November 4, 2020 - The Hajduk transformation continues as Hari Vukas is sacked as the first-team coach. The Split club announced today that Boro Primorac would takeover. 

Vukas is leaving the bench of the Split club after three consecutive defeats, and after Mario Stanic and Ivan Kepcija left Poljud this week.

Vukas took over the Hajduk coaching role after Igor Tudor's departure on August 21, 2020. In that period, he led 10 official matches, achieving four victories, five defeats, and one draw. In the last five rounds, he won only three points, and Hajduk is in sixth place.

"I wish all the best to my Hajduk and a lot of success to the new coach. Unfortunately, the results were not what we all expected together; I hope and believe that Hajduk will rise in the next period and get where it belongs," said Vukas. His assistant Jurica Vucko also left the club.

In his coaching career, Vukas was Tudor's assistant at Hajduk, Karabukspor, Galatasaray, and Udinese, and last year he took over Zrinjski and was fired after five months.

Hajduk then named the new coach of Hajduk - Boro Primorac. 

The head of the HNK Hajduk Academy, Luka Kaliterna, Primorac accepted this role after talks with the President of the Management Board, Luksa Jakobusic.

Boro Primorac's professional staff consists of his first assistant Toni Golem, the goalkeeper coach remains Hrvoje Sunara, and fitness coaches are still Toni Modric and Sime Versic. Coach Primorac will have his first game leading Hajduk on Saturday at 5:05 pm.

Boro Primorac is a legendary Hajduk player and coach who spent most of his career in England at Arsenal, where he was Arsène Wenger's first assistant (21 years in total). As head coach, he led Cannes and Valenciennes, the Guinea-Bissau national team, and as an assistant coach to Wenger, he also worked for Naoya Grampus in Japan.

In his playing career, he played for Velež, Hajduk, Lille, and Cannes. He scored the first official goal for Hajduk at Poljud stadium. He played a total of 283 games for Hajduk and scored 53 goals.

Source: Hajduk.hr

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ZAGREB, Nov 4, 2020 - Split Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara, 53, said on Wednesday that he would not stand for another term as mayor in local elections next May, citing his health reasons.

"After medical examinations conducted last week and after talks with my family and consultations with my doctors, I have decided to be fully committed to the struggle for my health and to spend more time with my family," Krstulovic Opara told Hina.

He said he would continue performing his duties as a parliamentary deputy for the benefit of Split.

In late January 2018, Krstulovic Opara was diagnosed with melanoma.

Krstulovic Opara is a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

November 4, 2020 - The changes at Hajduk continue, as Ivan Kepcija is no longer the club's sports director. 

The Split club announced the news on their official website:

"As of today, Ivan Kepcija is no longer the sports director of Hajduk.

He performed this function from December 2019 to November 2020, and he parted ways with the Club after an agreed termination."

"It was an honor to be part of the club, and I thank the people who gave me the opportunity and trust. Despite the president's desire to continue cooperation, I felt it was time to leave and therefore proposed an amicable termination of my contract. I want to thank everyone for their cooperation and wish the Club a lot of luck and success in further work and competition," Ivan Kepcija said about parting ways with Hajduk.

"We wish Mr. Kepcija a lot of luck and success in his future career!" Hajduk concluded. 

This is a continuation of the major changes at Poljud led by the new president Luksa Jakobusic. However, according to Kepcija above, there was a chance that Hajduk would continue with him as the sports director.

Jakobusic is Hajduk's 11th president, and when he took over the Split club on Friday, he announced a sudden change in operations. The first to lose his job was the legendary Mario Stanic, who served as chief adviser to former Hajduk president Marin Brbic. Stanic was sacked by the club on Monday.

Kepcija was brought to Hajduk by Stanic.

Next on Jakobusic's list is coach Hari Vukas, who has suffered three defeats in Hajduk's last three games. Jakobusic's first pick for the new Hajduk coach is Slovenian coach Matjaz Kek, who was not only the longest-serving manager by single appointment in the history of the Croatian First Football League during his time at Rijeka, but also won the Croatian Championship, Cup, and Super Cup with the club. 

