ZAGREB, September 25, 2019 - The Rediscover project, which aims to showcase tangible and non-tangible Jewish heritage in local government units involved in the project, was presented at a conference in the eastern Croatian city of Osijek on Tuesday.

The conference was held as part of the 3rd meeting of the project partners. Osijek deputy mayor Žana Gamoš said that this was a transnational project involving nine participants.

The 2 million euro project is led by the Hungarian city of Szeged, and the partner cities are Osijek (Croatia), Galati, Timisoara (Romania), Regensburg (Germany), Murska Sobota (Slovenia), Subotica (Serbia), Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Kotor (Montenegro).

The project was launched in June 2018 and closes on 31 May 2021.

Jasenka Ricl of the Croatian Cultural Tourism Society said that as part of the project an exhibition would be staged at the Slavonia Museum to present collections of the Weissman family, and educational workshops would be organised in cooperation with the Jewish community in Osijek.

Art historian Grgur Marko Ivanković said that many buildings in Osijek had been built by Jewish traders and industrialists and that a dedicated sight-seeing tour would include the Jewish school, the old and the new synagogue and two Jewish cemeteries.

More news about Jews in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

September 23, 2019 - The 9th round of the Croatian First League was held from September 20 to 22, 2019. The 9th round brought a big upset to Dinamo, saw the coaches of Rijeka and Osijek leave their posts, and Hajduk now sits clear in first place by 3 points. 

Lokomotiva v. Osijek (2:1)

Lokomotiva and Osijek opened the 9th round on Friday, September 20, 2019, at Kranjčevićeva Street Stadium. 

While Osijek’s Maric scored in the 7th minute for 0:1, Halilovic equalized for Lokomotiva in the 37th minute for 1:1 at the half. 

Tolic increased Lokomotiva’s lead for 2:1 in the 88th minute, giving Lokomotiva the win in the end. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 4th place with 14 points, while Osijek is in 5th with 13. 

Slaven Belupo v. Gorica (2:0)

Belupo and Gorica met in Koprivnica on Saturday, September 21, 2019. 

Steenvoorden put Belupo in the lead with an own goal in the 29th minute for 1:0 at the half. After Cabraja was shown a red card in the 85th minute, Belupo’s Krstanovic scored a penalty to increase the lead to 2:0, which was how the game ended. Gorica ended the game with nine men after Lovric was shown a second yellow in the 91st. 

Belupo is currently in 7th place with 10 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 10. 

Varazdin v. Dinamo Zagreb (1:0)

Varazdin and Dinamo met in Varazdin on Saturday, September 21, 2019. 

After a shocking 4:0 win against Atalanta to open their Champions League season, Dinamo suffered a defeat in the Croatian League to a team that was promoted from the second division this season. 

While the first half went without goals, Guera scored for Varazdin in the 62nd minute, which was the final score of the game. 

Varazdin has moved from the last place to 9th place with 7 points,  while Dinamo is in second with 16. 

Hajduk v. Inter Zapresic

Hajduk and Inter met at Poljud on Sunday, September 22, 2019. 

In addition to celebrating 40 years of Poljud, Hajduk celebrated another win. 

Caktas put Hajduk in the lead with a penalty in the 41st minute for 1:0 at the half. The second half saw two goals in three minutes - Stanko Juric scored for 2:0 Hajduk just moments after he entered the game, which was followed by Serderov’s goal for Inter. 

In the 86th minute, Jairo scored for 3:1 Hajduk, which was the final score of the game. 

Hajduk currently sits in first place with 19 points, while Inter is in the last place with 6. 

Istra v. Rijeka

Istria and Rijeka closed out the 9th round on Sunday, September 22, 2019, in Pula. 

Franko Andrijasevic scored for Rijeka already in the 6th. Minute, which was followed by a Loncar goal in the 45th for 0:2 at the half. Ivancic saw two yellow cards in the first half, forcing Istria to play a man down for the remainder of the game. 

Muric increased Rijeka’s lead to 0:3 in the 77th minute, which was the final score of the game. 

Istria is currently in 8th place with 8 points, while Rijeka moved into third place with 15 points. 

You can see the full HNL table here.

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

The defeat to Lokomotiva has ruled the fate of the now-former coach of Osijek, Dino Skender. 

Gol.hr reports that Dino Skender is no longer the coach of NK Osijek! The news was announced by Osijek club president Ivan Meštrović via the club's YouTube channel on Saturday. 

"I, as president, have to make moves that are sometimes popular, sometimes less popular. In my discussion with him, he actually initiated the fact that he would no longer be the coach of the Osijek first team,” said the president of the club. 

