Futsal Upset: Novo Vrijeme Secures Super Cup Spot
After a dramatic appeal and threat of scandal, HNS Secretary General Josip Tomaško initiated a solution that brought the Makarska club back into contention for the season's first trophy.
After a dramatic appeal and threat of scandal, HNS Secretary General Josip Tomaško initiated a solution that brought the Makarska club back into contention for the season's first trophy.
The football community eagerly awaited the resolution of a situation that threatened to overshadow the start of the new futsal season. MNK Novo Vrijeme from Makarska, after their appeal against the final standings of last season was initially rejected, will nonetheless participate in the Croatian Super Cup. The club confirmed on Monday, August 10, that a solution had been found, which also resulted in a change to the competition's format.
The story began on July 31, when MNK Novo Vrijeme issued a detailed statement expressing deep dissatisfaction. They believed that the final club standings, which placed them fifth, were not determined in accordance with the competition's rules. In the statement, which was then carried by Slobodna Dalmacija, they emphasized that they had "spent the last month fighting for what we consider the fundamental principles of sport, fairness, equality, and respect for our own regulations."
Despite all the arguments and efforts, their appeal was rejected. It seemed that the Makarska club would miss out on the Super Cup, along with the associated sporting and financial benefits. However, the situation took a complete turn after the intervention of Croatian Football Federation Secretary General Josip Tomaško, who initiated a series of talks with all parties involved.
The result of these negotiations is a modified Super Cup format for this season, which received the consent of all clubs. Under the new system, MNK Torcida and MNK Square will first play a qualifying match. The winner of that clash will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will be joined by Futsal Dinamo, MNK Osijek Kandit, and, most importantly, MNK Novo Vrijeme.
Current champions MNK Olmissum and Croatian Cup winners HMNK Rijeka have secured direct passage to the semifinals. "Justice has been served!" was the brief and clear message from the Makarska club, which particularly thanked Secretary Tomaško for his engagement and initiative, as well as all clubs that accepted the format change.
With this drama resolved, MNK Novo Vrijeme now looks optimistically toward the upcoming challenges. The date of their first official match of the new season is already known. The Super Cup quarterfinal is scheduled for September 18 in Omiš. The team has already begun individual preparations, with a collective gathering in Makarska set for August 24.
The club has announced continued work with clear ambition. "New season. New challenges. Same goals," reads their motivational message ahead of the fight for the season's first trophy, in which, thanks to this epilogue, they will indeed have the chance to compete.
