Tradition Stronger Than Challenges: 74th Tournament Held in Gornje Mekušje
Despite the increasing difficulty of finding senior teams, Croatia's oldest football tournament continued thanks to veterans and juniors, with the host defending the trophy.
Despite the increasing difficulty of finding senior teams, Croatia's oldest football tournament continued thanks to veterans and juniors, with the host defending the trophy.
Croatia's oldest football tournament, the one in Gornje Mekušje, saw its 74th edition. The host and organizer, NK Vatrogasac, ultimately lifted the winner's trophy, but the path to continuing the tradition was anything but simple.
The organizers faced a growing challenge in modern football. As they point out, "it's increasingly hard to find teams" because many squads are already in preseason preparations, and players are often on vacation. As a result, Vatrogasac was the only true senior team at this year's tournament.
Nevertheless, the tradition was not broken. "Out of necessity, the host and organizer Vatrogasac was the only one to field seniors, and the juniors and veterans saved the day," reads the tournament report. Alongside the home side, veterans of Karlovac 1919 and juniors of Ilovac and Vatrogasac took part.
The semifinal matches were not close. Vatrogasac's seniors thrashed the veterans of Karlovac 1919 with a score of 7:0, while in the junior clash, Ilovac were convincing against the home youth team, winning 6:1.
The final, however, brought real drama. Ilovac's juniors put up strong resistance against the more experienced hosts, but the celebration stayed in Gornje Mekušje. Vatrogasac won a narrow 3:2 victory, thus claiming the title on their home turf.
In the third-place match, a "young vs. old" affair, the veterans of Karlovac 1919 proved better than Vatrogasac's juniors, winning 4:2. The host also took home two individual awards: Ivan Šako was named the tournament's best player, and Dorian Frketić the best goalkeeper. The top scorer title went to Valentin Klokočki from finalists Ilovac.
The Mekušje football story doesn't end here. Already on Sunday, August 9, 2026, another traditional tournament is scheduled, this time organized by NK Kupa in Donje Mekušje. The semifinal pairings are Vatrogasac against Frankopan from Brežani (at 4 PM) and Kupa against Draganić (at 6 PM).
The final day of the tournament is traditionally reserved for the Assumption of Mary, August 15, 2026, when a grand garden party with a performance by TS Merak will also take place.