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November 4, 2020 - The Kopilica area of Split will be modeled on the Spanish city of Barcelona thanks to a 600,000 euro project financed by the EBRD.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is financing the strategic plan of Austrian company iC Consulenten with 600,000 euro, according to which the Kopilica area of Split would undergo a thorough revitalization to develop cultural, congress and hotel facilities and become like parts of Barcelona, the EBRD said on Tuesday.

The statement reads that the urban revitalization plan will radically transform Split by redeveloping a key port area and developing the city's Kopilica district. Split itself, it is said, will be able to reach its full potential, inspired by the success of similar interventions in cities such as Barcelona, ​​Copenhagen, and London, where the neglected railway and port locations have been transformed into lively new neighborhoods tempting to work and live.

The strategic plan, developed by Austrian civil engineers from iC Consulenten and financed by the EBRD with 600,000 euro, focuses on the location of the main railway station in the port area and the Kopilica district on the northern coast of the Split peninsula. The goal of the plan is to reduce congestion in the city center and use the best city locations such as the main station, with the possible expansion of the city center.

The new arrangement of the port area and Kopilica would create a potential gross developed area of ​​about 1.2 million square meters for approximately 15,000 inhabitants and 10,000 to 15,000 jobs.

The revitalization of the main station and the new road tunnel in the port would enable the development of cultural, congress, and hotel facilities.

As for Kopilica itself, the expansion of the city center is expected to include business premises, a university, large residential areas, and a "park and use public transport" system, which will be of great importance for the entire city area. EBRD estimates that meeting these goals will require a substantial new transport infrastructure.

A new light railway to the airport and a motorway bridge across the bay from Solin to Kopilica will be necessary preconditions for this development project. The EBRD supports this plan as part of its broader work in the field of urban revitalization as a holistic approach to overcoming the challenges faced by many cities in the countries in which they are active.

The EBRD is currently participating in projects in Pula, Šibenik, and Zagreb.

"Urban revitalization provides opportunities to rebalance the economy, attract foreign investment and use EU funds efficiently, and as the state has a key role to play in stimulating that investment, the EBRD is working closely with governments and state-owned enterprises at all levels to support the implementation of ambitious plans to transform Croatia's larger cities," the statement said.

The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes private sector development and entrepreneurial initiative in 38 countries on three continents. It is owned by 69 countries and the EU and the EIB.

Source: HINA, The Financial

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November 3, 2020 - So, what’s it like traveling during a pandemic? My COVID-19 trip report from Split to Barcelona and back.

Traveling during a pandemic - a good idea? 

Let me start by saying that I do not encourage anyone to travel during a pandemic unless you absolutely have to or are 100% healthy.

In my case, I have not had to travel for any reason since the COVID-19 outbreak in Croatia in early March. 

That is, until now. 

You see, when COVID hit Croatia like a hurricane back in the spring, my partner, who had been playing for a water polo club in Split, was thanked for his time and left without a job and an apartment 48 hours before Croatia went on lockdown, and the EU borders closed. He left for Australia in a hurry, his homeland, and a safe haven where he could still train with the Australia national team to prepare for the Summer Olympics. We were quite naive at the time. 

We said goodbye, not knowing when we’d see each other again or if he’d ever make it back to Europe, given the circumstances, but we remained hopeful. 

Fortunately, a contract arrived from Barcelona in the summer, where his career would continue whenever he could get there. And as the COVID situation developed in Europe, a journey that was meant to begin in September finally surfaced in October. After 7 months, he was back in Europe. I booked a trip to see him a few weeks later. 

While seeing him was my priority, I was also the safe keeper of three massive bags of his belongings - and I needed to get what I could to Spain. 

