Perhaps you have to be of Croatian descent to fully understand why so much emphasis is placed on success in sports and why athletes from Croatia have enjoyed winning more in the past 50 years than the country’s entire earlier history, a country that today stands 127th in size in the world with less than 4-5 million inhabitants.
Croatian athletes have experienced incredible success at home and abroad.
International Croatian athletes have won 13 world championships and gold medals. They have two from the World Championships in athletics , one in the World Men’s Handball Championship for water polo and rowing . They have six for alpine skiing. They have won the Davis Cup.
It was not until 1992 that Croatia joined the Olympics to take home 23 Summer Olympics medals (6 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze) and 11 Winter Olympics medals (4 gold, 6 silver and a bronze).
Athletes like Janica Kostelić was one of the best skiers the world, Blanka Vlašić is a former world indoor high jump champion. Check out Marin Čilić and Goran Ivanišević in tennis, and there’s many more.
Children of Croatian immigrants in several countries have shown a remarkable talent to become prominent in sports.
In Canada, Toronto-born skating partners Val and Sandra Bezic won the Canadian Figure Skating Championships from 1970–1974. Let’s not overlook Canadian heavyweight boxing champion George Chuvalo.
U.S.-born George Mikan was once the best basketball player in the NBA. A former World Doubles Champion in table tennis, Zarko Dolinar, is still the only world title holder to hold a doctor of science degree. There’s Roger Maris in baseball.
In soccer, the Croatian national team has become one of the world favourites and now stands 18th of more than 200 countries in the FIFA world rankings.
Canadian soccer fans have not forgotten it was Metros-Croatia, the Toronto professional team formed when Toronto Croatia purchased 50 per cent of a failing Toronto Metros in 1974, that won the North American Soccer Championship in 1976.
The ‘will to win’ of those wearing the distinctive red and white checkers is born of a desire to express a national identity, sought after for generations. Success in soccer may have played lead role, but the tenacious ‘will to win’ attitude is there throughout. Winning has become a means of expression, playing an important part in the recognition of Croatia, particularly over the past 20 – 25 years.
It’s not surprising that there is a Croatian World Club Championship in football (soccer), with Croatian teams from a number of countries coming together every four years to arrive at a Croatian club world champion.
This 2015 is the year, to follow the championship games in 2007 – the inaugural year – and the games of 2011. Toronto Croatia of the Canadian Soccer League won both titles and are bidding for a third during the next few days.
The eight teams are from Australia (2), Canada, France, Germany, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and in the matches that kickoff at Zagreb, Croatia, on Sunday, June 28, are from two groups:
Group A
Toronto Croatia (Canada)
Villerfranche Croatia (France)
Reprezentacija Vojvođanskih Hrvata (Serbia)
Sydney United 58 FC (Australia)
Group B
Canberra FC (Australia)
Croatia Stuttgart (Germany)
Nk Pajde Mohlin (Switzerland)
Croatia Malmo(Sweden)
Toronto Croatia are again favoured to win. The longest running successful professional club in Canadian professional soccer has won numerous titles since launching in 1956, including the National Soccer League title four years running, 1970-1973, and in recent years has won the Canadian Soccer League championship 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2012. The team from Toronto had several wins in the Croatian National Soccer Federation of Canada and the United States before winning the present world competition in 2007 and 2011.
“It’s our goal to win again this year,” said Toronto Croatia president Joe Pavicic when announcing the competition details.
Toronto Croatia’s opener against Sydney United 58 FC of Australia is at 5.30 pm in Croatia, 11.30 am EST in Canada on Sunday.
The Toronto Croatia team and non-playing staff are: Tihomir Maletic, Josip Keran, Sven Arapovic, Anes Handanovic, Marin Vučemilović-Grgic , Ainsley Deer, Halburto Harris, Shawn Brown, Darren Chambers,
Roberto Galle, David Alva, Christian Maraldo, Michael Filipovic, Amir Hosic, Robert Grnja, Jure Glavnia, Bruno Krstanovic, Borna Vincic, Ivan Pavicic, Marko Koštic, Franjo Delić.
Officials are: Josip Pavicic-President, Velimir Crljen-Head Coach, Milodrag Akamazdic-Assistant Coach, Ivan Kuliš-Manager.