They say writing falls somewhere between pleasure and torture. Well, luckily, watching Croatia’s professional soccer league, the HNL falls there as well.
For nearly six seasons, I have woken up every Saturday morning, and while most fans of the sport would immediately turn on their flat screen TVs to the HD channel showing English Premier matches, I was turning on my computer to watch a grainy and advertisement-filled stream of the Prva Liga.
People have said the league is garbage, a waste of time, nothing more than a “feeder league” for larger European leagues; I’ve heard criticisms ranging from the league is “bullshit” to how it should be contracted to only include four teams.
Every season, there is a story of a team not being able to pay the players on time – a professional sports team that cannot afford to pay the professional athletes it employs; something that is unheard of in most countries.
I’ve watched games that were clearly fixed, whether by players on the field, or by the referee officiating the game. Players can sometimes get paid more money by bookies trying to sway matches than they would from their own clubs.
Headlines regularly read of a new up-and-coming 16 year-old player signing a professional contract. I was only getting my drivers license and awkwardly roaming the halls of high school when I was 16, but every club is looking for the next football savior in the likes of the talented youth that Croatia seems to endlessly supply.
These 16 year-olds put in their required playing time until they are fortunate enough to be sold to a foreign league where they can hopefully make a real living.
But this is the league I report on and the only thing that I regret is that it’s not a full-time job. I don’t get paid for this, but I’ve met or at least spoken to people that well make up for a lack of paycheck. I sometimes feel that the four years I spent at journalism school prepared me for this.
This league is not always a pleasure to cover, I must say. Writing about fives matches a week takes time, time that eats away from my weekends and days off.
I don’t only watch games that include Dinamo Zagreb, a team that I hold very close to me, and runs deep in my veins. I watch all the games. Games that include NK Zadar, Osijek, NK Lučko, Hrvatski Dragovoljac; teams that include amateur players that play like amateurs.
Sometimes the level of play can grind on one’s patience, especially someone who is a fan of the sport and wants to watch the highest quality available.
My day job requires me to work on weekends, but I spend more than my share of my weekend work days hovered over a computer watching RNK Split play against NK Istra on a field that isn’t suitable for a high school match here in the States.
But this is also what makes the league fantastic. And that’s what helps make all this work worth it.
The beauty of these small clubs, representing their history that stretches back over 100 years, still making connections with the cities, towns, and villages they represent.
The league is personal. It’s my league. It’s your league. There’s a connection you get with club that size that is impossible to feel with a major team in England.
Stadiums of the likes of Manchester United, filled with American and Chinese tourists, sitting silently as if they were at a baseball game; it is incomparable with atmosphere and passion found at Poljud or Kantrida.
The players on these teams are among the few players in the professional world that are playing for a team they grew up cheering for. They aren’t making $45,000 a week. They aren’t driving Bugattis or living in castles. They are playing a sport they love
In a modern time where money is all that matters, passion is still alive in the HNL, even in stadiums that don’t fill up.
HNK Rijeka was scheduled to play a cup match in October that was rained out, but instead of going home, they drove to a nearby orphanage and spent time with children who could certainly use a little bit of charity. That’s what makes this league special.
The recent success of Croatian clubs in Europe is only adding to the value of clubs. Watching these teams will pay off in the end, because this is where it starts. This is where the next Mario Mandžukić is playing, and the next Luka Modrić is in the stands watching his team play. Why not join him?
Whether you are one of 10 members in NK Zagreb’s White Angels, one of thousands in Torcida, or part of the BBB banned from Maksimir, the true love for the club is there. The talent on the teams is there, and the future of the nation’s sport is there.