"Weird energy started to swirl in and around the club. This year we played 11 games, we outplayed our opponent both statistically and impressively, but unfortunately, the result in the championship does not indicate that,” said Mestrovic.

Osijek has played nine games in the Croatia First League and two in Europe, and has only recorded four wins in those matches. In the second round of the Europa League qualifiers, in the return match, CSKA Sofia went further after a better penalty shootout.

What particularly disturbed Mestrovic is the club's unfortunate scoring effect in the Croatian championship. Namely, Osijek has 13 points after nine rounds (with five games played at home and four away), with only three victories, the last of which was achieved almost a month ago.

Next week, the name of Skender's successor will be known, and in the next seven days, Osijek will have two exams - Tuesday, as part of the first round of the Croatian Cup when they will visit Vuteks Sloga in Vukovar, and next Saturday in the Croatian Championship against Slaven Belupo in Koprivnica.

This news comes after another shock in the Croatian First League on Saturday after Dinamo Zagreb lost to Varazdin - a team that has spent most of their time in the last place and was promoted from the Second League this season. 

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

September 16, 2019 - After an international break, the 8th round of the Croatian First League was held from September 13 to 15, 2019. The highlight of this round was the Adriatic Derby between Rijeka and Hajduk. 

Dinamo v. Istria 1961 (1:0)

Dinamo and Istria met on Friday, September 13, 2019, to open the 8th round at Maksimir stadium in front of 2,700 spectators. 

The first half went without goals, though Gavranovic gave Dinamo the lead, and ultimately the win, after scoring in the 53rd minute for 1:0. 

Dinamo is currently in 2nd place with 16 points,  while Istria is in 7th with 8. 

Inter Zapresic v. Slaven Belupo (3:1)

Inter and Belupo met on Saturday, September 14, 2019, in Zapresic. 

All of the action in the game came in the second half after Serderov scored for the Inter lead in the 47th minute. Nowak equalized for Belupo just two minutes later for 1:1. 

Inter was unable to score again until the last minutes of the game, when Mlinar scored in the 87th for 2:1, and Mamut in the 3rd minute of added time for the final score of 3:1. 

Inter is currently in 9th place with 6 points, while Belupo is in 8th with 7. 

Gorica v. Lokomotiva (0:0)

Gorica and Lokomitiva met on Saturday, September 14,  2019, in Velika Gorica. 

Since neither team was able to score, the game ended 0:0. Brazilian Sammir, former Dinamo player and once a member of the Croatia national team, made his debut back on Croatian soil, this time for Lokomotiva, entering the game for Tolic in the 66th minute. 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 12 points, while Lokomotiva is in 6th with 11. 

Osijek v. Varazdin (2:2)

Osijek and Varazdin met at City Garden Stadium on Sunday, September 15, 2019. 

Osijek was already up by two goals at the half thanks to Maric (’26) and Silva (’42). What seemed like a sure victory for Osijek was crushed after Varazdin managed two goals to equalize in the final minutes of the game - Djurasek scored in the 89th for 2:1, and Lisakovich in the second minute of added time for 2:2. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 13 points, while Varazdin is in the last place with 4. 

Rijeka v. Hajduk (1:1)

The Adriatic Derby between Rijeka and Hajduk closed out the 8th round on Sunday, September 15, 2019, at a nearly sold out Rujevica stadium.

Rijeka was the first to score in the 31st minute for 1:0 at the half, though Hajduk’s young blood Teklic scored the equalizer in the 78th minute for 1:1, which was the final score of the game. This derby was also unique as it featured the return of Filip Bradaric and Franko Andrijasevic. Recall, both players were brought up in the Hajduk academy and played for Hajduk's first team, before playing together at Rijeka when they won the 2016/2017 season. 

Hajduk remains in first place with 16 points, while Rijeka is in 4th place with 12 points. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

September 11, 2019 - Days of Croatian Tourism 2019 will take place in Slavonia next month - the full programme has just been published by the Ministry of Tourism.

I am not sure how to describe the Days of Croatian Tourism annual event, which takes place in October each year. It is certainly full of pomp, with the awards ceremony broadcast on live television. The event is like a who's who of the movers and shakers in Croatian tourism, and it is usually held in one of Croatia's top destinations. Apart from being a pretty backdrop to the occasion, it is also a chance for tourism officials to decamp to a top destination on the coast away from Zagreb for a few days of relaxation and 'work'. Last year's event in Hvar Town was VERY well attended. 

I am curious to see how many of those same official workers come for the entire event at Days of Croatian Tourism 2019. After pressure from several quarters, the government seems to be taking more of an interest in Slavonia, and this year's event will take place in Slavonia. A gorgeous region with so much potential, but without the 4 and 5-star relaxation of more developed coastal destinations. 

