The Krajina pumpkin club “Liverpool” from Sydney, held a traditional annual tournament last weekend, in which as many as 20 teams participated, and the title was taken by the home team “Krajina delije”.
The team consisting of Rajko Gagić, Ilija Trifunović, Željko Cupać and Mirko Dopuđ, won their first title at the Bućar competitions, at the domestic tournament.
Thus, after more than twenty years of organizing the tournament on the Church property in Rosmore, the president of the Krajina Bulgarian Association “Liverpool” Rajko Gagić with his “Delija”, managed to lift the winning trophy.
First place – “Krajiska delije”: Zeljko Cupac, Rajko Gagic, Mirko Dopudj and Ilija Trifunovic
Countless participations in tournaments across Australia, several finals and liters of sweat shed around the organization of tournaments in the past two decades, were rewarded with a victory in the final against the RSK team – 21:18.
Since the beginning of the 2000s, Krajina bocce players from Liverpool have been organizing an annual tournament in ballots, bocce or bocce, which is the name used in parts of Dalmatia and Ravni kotari. Fans of the game had their last organized gathering in February last year, because then pandemic restrictions prevented all planned events.
“RSK”: Zeljko Krneta, Vanja Strbac, Branislav Lacmanovic and Aleksandar Veselinovic
Eager to hang out with old friends from other parts of Australia, the Liverpool hosts did their best to make this year’s tournament one of the best.
“Serbia”: Milan Gnjidic, Bozo Maljkovic, Marinko Dobric and Tihomir Oliveric
Teams from four cities
This one-day tournament attracted as many as twenty teams, 15 of them from various parts of Sydney and five from other cities. Two teams arrived from Vulongong (“Kninsko Kosovo” and “Velebit”) and Canberra (“Manjaca” and “Kalenić”), and Brisbane represented the team “St. George”.
The Queensland team explained to us that they did not have time to choose who would make the four in the team, but simply left four old friends Zika, Musa, Dado and Zoki behind for a weekend of family obligations and headed to Sydney to renew the old and make new friendships.
The happiest in the lottery – Brothers Jovan, Dušan, Sava and Nikola Gagić
It remains a pity for the absence of as many as 30 players from Melbourne, who were prevented from coming due to restrictive measures in Victoria. Airline tickets and accommodation were provided, but great friends of the Krajina squirrels from Sydney still could not arrive.
Due to the large number of teams, the tournament was played according to the knockout system, instead of the usual group play. Although some teams played only one match, it didn’t bother anyone, because everyone had an understanding for the organizers, and they all stayed up late into the night and after the final match.
Mandatory measurement eliminates doubts
Gagici tournament attraction
Nikola, Jovan and their younger twin brothers Dušan and Sava Gagić participated with an expo called “Gagići”. Miso Gagic, the proud father of these four boys, instructed his children to love the tradition and to hang out with all generations at gourd tournaments.
Although they were not very lucky in the competition, that was not their main goal, but to hang out with other children, but also with adults who have the same roots.
Rajko Gagić during the prize lottery
The Gagić brothers also caused a volley of applause at the lottery, when they won an incredible four prizes, one for each of the brothers. The brothers discovered the reason for their “happiness” in the fact that they literally bought dozens of tickets, which additionally won over the audience in the hall.
Drama in the finale
The climax of the excitement happened as it should – in the grand finale. The “RSK” team consisting of Zeljko Krneta, Vanja Strbac, Branislav Lacmanovic and Aleksandar Veselinovic had the game in their hands, when they took the lead with 18:12. Although at that moment they were only three points away from the triumph, “Krajiške delije” managed to make an incredible turnaround and triumphed with the result 21:18.
Master Zoran Simatovic
Thanks to the participants
At the cup award ceremony, the president of the Krajina Association “Liverpool”, Rajko Gagić, emphasized that he does not feel that way at all. As he jokingly pointed out, this and previous years at the end of the tournament he is tired and dirty, and that is not how one president looks – which caused a burst of laughter in the audience.
– We have been waiting for the championship cup for twenty-one years and now it is in our hands – Gagić said.
He then explained how, after such a long fast, they managed to reach the cup:
– In recent years, we have focused on the organization, logistics and everything else that goes with it. We did the same this year, however, we told ourselves that we would take a little more care of the pumpkin, so we spent two months for the pumpkin and finally used the moment – said Rajko Gagić.
In the end, the title went to “Delija”, but it is an award for all hard-working students who have worked hard for years in the past two decades.
Goodbye to Canberra
Rajko Gagić informed the attendees about the upcoming gatherings.
– In August, we will gather in Canberra, for the tournament there. God willing, in October we will all go to Melbourne, where there will be a big competition again. I thank everyone for their help and cooperation and I greet you until the next gathering in Canberra – said Gagić.
Nikola Gagić rolls while the older bowling fan follows closely
Simatovic is a master of baking
The organization, of course, did not fail this year either. The hard-working hosts started grilling and preparing baking from the early morning hours, so everything was ready at 10 am, when there was a gathering of participants and guests before the start of the tournament.
For culinary specialties, the main one was Zoran Simatović, who deserves all the compliments for the impeccably prepared service.
Invitation to a humanitarian picnic
At the friendly dinner that followed the tournament, Petar Mrkela invited all the guests to a humanitarian action organized by the association “Momcilo Bogunović” in Rosmore next week, June 20.
– See you next week at the same place, to help our Krajina people together. On this occasion, I can confirm that the Krajina Pumpkin Association “Liverpool” is coming to support this action – Mrkela said.
Guests at the cup award ceremony
Ilijin “gren slem”
A member of the winning team, Ilija Trifunović, shared his impressions of winning the title.
– I have participated in tournaments all over Australia, whenever possible. So far I have won titles at tournaments in Melbourne, Canberra, Wollongong, and now finally in Liverpool. This came to me like Djokovic when he won Roland Garros, so now I have completed the “slams” of our squash tournaments and been in the winning teams in all four tournaments – Trifunovic said with a smile.
From Disabled to Wet Gunpowder
Most of the participating teams bore symbolic names representing the place of origin, while on the other hand several teams had creative and funny names.
Thus, the following competed: Ravni kotari, Gagići, Orlovi, Kosovo Kninsko, Serbia, Smrekovac, Krajiške delije, Janković Stojan, Velebit, Sv. Đorđe, Janković Stojan, Kalenić Kanbera, RSK, Manjača, but also Champions Rusty, Invalidi, Kamen, Vlažni barut, Kumovi and Peđino jato.
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