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Zajecar - engleski - niska rezolucija

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ZAJEČAR − CAPITAL OF SERBIAN EAST<br />

SPORTS, ATHLETES, SOCIETY<br />

THE BEGINNINGS<br />

The first written records about organized physical culture<br />

activities in Zaječar date from 1882. At one of the first<br />

sessions of the Belgrade Association for gymnastics and<br />

fighting, a letter from Zaječar was read. The letter reads<br />

that, at the initiative of 16 Zaječar garrison officers, in April<br />

1882 a society for gymnastics and fencing was established in<br />

Zaječar, and that the elected president was Matija Optrkić.<br />

Just a year later, physical education became mandatory<br />

in Zaječar high school. The first teacher was Ilija Blagojević.<br />

Lacking expected interest and support, the Zaječar Society<br />

for gymnastics and fencing was abandoned within a couple<br />

of years, but physical education in schools survived.<br />

Thanks to the material and spiritual revival of late 19 th<br />

century Zaječar, people’s attitude towards sports associations<br />

changed. In 1890 were founded the Society for gymnastics<br />

and fighting, the horseback rider’s society “Prince<br />

Michael” and a Shooting Club. The shooting range was in<br />

the city park, and weapons and ammunition was provided by<br />

the Zaječar garrison.<br />

The Balkan Wars and World War One stopped the development<br />

of sports in Zaječar, because the athletes and sports<br />

officials were mobilized. However, once the war ended,<br />

Zaječar sports began to grow on the old foundations.<br />

FOOTBALL<br />

According to available information, the first ball was<br />

brought to Zaječar by Duško Vučković, upon his return from<br />

school in France. At his initiative, a sports ground was built<br />

(near Zaječar hospital), and it was in use until 1965, and<br />

a society established that later became the “Timok” sports<br />

society. Just a year after the first soccer ball was rolled at<br />

the foot of Kraljevica, three new clubs: “Adria”, “Vardar”<br />

and “Soko” were established. Due to financial difficulties,<br />

“Adria” and “Vardar” united into “Srpski mač,” which after<br />

a year took the name “Hajduk Veljko”. “Soko” was closed<br />

in 1923. Two years later, the Club “Hajduk Veljko” changed<br />

its name to “Mladi radanik” and bore that name until 1929,<br />

when, after the Sixth of January dictatorship, the club was<br />

prohibited. Prohibition did not last long, so the club revived<br />

under the name “Yugoslavia”.<br />

168<br />

1<br />

2<br />

Stadium and<br />

complex of sports<br />

fields on Kra lje vi ca<br />

From the game<br />

of FK “Ti mok”<br />

Ball<br />

Having returned<br />

from France where<br />

he went to school,<br />

Du šan Vuč ko vić<br />

brought the first<br />

ball for football to<br />

Za je čar. First football<br />

field was built at site<br />

of the present Health<br />

Centre and had been<br />

there until 1965.<br />

The ninetieth anniversary<br />

of football<br />

in Zaječar took place<br />

in 2009.

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