HNS looking for future diaspora stars at camp in Cleveland

(Photo: Croatia Cleveland Juniors Soccer Club)

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) is once again reaching out to the Croatian diaspora in North America with an exciting opportunity for young footballers.

Boys and girls born between 2010 and 2014 with Croatian heritage are invited to attend a special four-day talent identification camp in Cleveland, Ohio this June.

Organised in partnership with the Croatia Cleveland Soccer Club, the camp aims to find talented young players who could one day wear the famous red and white checkers.

Whether currently playing for a club or not, all eligible youth players are welcome to take part.

Top Coaches and Scouts from HNS Attending

Senior representatives and coaches from HNS will travel from Croatia to lead the camp, which will feature three training and evaluation sessions, followed by a fun final day that includes a closing ceremony, picnic, small-goals tournament, and diploma presentations.

The camp will be held across two venues – Mentor High School and the American-Croatian Lodge – with healthy snacks and Gatorade provided throughout.

Camp Schedule:

• Thursday, 12 June & Friday, 13 June: 5:00 – 9:00 PM at Mentor High School
• Saturday, 14 June: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Mentor High School
• Sunday, 15 June: 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the American-Croatian Lodge

Giving Back to the Diaspora

The goal of the camp is more than just football. It’s about building connections to the homeland and celebrating Croatian heritage through sport.

“We have always drawn players from the diaspora for our national teams,” said Croatian legend and current HNS Technical Director Stipe Pletikosa. “The most important thing is that these boys and girls develop a love for football, but also a deep connection to their roots.”

HNS President Marijan Kustić added: “We are aware that there is great potential in the diaspora. Many of our young players have shown a strong attachment to the Croatian national team, and through these camps, we want to strengthen that bond even more.”

Success Stories from Previous Camps

The Cleveland camp is part of a growing initiative that has already produced results. Previous editions have helped launch the careers of several players now involved in Croatia’s national team set-up and top academies:

• Adrian Hrvojević (Chicago, IL) – progressed through Croatia’s youth national teams and now plays for Hajduk Split’s U19 team.
• Victoria Safradin (Cleveland, OH) – former Croatia Juniors player, attended HNS Camp in Croatia, now playing college football at University of Virginia.
• Kai Nesfield (Fort Meyers, FL) – participated in past HNS Camp, now a player in Dinamo Zagreb’s academy.

How to Register

To register, visit: Camp Registration Link
Accommodation info: Hotel Booking
For full camp details, visit: Croatia Juniors HNS Camp