And the programme looks great (at least for those who can read Croatian - would it be too much trouble to provide an English version for those interested? If nothing else, it sets a good example for Croatian tourism in general). I really like the slogan - HeadOnEast for Hedonist - and there is plenty to see in the three-day event. Virovirica, Slavonski Brod and Vukovar on Day 1, Slavonski Brod, Pozega, Kutjevo, Papuk Nature Park and Jankovac Park, Osijek and Vinkovci on Day 2, and a full day in Osijek on Day 3. Full programme in Croatian below.

September 2, 2019 - The 7th round of the Croatian First League was held from August 30 to September 1, 2019, and featured the highly anticipated ‘Eternal Derby’ between Hajduk and Dinamo. 

Lokomotiva v. Slaven Belupo (6:1)

Lokomotiva and Belupo opened the 7th round of the Croatian First League at Kranjčevićeva Street stadium in Zagreb in front of 732 fans. 

Lokomotiva opened the game with two goals in the first half by Tolic and Kastrati for 2:0. Though the home team’s scoring spree was far from over. Cokaj increased Lokomotiva’s lead in the 46th minute for 3:0, followed by another goal by Kastrati in the 50th for 4:0. Fortunately, Belupo was able to get one goal in the 56th minute (penalty), which made the game 4:1. Drozdek, however, increased Lokomotiva’s lead to 5:1 in the 61st and Petrak scored Lokomotiva’s last of the game in the 80th minute for the final score of 6:1. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 6th place with 10 points, while Belupo is in 8th with 7. 

Hajduk v. Dinamo (1:0)

Hajduk and Dinamo met at Poljud on Saturday, August 31, 2019, in front of 29,359 fans for the first ‘Eternal Derby’ of the season. 

While the first half showed Dinamo’s strength, Hajduk was a new team in the second and spectators experience a true derby atmosphere. It wasn’t until the 56th minute when we saw the first and only goal of the game, which came from a stellar Jradi header over the top of Livaković’s head for 1:0 Hajduk. Diamo’s Dilaver was given a red card in the 75th minute, which was followed by the second yellow for Hajduk’s Jradi. Both teams finished the game with 10 men. The derby went without any major incidents, though two of Dinamo’s assistant coaches were also shown red cards in the second half. 

Hajduk is currently first on the table with 15 points, while Dinamo is in 2nd with 13. 

Istra 1961 v. Osijek (0:0)

Istra and Osijek met on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at Aldo Drosina stadium in Pula in front of 1,956 fans. 

The game went without any goals and ended at 0:0. 

Istra is currently in 7th place with 8 points, while Osijek is in 3rd with 12. 

Varaždin v. Gorica (1:3)

Varaždin and Gorica met on Sunday, September 1, 2019, at VK Varteks Stadium. 

Gorica’s Lovric was the first to score in the 20th minute for 0:1, though Benko came back to equalize in the 37th minute for 1:1 at the half. 

However, Gorica retook the lead thanks to another Lovric goal in the 57th minute, and a hat trick for Lovric increased Gorica’s lead to 1:3, which was the final score of the game. 

Varaždin is currently in the last place with 3 points, while Gorica is in 5th with 11. 

Rijeka v. Inter Zaprešić (1:1)

Rijeka and Inter closed out the 7th round on Sunday, September 1, 2019, at Rujevica stadium in front of 3,529 fans. 

Inter was awarded a penalty already in the second minute of the game, which put the guests up 0:1. Rijeka equalized in the 31st minute thanks to a goal by Gorgon. Neither team was able to score in the second half, and the game ended 1:1. 

Rijeka is currently in 4th place with 11 points, while Inter is in 9th place with 3. 

You can see the full table here. 

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

August 26, 2019 - The 6th round of the Croatian First League was held from August 24 to 25, 2019, which featured Osijek and Hajduk at City Garden stadium. 

Slaven Belupo v. Varaždin (1:1)

Belupo and Varaždin opened the 6th round in Koprivnica on Saturday, August 24, 2019, in front of 1,682 spectators. 

While the first half went without goals, the second half held all of the excitement. In the 54th minute, Adzic was booked for a double yellow which forced Varaždin to play with ten men. Four minutes later, Ejupi put Belupo in the lead at 1:0. Varaždin was able to equalize thanks to a goal by Stolnik in the 72nd minute. The game ended 1:1. 

Belupo is currently in 8th place with 7 points, while Varaždin is in 9th place with 3 points. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Lokomotiva (1:2)

Inter and Lokomotiva met on Sunday, August 25, 2019, in Zaprešić in front of 280 spectators. 