We monitored the status of flights and corona developments in the days leading up to my departure on Thursday, October 29, and as the cases rose around Europe, the less hope I had that things would go smoothly. However, I was ready for whatever the outcome, with a negative COVID test in hand. 

Unlike the first wave, flights were not abruptly canceled this time around, and my first leg from Split to Stuttgart on Eurowings was on schedule. 

I arrived to Split Airport an hour and a half before I was to take off and was greeted by a rather empty check-in, although not a totally unfamiliar sight this time of year. 

Since I was traveling on two different airlines to get to Barcelona (Eurowings to Stuttgart and Vueling to Barcelona) and was checking a bag, I technically needed to enter Germany. Remember, Croatia is on Germany's high risk list, and unless you have a negative test, you need to go into self-isolation once you've entered.

The flight attendant panicked before knowing I had a negative COVID-19 test in hand and assured I would have no issues. She then checked the entry forms for Spain to make sure I had everything I needed. I did. 

The security line at Split Airport - heaven.

After I made my way through security and passport control, I waited at the gate. One cafe and the Duty-Free shop was open. All seating was marked, so passengers maintain a social distance. 

It wasn't long before the gate area drew a crowd, and I was beginning to think that the nearly empty seat assignment I saw just a few days before was no longer. Perhaps it had something to do with Germany announcing a lockdown on November 2. 

Masks are mandatory in the airport and on the flight. Numerous airport employees ensured everyone was not only wearing a mask but the right one. Cotton masks are not permitted on flights, and disposable masks were distributed if anyone needed one. 

It was good that everyone followed the mask rule because, unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to maintain social distance on the way to Stuttgart. 

Smooth sailing so far, that is, until we disembarked the plane in Stuttgart and into passport control chaos. You see, all passengers are to be given a Public Health Passenger Locator form to fill out on the flight. This is then to be collected by the flight attendants at the end of the flight. Our Eurowings flight attendants failed to do so. 

Not only were over 100 people pushed into the passport control area from my flight and another that arrived at the same time, but there was no order, nor was there anyone to ask for help. A good half hour into waiting, an officer arrived with the forms, calling for everyone who needed one to fill them out as they are required at the window. 

A photo of my form from one of my return flights on Air France

But the only forms they had were in German. 

Crowds then gathered at the walls as we looked for translators to help us fill out the form. Some passengers yelled and the police had to escort someone out.

Since I wasn't staying in Germany and had a flight in just a few hours, I did not need to provide a temporary address and wrote 'not staying.' Once I finally made it to the window, they quickly looked at my passport, form, and negative test, and I was on my way to the baggage claim. Even though that went quickly, the entire passport control process took over one hour. 

After I picked up my bag and went outside for fresh air before checking in for my next flight, a call from my partner made things worse:

"It looks like there is a ban on movement in Barcelona now. I am not sure what it means for you traveling, but it comes into effect at 6 am on Friday." It was 3 pm in Germany on Thursday. I knew I couldn't do anything until I got to Spain, and there was no turning back from Stuttgart now. I accepted that my 3.5-day trip to Spain might be extended. 

I made my way up to departures to check into my Vueling flight to Barcelona with two hours to spare. The woman at the counter said nothing about the new measures, nor did she seem worried. 

"Can I see the QR code on your entry form for Spain?" 

And I was on my way to security. 

My Vueling flight to Barcelona was not nearly as full, and a seat between my row buddy and me had me feeling much safer than the Stuttgart fiasco I had just experienced. Two hours later, I was in Barcelona and only needed to scan the QR code at the airport to ensure I was healthy. 

The atmosphere in Barcelona was not nearly as morbid as I anticipated. The COVID-safe hotel we booked took our temperature upon arrival and asked a series of questions about whether we had been infected or had any symptoms. Masks are mandatory inside the hotel and everywhere outside - and everyone in Barcelona followed the rules. 

Hand sanitizer is placed at the entry to all shops around the center, which I noticed is used by 99.9% of people entering. While restaurants and bars are closed, delivery and pick up thrive, and the options were endless. 

