NK Bilo Becomes the Only Club Accepting Children as Young as Three
In Velika Pisanica, the youngest footballers aged three to seven get their first chance to train, with the club planning to expand to six categories.
In Velika Pisanica, the youngest footballers aged three to seven get their first chance to train, with the club planning to expand to six categories.
NK Bilo from Velika Pisanica has made a breakthrough unprecedented in the area: it has become the only club accepting children as young as three. For the first time in the club's history, five age groups have been assembled, and the club says the doors are open to all children.
The initial idea was to enroll children aged five and up, but due to the large number of young kids in the municipality, the club decided to lower the age limit. As a result, three-year-olds can now be seen on the Velika Pisanica pitch, with four currently training, although some are still on holiday, so the final number is yet to be confirmed.
Club president Antonela Šimić Šotola proudly notes that the youngest members have become a real attraction. "They are our biggest attraction, and we are truly proud and happy to have them. We plan to keep growing. For the first time in our history, we have five age groups, and we are confident there will be six next year," Šimić Šotola told Klikni.hr.
The president explains that the youngest players used to scatter to nearby clubs, and bringing them back was a challenge. "We haven't had very young footballers for a long time; they scatter to neighboring clubs, making it very hard to bring them back home. That's why we decided they should develop here from a very young age, because we have qualified staff who can make that happen," says Šimić Šotola.
She extended special thanks to coach Antonio Coha, whom she describes as ambitious enough to embrace all her ideas. The president herself has a personal stake in the club: her three-and-a-half-year-old son already trains with NK Bilo.
Parents interested in enrolling their children can come directly to training or contact coach Antonio Coha at 099 237 3525. The club says the doors are open to all children, regardless of age.
The article was published on August 13, 2026, and the news is brought to you by Klikni.hr.