The game didn’t see a goal until just before halftime when Kastrati scored for the Lokomotiva lead (0:1). 

Inter equalized in the 68th minute when Mamut scored for 1:1, though Kastrati came back with another goal for Lokomotiva to retake the lead and secure the 1:2 victory.

Inter is currently in the last place with 2 points, while Lokomotiva is in 7th with 7.

Gorica v. Istra 1961 (1:1)

Gorica and Istra met on Sunday, August 25, 2019, in Velika Gorica in front of 2,431 spectators. 

Bosančić scored for the Istra lead in the 6th minute, though at the start of the second half, Gorica’s Hamad equalized for 1:1, which is how the game ended. 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 8 points, while Istra is in 6th with 7. 

Osijek v. Hajduk (1:0)

Osijek and Hajduk met on Sunday, August 25, 2019, to close out the 6th round at City Garden Stadium in front of 7,354 spectators. 

Osijek’s Mance put the home team in the lead in the 34th minute, and though Hajduk attacked Osijek’s goal numerous times in the second half, they were unable to equalize. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 11 points, while Hajduk is in 2nd with 12. 

Dinamo and Rijeka have postponed their derby, which was initially scheduled for the weekend. 

“Due to the established timetable of the Champions League play-off round in which GNK Dinamo competes, and the Europa League play-off round for HNK Rijeka, it is not possible to secure a term in which both clubs would have a level playing field.

For this reason, the commissioner of the First HNL competition has decided to postpone the HT First League 6th round match between GNK Dinamo and HNK Rijeka.

The match will be played in the first possible free term, no later than Wednesday, December 18, 2019,” GNK Dinamo said in a statement. 

You can see the full HNL table here.

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

As Novac writes on the 24th of August, 2019, the Croatian Ministry of State Property has closed a tender for the purchase of eight properties owned by the Republic of Croatia in the territory of Osijek. Only two were sold, and no bids were received for the remaining six at all.

As expected, the greatest interest was expressed for the apartment in Bisevska 17, measuring 33.11 square metres with an associated 3.5 square metre log cabin, in an energy-renovated building, whose starting price was only 78,000 kuna.

Three bids came in for the purchase of that particular apartment, and in the end it was sold to Bagatel, for only 81,235 kuna. In addition to the new owner's new property, he got a flat in the city centre, on Strossmayer's Street 4, for which two bids were submitted, and which was sold for only one kuna more than the starting price - for exactly 108,001 kuna. Regardless of its excellent location, it is a dirty backyard apartment on the ground floor of a building that requires a lot of investment to become conditional at all, writes Glas Slavonije.

Five apartments remain owned by the Croatian state from this tender, and in turn, they're all at somewhat attractive addresses: Ružina 48, Pejačevićeva 29, Divaltova 112, European avenue (Europska avenija) 3 and Reisner 86. While cheap, at first glance they do not give the impression of being a desirable space, neither for life nor for possible investments.

It should be noted that eight formerly stated owned properties were sold in Zagreb as part of a tender seeking the buyers of 25 properties across the country by the Croatian Ministry of State Property. Thus, eight pieces of real estate were sold, three in Velika Gorica and Rijeka, and one in Novi Vinodolski, Zaprešić and Lepoglava, and with much better success.

For example, four apartments were sold in Zagreb and all three were offered in Velika Gorica. Which is not strange. Namely, with the exception of one apartment in Zagreb, which can be classified in the same category as those unsold in Osijek, the others offered for sale are by far a higher category.

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

August 19, 2019 - The 5th round of the Croatian First League was held from August 16 to 18, 2019, and saw Hajduk humiliate an otherwise strong Gorica to hold their second-place spot on the table. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Dinamo (1:2)

Inter and Dinamo opened the 5th round on Friday, August 16, 2019, at the Zaprešić stadium in front of 2,686 spectators. 

Inter was the first to score thanks to a goal by Tsonev in the 8th minute, though Dinamo's Atiemwen equalized just before the half for 1:1. Inter’s Galić was shown a red card in the 49th minute, and Dinamo quickly capitalized on the extra man as Atiemwen scored again for 1:2 in the 50th minute. The game ended at 1:2.

Inter is currently in 9th place with 2 points, while Dinamo is in 1st with 13. 

Varaždin v. Lokomotiva (1:1)

Varaždin met at the NK Varteks stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2019, in front of 2,231 spectators. 

Glavica scored for the Varaždin lead in the 44th minute for 1:0 at the half, though Lokomotiva equalized in the 56th minute from a goal by Uzuni for 1:1, which was the final score of the game. 