However, not everyone was pleased with the new measures on movement, and on Friday evening, the first day the measures came into force, some protestors were violent. 

"Hundreds of people chanting “freedom” and “this is theft” took to the streets of Barcelona on Friday to protest against tough new coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Violent clashes with police lead to at least 12 people being arrested.

Bars and restaurants have been closed in Catalonia since the middle of October. But confronted by the spread of the virus, a 10 pm curfew has now been introduced as well as a ban on people leaving their home towns during all saints weekend," reported EuroNews on Friday. 

"The measures imposed by the government of Spain and the Catalonian authorities more specifically don’t have any logic to them,” said one protestor. “They make no sense. What they should do is take more measures for hospitals, provide them with staff and material to help them to overcome this pandemic- not impose measures of social control on us," they added. 

Police raced up and down the street of our hotel, where angry protestors burned trash bins 100 meters away. "I don't think your delivery food is going to make it," the hotel receptionist said. 

Our food came, in the end, and the disarray lasted a little over an hour. 

On Monday morning, my wonderful weekend in Barcelona came to an end, though I did have my hesitations about how I would get to the airport during a curfew that lasted from 10 pm to 6 am (my flight was at 6:20). I ordered a taxi with the hotel reception who assured me there would be no issues. My taxi arrived at 4:30, and I was at the airport 20 minutes later. The streets were empty. 

Getting through El Prat Airport was a piece of cake, considering I was traveling with only my carry-on back to Split. The line for checked baggage, however, was long - even at 5 am. 

It was a rather eerier morning at the airport as most everything was closed until 6 am - or closed due to the pandemic. 

I flew Air France from Barcelona to CDG Paris, which was mostly full. I was one of the lucky ones to have no one in the middle seat. 

Arriving in Paris was a dream. Airport employees could be found at every point to make sure crowds never formed and passengers were getting where they needed. On my rather long walk to my connecting flight to Zagreb, I even noticed an Antigen Testing Center. 

CDG felt awfully familiar, and not so much unlike the travel we are used to. Apart from the travelers in Hazmat suits. 

Most shops and food stops were open, though seating areas were closed off.  

Our temperatures were checked before boarding the Air France flight to Zagreb. 

The flight to Zagreb was unexpectedly full and included a Spanish Judo team and young Europeans escaping to the capital for looser measures. I have never been more relieved to get back to Croatia in one piece. 

Only one more flight to go before I was back in Split...

Zagreb Airport was covered in signs reminding passengers to wear masks, keep a distance, and wash their hands. 

There was even a group of Americans waiting to board my flight!

Markers reminding us to social distance were also found on the bus to our plane.

The last leg of my journey, from Zagreb to Split on Croatia Airlines, was also surprisingly full. We were greeted with hand sanitizing wipes as we entered the plane. 

After a painless walk through Split Airport, I was on my way home to self-isolate, just to be safe. 

Traveling during a pandemic, would you do it?

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November 3, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Condor announces Zurich to Split next summer, and Tunisair plans to connect Zagreb and Monastir for the first time since 2014.

Croatian Aviation reports that the German leisure carrier Condor announced one new route to Croatia in next year's summer flight schedule - Zurich to Split.

Namely, Condor is opening its first base outside Germany, and in the summer of 2021, this well-known airline will base two A320 aircraft and launch nine international routes from Zurich.

Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Olbia, Heraklion, Kos, Rhodes, Larnaca, and Split are new destinations for Condor Airlines from Zurich next summer. This airline is responding to the requests of Swiss tour operators with whom it will cooperate even more actively next summer season.

Condor Airlines will make its first flight on the Zurich - Split route on April 30, 2021, and tickets are already on sale on the airline's official website.

On the Zurich - Split route, Croatia Airlines and Swiss Edelweiss operate in the summer flight schedule, making Condor the third airline on the same route.

