Tomislav Duka, a goalkeeper with extensive international experience and trophies from Romania and Lithuania, is the new player of NK Orkan from Dugi Rat, a member of the First County Football League.
Tomislav Duka (33), former goalkeeper for Hajduk, Split, and Istra 1961, has made an unexpected transfer and will continue his career with NK Orkan Dugi Rat, a club competing in the First County Football League of Split-Dalmatia County. The news was confirmed on Monday by the club from Dugi Rat, marking one of the most notable signings in Dalmatian lower-league football this summer.
A native of Split, standing 190 centimeters tall, he boasts a rich career. In the SuperSport HNL, he played for Split, where he also served as captain, as well as for Hajduk and Istra 1961. He gained international experience with Velež Mostar, Romania's CFR Cluj, and Lithuania's Žalgiris, while in Croatia he also played for Kamen from Ivanbegovina, Zagora, and Imotski.
In Hajduk's jersey, he made a total of five official appearances over two seasons, conceding seven goals. Fans particularly remember him for the two-legged tie against Malta's Gzira in the Europa League qualifiers in the 2019/20 season. After a 2-0 away victory, Hajduk lost 3-1 at Poljud and was sensationally eliminated, considered one of the club's biggest European failures. Three months after that tie, Duka mutually terminated his contract with the Whites.
Despite the setback with Hajduk, Duka won a series of trophies abroad. With CFR Cluj, he became Romanian champion in 2018. He was even more successful with Lithuania's Žalgiris, winning a total of five titles, including domestic doubles in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Supercup trophy.
Last summer, Duka moved from Dugopolje to Zadar, where he played 29 matches in the 3. NL Jug, keeping clean sheets in 11 of them. Now he returns to his home county, where he will bolster the squad of coach Jure Žilić. Orkan finished last season in 9th place in the league standings with a record of eight wins, four draws, and 14 losses.
"We are confident that Duka, with his professionalism, experience, and mentality, will be a huge asset on and off the pitch. His arrival will especially benefit our young players and goalkeepers, who will have the daily opportunity to learn from a footballer who has played at the highest level and won trophies across Europe," stated NK Orkan Dugi Rat.
Duka is the sixth player to leave NK Zadar this summer. Before him, the club was left by Roko Čilaš (NK Junak Sinj), Jakov Vrdoljak (NK Hrvace), Marko Zebić (NK Hrvace), Juan Manuel Garcia Medone, and Frane Prljević. On the other hand, Zadar has brought in six new players: right-back Anđelo Kordić, defensive midfielder Dinko Kuzmić, winger Dominik Paškvan, center/forward João Pedro Ramos Coutada, left-back/winger Lovro Duždević, and midfielder Gabrijel Gagula.