RESULTS FOR HNL WEEK 14
RNK Split 1 – 1 GNK Dinamo Zagreb
NK Slaven Belupo 1 – 1 HNK Rijeka
NK Zadar 0 – 3 HNK Hajduk Split
NK Osijek 1 – 0 NK Zagreb
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 4 – 2 NK Istra 1961
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Friday, Nov. 7 – NK Slaven Belupo vs RNK Split / 12 pm EST
Saturday, Nov. 8 – NK Istra 1961 vs NK Zadar / 9 am EST
HNK Hajduk vs NK Osjiek / 1 pm EST
Sunday, Nov. 9 – NK Zagreb vs GNK Dinamo Zagreb / 9 am EST
HNK Rijeka vs NK Lokomotiva Zagreb / 1 pm EST
Come here you little flirt.
I’m currently watching Big 10 Womens Soccer…
Fuck, I need a family!
if u have a family u watch football at the highest level, its all you have time for. theres no point in watching ayso. i love hajduk but i got no time to watch that shitty level of football.
suspension Joey was covered by the Aussie media long before his selfish act a year ago.
There is no way Argentina will ever schedule a friendly against Croatia again. Way to burn a bridge Suker.
6 players from Rijeka – only because there couldn’t be 6 from Dinamo – not enough Croatian citizens.
Can’t wait to watch Rijeka vs. Argentina. Thanks, Savez.
Mamic’s only option is to continue to do what he is doing. He can’t stop, even if he wanted to.
The moment he shows weakness, is the moment he gets taken down and arrested. It’s the Balkanac way.
I’m sure he’d love to take what money he has today, and just enjoy it. But he’s made a lot of enemies and the second he steps down from his very influential position, people won’t hesitate to sell him out and have him arrested. But right now, there are too many puppets that he controls from his current position for him to ever be arrested for what he is doing.
He’s going to have to go out in a blaze of glory. I would do the same if I were him.
Regarding the Mamic situation……..this is why I think the public in cro should not attend national team matches until he is gone along with the Puppet Suker. It amazes me why people in cro would attend home matches. It makes no sense.
As far as mamic goes you would hope that justice would prevail but that would only happen if it served someones greater purpose or maybe bandic flips and starts giving up names. As for his time at dinamo a smart man would know when to pull up stumps and walk away, knowing full well that they took a ride on city money and pocketed all those transfer fees in addition to the massive percentages he is getting managing players, which is technically a conflict of interesf. That said mamic is a ludak so who knows what he will do.
Mamic along with bandic and co have been pocketing city money which is funding the club and the super stadium, don’t forget this is a club that hasnt had a sponsor on its shirt in years other than the apparel one, is mamic the kinda guy who can take dinamo down a legit path? 😀
he either cuts and runs or he is arrested tried and convicted or option 3 he gets taken out like the mafioso he is.
Common sense as we all know is not all that common, hell on this site people were lauding pranja upon his return all the way through to the WC and some still seem to think he is a good LB. I never sugarcoat it hes been a shitstain since the beginning of the wc2010 campaign and should never have been brought back in.
Best case italy doesn’t exploit him and we win or draw, worst case we get killed as a direct result of his ineptitude, capello might call conte to remind him how walcott made pranja his bitch. Basic fact is pranja when actually in position likes to defend from 3 meters away and god forbid actually trying to get in close to shut him down and maybe even steal the ball back, but usually he is off trying to score or better still doubling up to “help” our legit defenders while leaving his area wide open. But the coach loves him
Europski dinamo with a game for the ages.
After seeing the score in the Dinamo game, I had to reach for my finest batch of Rakija to dull the pain.
svaka cast, Dinamo!
Vida started in the LB position today. He also scored a goal.
Starting Pranjic as a LB against Azerbajzan is one thing.
I can’t believe he is even being considered to start there against Italy. Especially since we have Strinic, Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, and even Vida. All who can defend WAY better than Him.
Bilic tried to make Pranjic a left back because he had no other options.
Anyone with any common sense can see Kovac has way better options than Pranjic.
Most likely lineup vs Italy-Subasic Srna Corluka Lovren Pranjic-Brozovic Modric Rakitic Perisic Olic Mandzukic
Close to 3,000 BBB now banned. That number grows more each day.
Sorry, Celtic drawing with some Romanian club, means DInamo still have a chance.