From April 30 to May 23, 2021, the line will operate twice a week, every Friday and Sunday. From May 25, the third flight of the week will be introduced every Tuesday, and Condor will operate with three flights a week until October 5, 2021.

Condor will offer as many as 26,280 seats on the Zurich - Split line next summer.

Condor Airlines flight schedule on the route Zurich - Split - Zurich

Tuesday: Zurich 06:40 - 08:20 Split 09:20 - 11:15 Zurich

Thursdays and Sundays: Zurich 16:45 - 18:25 Split 19:25 - 21:20 Zurich

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reports that Tunisia's national airline Tunisair planned to launch a charter route between Zagreb - Monastir at the end of May this year (once a week, on Wednesdays), which was to operate until the beginning of October. 

Zagreb and Monastir were last directly connected back in 2014, and there have been no direct lines between Tunisia and Croatia for a long time.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, Tunisair decided against launching this line in the summer of 2020 but instead has announced its flight schedule for the next summer season in which it plans to launch a charter line between Zagreb and Monastir.

The regular charter line is currently announced from June 2 to September 29, 2021, only slightly shorter than the original plan for this year’s summer flight schedule.

Monastir 18:00 - 21:10 Zagreb 21:55 - Monastir 23:00

In the 2021 summer season, the line will operate once a week, on Wednesdays, with B737-600 aircraft with a capacity of 126 seats in the fleet of this carrier. According to the original plan, A320 aircraft with a higher capacity than the currently announced B737-600 was to operate on the route.

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November 3, 2020 - With Luksa Jakobusic as the new president of the Split club, many changes can be expected, the first of which occurred on Monday as Hajduk sacked advisor Mario Stanic.

Mario Stanic is no longer an advisor to the Hajduk president! After a desperate and disastrous start to this season, the former great player and legendary member of the Croatia national team left Poljud. He arrived at the club 11 months ago as an adviser to former president Marin Brbic, and after Brbic's resignation at the end of July, he did not advise practically anyone. His role overlapped with the role of sports director Ivan Kepcija.

"As of today, Mario Stanic is no longer an advisor for sports policy to the President of the Management Board of HNK Hajduk and will no longer perform any function in the Club.

We wish Mr. Stanic a lot of luck and success in his future career," Hajduk announced on Monday.

One year ago, Hajduk fired coach Damir Buric, and after five years, Igor Tudor returned to the club as a coach. Stanic also brought a new sports director, the young Ivan Kepcija. 

Upon their arrival at the club, Stanic and Kepcija promised continuity in the coaching staff and promotion of Croatian players, but Hajduk's poor play is proof that they failed.

Luksa Jakobusic, the 11th consecutive president, took over the club on Friday and announced a sharp turn in operations. After Hajduk's third consecutive defeat, the current team at Hajduk is anything but safe, and Stanic's departure could be sensed immediately after Jakobusic's first address as president.

Namely, at the official presentation, Jakobusic said that he did not need an advisor and thus questioned the future of Mario Stanic at the club.

"Someone allowed Hajduk to be in that position, and because of that, the president does not have to leave. I want Stanic to explain the logic of departures and arrivals of players, especially arrivals, and how they intend to continue. In that context, I would also talk about Kepcija. There is a lot of illogicalities. Either one is not for the coach or the sports director is not the one."

After Stanic's dismissal, the key question is whether Kepcija will remain the club's sports director. Jakobusic will speak to him and make another important decision soon. Hari Vukas led the afternoon training at Poljud on Monday, though many believe it could be his last.

Source: Index.hr

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November 01, 2020 -  At the very end of his term, Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara, just like his predecessor Ivo Baldasar, has decided to regulate the drinking of beverages in public areas.

A little more than a month and a half ago, this issue was raised at the City Council, and in the meantime, Krstulovic Opara appointed a Commission to draft a Decision banning alcohol consumption in public areas in Split with the task of drafting, more precisely, preparing a draft ban document, which will go to public consultation 30 days before the city hall.

