| Wolves win the Cup |
| 01.07.2005. |
Belgrade Vukovi (Wolves) have won the AF Serbia Cup by beating Kragujevac Wild Boars 20 to 7. Wolves, by dominating the first half, have decided the game winner there and then, with Wild Boars not having the strength and stamina to turn the game around in the second half.
Man of the match was Wolves’ QB, Andrej Tasić, who tore up any sort of defense that Wild Boars brought up against him. His style reminded the crowd of Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick, with great runs throughout the game (and indeed throughout the entire season). Aside from the game itself, the match organisation was more than phenomenal. The game was played at a modern stadium of Obilić, in front of about 2,000 people. This is considered the best organised game in the history of SAFS.
Although Wild Boars have been the only undefeated team up to this game, one should not think that they’re weaker than before. Reasons for their defeat should be looked in the following fact : during the month of June, some Wild Boars players have been busy organising for arrival of American coaches Larry Kentera and Gene Felker to Serbia, whose mission was to hold 3 weeks of training under full equipment (which they brought themselves) with most of the AF teams in Serbia.
Kentera and Felker have put their plans into action for the full 3 weeks, often leaving all the players on the field breathless. It was an unforgettable experience for everyone in Serbia, whose players saw the equipment for the first time. It’s still not sure when the league games will be played with full equipment. |
| Miloš Jovanović |
| Legionares, Vukovi dazzle, Steeds disappoint |
| 30.04.2005. |
Second round of the Serbian AF Cup had a few scoring hiccups, quite a few surprises and some novelties. The first game of the second round was played in Sremska Mitrovica where the hosts, Legionaries, won against Pančevo Panthers with 23:14. The game was played in front of about 500 anxious visitors with more than just a few game turnarounds.
However, result suspense was resolved by Damir Žarko, Legionaries’ QB, throwing an over-50 yard TD for Srboljub Radanović. As per usual, game organisation in Sremska Mitrovica has been top-notch, however, the game organisation hosted by Belgrade Vukovi has been over and well above anything seen and expected. On one of the most beautiful fields at Ada Ciganlija, in front of about 100 visitors (it’s been raining heavily during the entire match), Vukovi have crushed Požarevac Outlaws, who looked like everything but a football team. This game was a precedent, since referees, for the first time in Serbia, showed up wearing official referee garments and uniforms, and the head ref was wearing a mike and a wire for everyone to hear decisions made, a major improvement for AF in Serbia.
The biggest surprise was put on show in Novi Sad, where the hosts, Novi Sad Dukes crushed the visiting side from Niš with 46:2, although Niš Steeds have been branded as slight favourites before the game.
It’s been a rough month for SAFS as well, with the new management election at their latest General Meeting, i.e. a new president of the Management Board was elected – Ivan Radošević, 32, journalist and an editor of “Sport”, daily sports newspaper. For the new general secretary, Nenad Aleksić, 27, journalist of PC Press was elected.
Until recently, refereeing was one of the biggest problems SAFS was facing. However, brothers Goran and Vladan Lapčević have taken care of this and their motivation and devotion to AF deserves every mention. Firstly Vladan has established the AF Belgrade Ref Society, whereas later on, Goran was elected as a chairman and president of the same.
Also, coaching bench of the national team saw changes this month. As a coach of special team, Igor Gajić was replaced by Nemanja Trajković, Wild Boars head coach.
SAF Vojvodina has also been established, comprising of 4 clubs geographically located on the territory of this Serbian county. Teams are: Sirmium Legionaries, Pančevo Panthers, Novi Sad Dukes and Klek Reapers. As a president of the Management Board of SAF Vojvodina, Ivan Marković from Pančevo was elected. |
| Marko Đukić |
| Favourites trounce their opposition in cup, management board reshuffled |
| 08.04.2005. |
During the weekend of 2nd & 3rd April, four games of the first round of Serbia's inaugural Cup were played. All the games ended as expected, although one might have thought that favourites would have much more difficulties.
The gap between strong and weak teams is shown in terms of scores: Pančevo Panthers - Čačak Mad Dogs 43:6, Niš Steeds - Kragujevac Wild Boars 6:102, Beograd Blue Dragons - Sremska Mitrovica Legionaries 0:64, Kraljevo Royal Crowns - Vukovi Beograd 0:67. The cup has 10 teams divided into 3 groups, and during this initial stage, each team will play 2 games and then, based on group standings, 3 new groups will be formed, equal in terms of strength so the results are expected to be more uncertain. For the first time, starting with this cup, the games will be refereed by licensed refs.
Out of novelties concerning SAFS, at the last meeting of the Management Board resignations were submitted by the Board’s president, Borislav Mihajlović, and SAFS secretary general, Andrej Tasić. Due to these circumstances, an extraordinary session of the MB was called for Sunday, 10th April, at which new management will be elected and other significant issues will be discussed.
For Saturday, 9th April, a Founding Meeting of the referee association of AF Serbia is called, which, after 2 referee seminars being held this year, represents a clear initiative step towards creating a strong referee network across the country.
Another AF club was founded in Serbia, Klek Reapers, which was also immediately admitted into SAFS as a regular member. |
| Marko Đukić |
| Development of American Football (AF) in Serbia 2000-2005 |
| 22.03.2005. |
2000 – In a year of revolution for Serbia, if somebody even thought of conducting a public survey and asking people if they know what AF is, what are the rules, what’s SuperBowl, 99% of the people wouldn’t even have a clue about answering such questions. AF was known only by people who either lived or worked in the US, or owned satellite receivers so in that way had a chance to get to know the way of AF. However, it is almost certain that most of the people who watch or play AF in Serbia today didn’t know about the world of NFL. Also, those same people couldn’t even imagine what changes would the future bring, and how amazingly fast would AF develop.