Varaždin is currently in the last place with 2 points, while Lokomotiva is in 8th with 4. 

Istra 1961 v. Slaven Belupo (2:3)

Istria and Belupo met on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at the Aldo Drosina Stadium in Pula in front of 2,027 spectators.

Krstanović scored for the Belupo lead in the 12th minute,  though Gržan scored a penalty to equalize 3 minutes later for 1:1. Istra then took the lead thanks to a goal by Regan in the 35th minute, though Belupo equalized just 7 minutes later for 2:2 at the half. 

Puclin scored for Belupo in the 60th minute for a final score of 2:3. 

Istra is currently in 6th place with 6 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 6. 

Hajduk v. Gorica (3:0)

Hajduk and Gorica met on Sunday, August 18, 2019, at Poljud stadium in front of 14,054 spectators. 

Jairo scored for Hajduk to make it 1:0 in the 30th minute, which was the score at the half. Gorica was given a red card in the 60th minute, forcing the visiting team to play with a man down for the rest of the game.

In the 67th minute, Jairo increased Hajduk’s lead and his number of goals to 2:0, and just two minutes later, Hajduk defender Josip Juranović made it 3:0, which was the final score of the game. 

Hajduk is currently in 2nd place with 12 points, while Gorica is in 5th with 7. 

Rijeka v. Osijek (1:1)

Rijeka and Osijek met on Sunday, August 19, 2019, to close out the 5th round at Rujevica stadium.

Rijeka’s Čolak put the home team in the lead at 1:0 in the 34th minute. It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Žaper equalized for Osijek to end the game 1:1. 

Rijeka is currently in 3rd place with 10 points, while Osijek is in 4th with 8.

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

August 12, 2019 - The 4th round of the Croatia First League was held from August 9 to 11, 2019. The 4th round saw a derby between Osijek and Dinamo, and Rijeka and Hajduk recorded their first defeats. 

Osijek v. Dinamo (0:0)

Osijek and Dinamo opened the 4th round on Friday, August 9, 2019, at City Garden Stadium in front of 5,127 fans. 

It was a mostly even game where both teams had periods of strength and opportunities to score, which they failed to capitalize. Osijek, however, missed too many easy shots on goal in, which should have put them in the lead on a handful of occasions. 

Osijek is currently in 5th place with 7 points, while Dinamo remains in 1st place with 10 points. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Varaždin (2:2)

Inter and Varaždin met on Saturday, August 10, 2019, in Zaprešić in front of 484 spectators. 

Inter opened the scoring spree in the 15th minute with a goal by Bosec, though Varaždin equalized just 7 minutes later after Stolnik scored for 1:1. Inter retook the lead in the 28th minute for 2:1 at the half. Just minutes after, Varaždin’s Sambolec was booked for a double yellow and sent off the pitch. Glavica then scored for Varaždin to equalize in the 54th minute. The game ended at 2:2. 

Inter is currently in 9th place with two points, while Varaždin is in the last place with one. 

Lokomotiva v. Istra 1961 (4:1)

Lokomotiva and Istra met at Kranjčevićeva Street on Saturday, August 10, 2019, in front of 522 fans. 

Lokomotiva scored two goals in the first half - by Datković in the 34th and Ivanušec in the 38th for 2:0 at the half. Ćuže came back with one goal for Istra in the 79th minute for 2:1, though Drozdek and Kastrati secured another two for Lokomotiva in two minutes. The game ended at 4:1. 

Lokomotiva is in 7th place with 3 points, while Istra is in 6th with 6. 

Slaven Belupo v. Hajduk (2:1)

Belupo and Hajduk met on Sunday, August 11, 2019, in Koprivnica in front of 2,879 spectators. 

Puclin scored first to put Belupo in the lead in the 37th minute for 1:0 at the half. Hajduk’s Jakoliš was shown a red card in the 56th minute, forcing the Split club to play with a man down for the remainder of the game. Belupo also saw one of their players get booked for a double yellow in the 79th minute. 

Krstanović scored a penalty for Belupo in the 84th minute for 2:0, though Eduok managed one for Hajduk in the 6th minute of injury time for the final score of 2:1. 

Belupo is currently in 8th place with 3 points, while Hajduk is in 2nd with 9 points. 

Gorica v. Rijeka (2:0)

Gorica and Rijeka met on Sunday, August 11, 2019, to close out the 4th round in Velika Gorica in front of 2,893 spectators. 

Ndiaye scored for Gorica in the 46th minute for 1:0 at the half. Suk increased Gorica’s lead in the 67th minute for 2:0, which was the final score of the game. 

Gorica is currently in 4th place with 7 points, while Rijeka is in 3rd with 9. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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