PHOTOS: Croatian football pays tribute in Vukovar ahead of Remembrance Day
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
(Photo: Drago Sopta/HNS)
The delegation of the Croatian Football Federation and the Croatian national football team paid tribute to the victims of the Homeland War today in Vukovar, ahead of the commemoration of Remembrance Day on November 18.
In two days, Croatia will commemorate the Remembrance Day for the Victims of the Homeland War and the Remembrance Day for the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja.
In light of this, a delegation from the Croatian Football Federation and the Croatian national football team visited Vukovar today.
(Photo: Drago Sopta/HNS)
President of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, Technical Director Stipe Pletikosa, national team coach Ivica Olić, vice-captain Domagoj Vida, and the president of the Football Association of Vukovar-Srijem County, Josip Kuterovac, laid a wreath and lit candles first at the central memorial on the Memorial Cemetery of the Victims of the Homeland War in Vukovar and then at the mass grave in Ovčara.
(Photo: Drago Sopta/HNS)
“Grief and pain, pride and gratitude – these are the emotions that overwhelm a person when they come to Vukovar and remember the sacrifice that this city, like many others in Croatia, endured in the creation of our homeland. We are proud that the national football team, through its successes, has presented to the world a young, brave, and talented country, but we are aware that it would not exist without the people we pay tribute to these days.
(Photo: Drago Sopta/HNS)
They, along with all the defenders, are the foundation of our state and every success, and we are eternally grateful to them. I deeply hope and believe that our team on Saturday, when we mark our most emotional national holiday, will give the whole nation an additional reason to be proud,” said the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić.
(Photo: Drago Sopta/HNS)
On November 18, we remember the day in 1991 when the heroic defence of Vukovar was broken, and at the same time, the massacre in Škabrnja took place. The bravery of the defenders of Saborsko, Slunj, Cetingrad, and Rakovica is also remembered on this day.
