July 23, 2022 - The Manchester City Academy is training in Istria for the sixth consecutive year, but this time including three Premier League champions. 

For the sixth year already, the academy of the English giant arrives in Novigrad in Istria for preparations. Young Istrian footballers had the privilege of playing with them and taking selfies, reports Gol.hr.

The U-18 and U-23 teams of the Premier League champions arrived in Istria for a nine-day training session, and with them are three first-team players - Phil Foden, John Stones, and Ilkay Gundogan.

Due to strict COVID restrictions, the star trio could not go to the preparations in the United States with the first team, so Pep Guardiola sent them to Istria to prepare with the young players. 

Gol.hr writes that despite all efforts, getting a short statement from one of the most expensive footballers today, Phil Foden, is practically impossible. The English club's PR team had done an excellent job hiding him. 

"He is very humble, full of respect, works hard every day," City's academy director Jack Wilcox said of the England international team player and added:

"He wants to improve every minute of every day, and that is why, according to many, he is the best young player in the world."

The talented young City players, some of whom have already made a few appearances for the first team, really admire Croatian footballers, especially Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, and Mateo Kovačić.

Although City can bring today's best players, they invest considerable money in their football academy. 

"Any team in the Premier League can buy top talent from around the world, not just Manchester City, but the academy is much more than that. It tries to develop players who live in the local community and inspire them," said Wilcox.

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

As Glas Istre/S. Zrinic Terlevic writes on the 6th of September, 2019, the attractive offer of local Istrian wines, a long walk along the Adriatic sea and delicious snacks will mark the third edition of the Wine&Walk by the sea event, which will be held on Saturday the 28th of September in Novigrad.

To mark the turn of the season and the beginning of autumn, lovers of wine and good food will be able to enjoy a ten kilometre walk through Novigrad and the surrounding area with a glass of the good stuff in hand.

''A superb offer of Istrian wines and authentic gastronomic delicacies, a unique walk through the old town of Novigrad, by the sea, olive groves and vineyards and an always excellent atmosphere are the main ingredients of 'Wine&Walk by the sea'. This wine hike attracts more and more visitors every year, and this motivates us to make more and more effort from year to year to exceed expectations. I believe that this year we will surprise all visitors,'' said Vesna Ferenac, director of the Tourist Board of the City of Novigrad.

The start of the program is foreseen in the morning from the Porporela waterfront in Novigrad where participants will sign up. Everyone will receive a tasting glass and vouchers, a trail map and any instructions that will help them with their stroll along the wine trail.

The adventure begins with a stroll along the waterfront and the old port of Mandrač, in the very heart of Novigrad, where the first point awaits participants. After the wine tasting there, walkers will continue along a path that runs partly along the seashore, and then enter the hinterland of Novigrad through the picturesque vineyards and olive groves.

There will be a total of seven points for participants along the route, where they will be able to enjoy the rich gastronomic offer of northwestern Istria, meet winemakers and famous chefs and experience numerous surprises.

Wineries Pervino, Moreno Ivančić, Stancija Fava, Demark, Leonardo Palčić, Ghira and Novacco will present their respective offers, while delicious Istrian fish and meat dishes will be prepared by Plegius catering, Navigare Restaurant, konoba Nino, Half 8 Restaurant, konoba Sergio and Kod Marice restaurant, while the Ošo bakery will take care of sweet things.

Returning to Novigrad, in the heart of the Old Town, participants will continue their celebration with excellent music and performances, delicious snacks and more local wine, as well as a fair of indigenous agricultural products and souvenirs.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

Investment in Croatia continues despite problematic red tape, and thanks to EU funds (among others), Istria County is set to see a huge cash injection for their numerous ports.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 4th of March, 2019, Istria County is the founder of five port authorities: Pula Port Authority, Rovinj Port Authority, Rabac Port Authority, Poreč Port Authority and Umag-Novigrad Port Authority, which are expecting big investments this year, according to a report from Glas Istre.

In Pula, the completion of the new 130-metre-long coastline is expected, which will surely contribute to the further overall growth of maritime traffic in the busy Port of Pula. The construction of the new operational coast/shoreline is a project which has been being carried out in several phases, and the latter part of it is worth 3.5 million kuna. Another significant move is that at the end of this year, the design of the passenger terminal project in Pula should begin.

In addition to the ''doing up'' of Pula's coastline, Pula Port Authority is also expecting several other projects to begin, including the replacement of pontoon at Bunarina, the continuation of the promenade towards Veli Vrh, the redoing of the coastline in Fažana, as well as the harbour in Krnica, and works on the beloved Brijuni island which stand at about seven million kuna.

In 2019, Rovinj Port Administration plans to build the San Pelagio communal port, estimated at a value of 32 million kuna, in which Istria County, the City of Rovinj and Rovinj Port Authority will jointly participate.

Significant investments, announced by county prefect Flego, are also expected in the area of ​​the Port of Rabac. The plan is to reconstruct the Trget communal barges, the value of which is estimated at 13.3 million kuna.

Other projects in the works are the construction of a primary breakwater in the port of Rabac, estimated at 72 million kuna, for which a financing model is currently being sought, while the project of Brestov Port, worth 23.7 million kuna, is set to be financed through European Union funds.

Poreč Port Authority is also expecting a number of projects, and the most significant of them all is extension is the existing naval structure in Vrsar Port, which serves as a home for fishing vessels, amounting to 10.5 million kuna. With the extension of the existing area, fifteen brand bew anchorage sites will be provided, meeting the needs of Vrsar Port, as one of the most active fishing centres on the western coast of Istria.

In addition, progress is being made on works on the Barbaran breakwater, through with Poreč Port Authority continues to invest in the Poreč aquatorium. This is the most important investment this year in Poreč, worth 4.8 million kuna, which is financed from the aforementioned port authority's own funds, Istria County and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure.

A welcome 5.1 million kuna was allocated by the EU Maritime and Fisheries Fund to the Umag-Novigrad Port Authority, for the demolition of the old pier and the construction of a new one in Savudrija harbour, seventeen new lighting posts, the introduction of video surveillance cameras, and the installation of an ''eco-island'' for waste separation for local fishermen.

In addition to all of the above, another major project is under preparation for the construction of the new Dajla-Belveder port, and all the necessary permits to get the green light are now underway.

The start of construction is planned for this year and will continue through 2020. The construction of the port will provide sixty communal berths, a landing place for fishing vessels and an appropriate operational shoreline for small boat excursions. The project value amounts to 24.3 million kuna, with the funds provided by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Istria County, the City of Novigrad, and the Umag-Novigrad Port Authority.

Make sure to stay up to date with investment in Croatia, doing business in Croatia, and the overall business and investment climate by following our dedicated business page.

Click here for the original article by Glas Istre

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