Soldić knocked out the legendary Mamed Khalidov at KSW 65 on Saturday night, adding the KSW middleweight belt to the previously won welterweight belt! 

Khalidov has achieved 35 victories, seven defeats, and two draws in his professional career until Saturday, and Soldić entered the ring with a 19:3 ratio in the MMA against a fighter who has been in KSW from the very beginning, and who from 2007 to 2017 had 20 consecutive fights without defeat in that promotion. Only in this KSW did he start with a win and a loss, then record six consecutive wins and get a career fight opportunity, reports Index.hr.

Soldić used it in the best possible way and with this victory, which KSW was called "one of the greatest in Europe", he reached the title. 

The scariest fighter on the planet!!!

?? @Soldic_MMA ?? KO's the legendary Mamed Khalidov to become KSW Double Champ!! #KSW65 pic.twitter.com/HL5o9yjbz1

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) December 19, 2021

Both fighters started aggressively from the first second, with strong kicks to the legs and body. Soldić was focused, dodged the dangerous attempts by the experienced Khalidov and quick counterattacks. Minor problems were shown in the middle of the opening round when the belt defender knocked the Croatian fighter to the ground, but he did not manage to threaten him more seriously.

Kicks marked the beginning of the second round in which Soldić knocked down Khalidov, took the upper position, and hit him with his elbow before he got up and continued to punish him with kicks. The fight then briefly stopped.

? CHAMP CHAMP ?
?? Roberto @Soldic_MMA ??

??? #KSW65 ??? pic.twitter.com/T1tXIOw8tL

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) December 18, 2021

Soldić then continued to move well, exert pressure and defend himself from the blows of a more experienced fighter. At one point, he sent Khalid to the ground from a counterattack with left crochet, and recorded a victory in the biggest fight of his career.

"I'm not surprised, I believe in my hands, wrestling and fitness. Mamed is a legend and will be a legend forever. Thank you for the fight. I trained every day. It's my life. I believe in myself, I know this game, I have self-confidence and whoever is in front of me is a big problem," said Soldić after the victory.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.