November 25, 2020 - The presidents of Hajduk and HNS met on Tuesday in Zagreb to discuss several topics and open issues that directly and indirectly concern the Split club and Croatian Football Federation.
The President of the Management Board of HNK Hajduk, Lukša Jakobušić, met with the President of HNS Davor Šuker at the headquarters of the Federation in Zagreb. The meeting lasted an hour and 20 minutes, and the two discussed a number of topics and open issues that directly and indirectly concern Hajduk and HNS.
"This meeting is a logical sequence of what I announced in my inaugural speech. I want to talk about everything and for a start, I choose the most difficult topics which, understandably, are of most interest to Hajduk, but also to the wider football public. I think that the context and issues of the relationship between Hajduk and the Croatian Football Federation are well known to everyone. The president of HNS is the one who represents the Federation and who has the power to resolve the open issues and problems we discussed today. I met him and repeated things that bother not only Hajduk, but the entire football public because I have the impression that some attempts at positive changes on our part were rejected only because of the way they were presented," said Jakobušić after the meeting.
One of the topics discussed was hosting Croatia national team matches at Poljud.
"If Poljud will be the primary home of the Croatia national football team in the next few years, given the condition of Maksimir, then it is logical for HNS to invest in infrastructure. I am thinking especially for the new pitch."
Representatives of HNK Hajduk currently do not participate in the work of the HNS body.
"Regarding the presence of Hajduk representatives in the bodies of the Federation, we first want to focus on the football federation of Split-Dalmatia County where Hajduk must be the bearer and leader of positive vibes, choose the right people, renew and strengthen relations with clubs in Dalmatia, and only then participate in HNS. And we want to be ready and equipped for the HNS elections that are scheduled for next year. My personal focus is Hajduk, but Dalmatia must have representatives in HNS who are familiar with Hajduk."
What Hajduk will continue to strongly insist on is the transparency of work within HNS and the moral credibility of all persons who represent HNS or are in any way involved in its work.
"I emphasized once again how important transparency is for the HNS institution itself. The key is what I emphasized at the inaugural press conference, and that is that people who are legally, and in the case of HNS, illegally convicted, have no place within the Federation. This is primarily important for HNS, and indirectly for all clubs, to change the climate of the general impression and restore confidence in the umbrella football institution.
We will not and do not want to run away from all these challenges, we want to confront all stakeholders with them and now, using chess vocabulary, it's the Federation's move. Maintaining the status quo suits only those who benefit from it," concluded Jakobušić.
"We spoke openly about everything, I hope that we will roll up our sleeves as soon as possible and do a lot to benefit Croatian football. We care that Hajduk is strong, competitive and that, in football jargon, it has power. The Croatian Football Federation will not interfere in the work of the Football Federation of Split-Dalmatia County, which must be independent. I would like Hajduk to be the main conductor there and an important factor, everything that its leaders must show by acting through that institution in order to enter the HNS Assembly, is important and they have my support in this matter. It is very important to us that Hajduk continues to create quality young players and that Croatia continues to draw football talents from all over Dalmatia. The national team is coming to Split again in March, and we have to do everything to provide Modrić, Perišić and the company with excellent conditions for the game. We have already made a decision on the reconstruction of the field in Varaždin, Velika Gorica and Šibenik, and my proposal at the next session of the Executive Board will be to fix the Poljud stadium pitch," concluded Davor Šuker.
Source: HNK Hajduk website, HNS wesbite
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