Documentary About the Last 3 Decades of Kohorta with Accolades Gallore.
Kohorta Marks its 30th Anniversary with a Beautiful Documentary – “30 Years of Friendship”. The Promotion of the documentary was held in Urania cinema on Thursday.
Director Domagoj Mrkonjić, who’s also an actor and Osijek fan, tells the story of the fan club as it evolved through the generations from 1988 up until today. He enthusiastically said that the fandom and what they do had been very impactful. Emotions kept him on the tribunes and it became normal to him to be part of Osijek and Kohorta.
Polih Receives Accolades for His Contribution
Ivica Polih, also known as Ita, who had acted as president of Kohorta for a long time, received accolades for his contributions to Kohorta during the past 3 decades. He additionally holds the record for attendance to Osijek’s matches!
Ita said the following: “Long ago, in 1964, I went to Gradski Vrt for the first time in my life when I was 10 years old and I can safely say that I have attended about 90% of home matches, with many additional ones outside of Gradski Vrt. I could go on about Osijek and football in general for days on end. What remains for me are, for instance, the qualifiers against Zagreb in 1973 in a filled up Maksimir. The past year was especially good for me because of Osijek’s showings in the European scene that were unforgettable for all those who attended. I would like to thank the players, president and the people from the administration that made NK Osijek the giant it is today. The wish I had has been fulfilled: to be a father who brings his son to the stadium in Osijek’s jersey” Ita said.
The Fan Movement Came About out of Love and Ideals
President and co-owner Ivan Meštrović spoke to the fans and guests who attended this promotion and said: “I am not speaking as NK Osijek’s president, but as a citizen. My relationship with Kohorta goes back a long time to a point where some of you weren’t even born yet. My first contact was through a family acquaintance who knows one of the group’s founders, Dalibor Žižanović. When he visited us in his signature flight jacket, I wanted to be like that guy, to be practically unreal, an apparition, someone who radiates a kind of charisma. Kohorta was founded out of love and emotion, out of ideals. Many movements die out after they get abused by the masses, but Kohorta made it for 30 years now. Let them be here forever as the strongest fan group, one that works in the club’s best interests. May God give NK Osijek and Kohorta everything they need to be the best.”
Žižanović Receives Accolade for Life Work
The aforementioned Dalibor Žižanović “Žižo” earns Kohorta’s acknowledgement for his life work. His contributions to the group is immeasurable. Sadly, he couldn’t attend the event at Urania because of a sickness taking a huge toll on his health during the past few years. He emerged a victor out of many battles and we hope it stays that way so that he may return to the stadium. “Žižo sends his greetings to all of you and wants you to be happy as Kohorta celebrates its anniversary and he asked you to send him over the recording of this promotional event” said Zoran Varga, also known as Zoki otrov (Zoki the Venom), accepting the accolade in Žiža’s stead. Everyone in the cinema hall sang “I kada teško je, uvijek smo uz tebe” for Dalibor (Even when it’s tough, we’re with you), after which a standing ovation rocked the place.
Kohorta is In our Genes
The new president of Kohorta appeared on stage, the newly elected Ivan Kračun
„Kohorta is very important to many of us, it is part of our genetic makeup. In the early stages of its life, the fan group was very simple and, if I may say, primal. Arrangements of supporting Osijek during its games were made in local pubs, coffee shops, streets, so that everything was arranged via word of mouth. In the fall of 1999, with the waking of our beloved team, Kohorta woke as well, being conceived by citizens of Osijek, now under new leadership. We don’t think of stopping now, but instead, we’re attending to the betterment of the relationship between Kohorta and Osijek’s citizens. We are working with NK Osijek to open up a fan shop and by the end of the year, we wish to renew our club house located in Tvrđa. I hope that our lads will mop the floor with Lokomotiva and give us an additional reason to celebrate” Kračun enthusiastically said.
Carousel, Match Flares, Party
The celebration of Kohorta’s 30th birthday is going to be continued this Friday with a carousel that will start at 19:30 from GPP parking lot. The line of personal vehicles will go through every district of Osijek and Kohorta invites its members and other fans of NK Osijek to join them in their fan attire.
At 21:30 at Gradski Vrt, a birthday flare party will be held at the western tribune with the eastern one being open for all curious citizens that want to spectate.
The central part of the festivities will be on Saturday during the match against Lokomotiva at 19:00 and the gathering in front of the northeast tribune begins at 16:00 at the “pivska terasa” to musical tunes. All will be finished with a birthday party in Kohorta’s club house in University Street in Tvrđa.