Goran Dlaka, head of the Police Department, Leona Grgic, senior advisor for business management and control of city companies, and Jurica Salinovic, recently appointed chief municipal warden, were elected to the task.

The main problem is to determine whether the ban will refer to all public places or only to some. I think that the direction will go in the way of allowing it Matejuska, ballots, and banning it in front of shops, in close proximity to schools, kindergartens ... they told us from Banovina.

Baldasar's proposal, which didn't reach the councilors three years ago, was a ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public areas, for which a fine of 500 and 250 kuna, respectively, would be imposed.

As we find out, this draft will also serve as a guide.

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October 30, 2020 - A building permit has been approved for a Znjan hotel, bringing new tourism to the Split neighborhood. 

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the company "Split Peninsula Properties" from Zagreb received a building permit to construct a catering and tourist facility on undeveloped plots in the Znjan area of Split. 

This building permit allows for the construction of 156 accommodation units located on five floors with a superstructure boasting 110 parking spaces.

It covers an area of about seven thousand square meters between Šetališta Ivana Pavla II and the Znjan Road, which is now covered with high vegetation.

The mentioned investor company, "Split Peninsula Properties," is registered as a micro-entrepreneur, with one founder - Andrija Antić.

Modus.hr

According to the Court Register, the company was founded at the end of 2018, has a share capital of HRK 20,000, and in that year, had a loss of HRK 304,345.

The architects created the conceptual design in 2018 for 170 accommodation units, but the request for a location permit was submitted for 156, covered by the building permit.

According to the information from the "Condo hotel center" page, which advertises this new hotel, it will be a four-plus hotel with a casino, spa and wellness center, rooftop lounge bar, and 24-hour room service. They say that the apartments will range from 328 to 667 square meters, with prices ranging from 216 to 263 and a half thousand dollars.

Supposedly, the hotel's management would be taken over by a big brand, but they would not buy the building, and different owners would buy the apartments. A contract would be reached with them according to which they would use their real estate 14 days a year, and their services would be charged at the minimum price, while the rest of the time, the hotel house would rent their apartments so that the owners would get a refund.

As for greenery, the hotel should preserve some vegetation on the west side and valuable pine trees, if any. The architects created new greenery around the hotel in the simulation, but in them, the entire Znjan plateau all the way to the promenade along the coast is green - and they drew only grass and trees, without cafes and sports fields. According to the Detailed Development Plan, such radical landscaping is not a bad idea, but it is not possible.

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October 30, 2020 - Big news from Poljud this morning as Hajduk names Luksa Jakobusic its new president!

This was decided by Hajduk's Supervisory Board, which in the end, did not select a leader from among the candidates who applied for the competition.

From May 16 to November 4, 2019, Jakobusic held the position of Hajduk's Vice President and resigned for personal reasons.

As for the current situation, Marin Brbic resigned on July 13 but had the support of the Supervisory Board. On July 22, he announced a definitive departure, saying 'It is humiliating that the association Naš Hajduk voted no confidence in me.'

The competition for the new president was announced on August 17, though it seems that no one applied for the role that the Supervisory Board thought deemed worthy.

Many wanted Jakobusic to return to Hajduk even sooner because he holds strong leadership skills, and the supervisors knew his qualities well. However, only after talking to the candidates from the competition did they decide that there is no one better for Hajduk than Luksa.

The news was announced on the official Hajduk website this morning:

"Luksa Jakobusic is the new President of the Management Board of HNK Hajduk. Born in Dubrovnik in 1976, he is an entrepreneur with many years of experience in the private sector and a successful sports worker. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Sports Management at Aspira and has completed an EMBA at Cotrugli Business School.

Jakobusic was the president of VK Jug from 2013 to 2017. In that period, the club won five trophies in one season, which until then was not succeeded by any sports club in the country, making him the most successful president in Jug's great history. Luksa Jakobusic served as vice president of HNK Hajduk from May to November 2019.

He is a Croatian veteran and is decorated for his participation in the military-police operation Storm."

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