2001 – When, in September 2001. Channel 3 started with NFL broadcast, all of my mates started watching this sport. They also tried to persuade me to go along with it by watching, but I kept refusing. Being a big NBA fan, I underestimated all other American sports. This lasted until one night when, after coming back home, I started flipping through channels, and for no particular reason, left Ch 3 which was showing an AF game on. What I saw at first, has put me off even further : empty stadium, commentators showing no interest for the game whatsoever, a huge lead for the away side, few minutes until end, a spooky atmosphere, and me knowing no rules at all. But then, I got to know two teams, Cleveland Browns who were playing at Chicago Bears. At that point I wasn’t even aware what was coming up and that this moment would change my life forever. By a myriad of strange circumstances and mistakes by the Browns, the Bears managed, in just a few minutes, to completely turn the game around and score a winning TD in the dying moments of the match. No man on Earth believed at that moment that Bears could turn it around, and the audience (or what was left of it anyway) at Soldier Field totally freaked out not knowing what was going on at the pitch, with same situation happening in the TV studio. Of course, that was enough for me to stick in front of the TV next week for a start of a new game. That’s the thing with AF – to love it you just need to watch it once – after that everything involving AF runs along.
2002 – This year, a “new” audience was watching its very first Superbowl, a spectacle to remember. The first NFL season on Ch 3 was over, and what was going on up until the end of this, as well as during next couple of years, not even the most optimistic of optimists could foresee. In spring of 2002, a first specialized website was designed – www.nfl-yu.tk. The site was of modest design and content, but it was intended for Serbian AF fans whose numbers were growing by the day. By the end of the year, the site moved to www.nfl-yu.info and functioned quite well for about year and a half, during which it was an adequate source of info, with its forum acting as a gathering point for fans across the country.
During this year, we also observe a start of the first semi-organised gatherings in Serbia. People didn’t just want to watch this sport, they wanted to play it, and by the year’s end first clubs were founded, the teams of the so called “Big Three” – Sirmium Legionaries, Kragujevac Wild Boars (both in October 2002) and Vukovi Beograd (December 2002).
2003 – This year represents a turning point in AF development in Serbia : first friendly games were played. In March, a first official friendly was played between Kragujevac Wild Boars and Vukovi Beograd in which the hosts (Wild Boars) won and since then have not lost a single game – either an official or a friendly one. Throughout whole of 2003. friendlies were played, and although there were some hints, the league didn’t start until spring next year. By the end of this year, the Association of American Football of Serbia (SAFS) was established, and mr. Borislav Mihajlović, a Belgrade Blue Dragons’ owner, was elected president. As of now, mr. Mihajlović is still holding that post.
2004 – In spring of 2004., the first AF league of Serbia started, first official competition in the history of this sport in Serbia. The league comprised of 5 teams with teams playing at a single-round system, each team against each other, with first 4 teams reaching play offs. Although there were lots of problems with refs, organisation and grounds, the league managed to survive, reaching climax in the finals when, in Kragujevac, in front of over 3,000 people and accompanied by a spectacular organisation done by the hosts, old rivals Boars and Vukovi played for the title. The Boars triumphed again, 21:6, and became the first official champions. In the final match, Mladen Pavlović of the Wild Boars played an amazing game, helping his team to reach the title. He deservingly won an MVP of the finals title, and a first star of Serbian football scene was born. By the end of the year, at General Meeting of the Football Association, the decision to form a national football team of Serbia was made, and for its head coach the Association unanimously elected Igor Hoffmann, coach of Beograd Vukovi, who just before New Year released a first rough draft of the national team selection.
2005 – The year began with a gathering of potential national team players, all with a purpose to prepare for a summer trip to Italy where they will play in a friendly game against an Italian junior side. Coming as a great surprise to us all, a great majority potential candidates for the national team showed a high level of both physical and technical prowess, as well as a serious professional approach when it comes to national team obligations, which couldn’t have been expected considering the state of AF in Serbia today.
A first seminar for potential new refs was held in Kraljevo. Over 40 refs which have successfully passed the tests received a license. They will soon have a chance to show what they know, as well as gain valuable experience, in Cup of Serbia which starts in April. Cup of Serbia will see a presence of 10 teams, which is double the number of teams that played the league last year.
Development of AF in Serbia is undoubtedly rapid. There are still problems - the game is still played without any equipment, there are no educated coaches etc. - but all this aside the improvement is obvious, and it is certain that these burning issues will be resolved one by one in years to come. |
| Marko Đukić |
|
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| Panthers - Knights |
22:0 |
| Celtis - Hunters |
20:6 |
| Knights - Lavovi |
27:13 |
| Hunters - KAF Električar |
10:0 |
| Sharks - Thunders |
45:6 |
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| Final: |
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2006 Champions
Klek Knights |
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Final standings
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1. Beograd Vukovi
2. Kragujevac Wild Boars
3. Sirmium Legionaries
4. Novi Sad Dukes
5. Kraljevo Royal Crowns
6. Pančevo Panthers
7. Beograd Blue Dragons
8. Niš Steeds
Outlaws, Mad Dogs |
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2004 Champions:
Kragujevac Wild Boars |
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