They’d have to win their next 2 matches and hope Celtic drop their match vs RB Salzburg.
Impressive game by Dinamo today…………
Officially out of Europa League.
Lineup vs Argentina Kalinic/Vargic-Vrsaljko Jedvaj Sifo Strinic/Leovac-Jajalo Badelj-Halilovic Kovacic Rebic-Kalinic Most likely starting 11 from what i read.
@ Ziva
HAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAH!!!
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!
AHAHAHAHAHA
@ Colin
Great write up. Best ive ever read on here.
Big game for Rijeka today against Feyenoord.
If they pull off the away draw, they’re in a very good position to move on.
JP do you support and attend matches of your local Croat side. If not then your words are hollow.
Thank U Dr. Colin for All the work U do on this site ! Too Bad U Roll with the Wrong (G) team in the HNL ,but we will forgive U ! We Will be back on Top if someone has the Balls to Clean up this kooked league! Take care my Friend and keep up the Great Work! Bog, Hrvati , Hajduk , Clippers, USA , i HNS !!!
Yep, waking up early to watch a game. I’m no stranger to that. After all, A Hrvat has gotta do what a Hrvat has gotta do.
Time zones, Ivan. Time zones.
You wake up on saturday MORNING?
I always saw games in the aferternoon/evening!
Well written Colin. Thank you.
Love the MLS!
And loved the div 2 NA leagues that my ‘Caps were in prior to that.
If you love the sport, you love the sport.
It’s funny how we manage to accept the low level of play in the HNL, accept the fact it is a feeder league, but a league right in our backyard, the MLS, is ridiculed and not supported. It is the textbook definition of Eurosnobbery.
@ Bobby V
Svaka cast homie.
Have to give to give it to Skoblar (Privlaka) as the best ever.
All their national sides are bringing it. We take care of business in Milan and we are back in effect.
@ Colin
Appreciate the article.
Forza fiume !
Bravo Colin – that’s a powerful and emotional piece of journalism. One of the best I’ve read on this site in a long time.
Hard to believe, but, after 3 rounds of Euro2016 qualifying, the following countries are leading their groups:
Iceland (Group A)
Wales (Group B)
Slovakia (Group C)
Poland (Group D)
Northern Ireland.(Group F)
Nicely written Colin.I agree with an 8 team league but, I don’t agree with just cutting the 2 poorest teams at the moment.
The city of Zadar deserves a team. They deserve a new stadium even more so.
Below are the notable former and current players who have represented Zadar in domestic and international competitions since the club’s foundation in 1945.
More talent here than has played for any other club outside of Dinamo and Hajduk.
Stipe Balajić
Vladimir Balić
Igor Banović
Mate Baturina
Saša Bjelanović
Dragan Blatnjak
Jurica Buljat
Marijan Buljat
Ivan Ćurjurić
Hrvoje Ćustić
Tomo Gluić
Mirko Hrgović
Antonio Ježina
Marin Ljubičić
Ferdo Milin
Luka Modrić
Antonio Mršić
Mato Neretljak
Stipe Perica
Igor Prahić
Dado Pršo
Tomislav Rogić
Ivan Santini
Josip Skoblar
Zvonimir Soldo
Danijel Subašić
Josip Tadić
Želimir Terkeš
Marin Tomasov
Dalibor Zebić
Now you are starting to sound like me.
I wonder with Bandic in jail is Dinamo’s Mamic next?
Stay tuned.
Grateful for you Colin ! Hajduk #1 Forever!
League needs to be cut even more. Look at a club like NK Bjezigrad. They are still allowed to play in stadium that killed a player. In what normal league is that allowed.
I enjoy following the HNL. Because this is where it all starts. This is where our players begin their careers. Nothing like seeing a humble kid from a small town trying to make it.
Also, they should reduce the league to 8. Just look at the table above, Slaven K. and Zadar haven’t won a match in FIVE games.
Now cut them out, and you’d have Istria and Osijek fighting it out “mano a mano” to avoid relegation. Plus these teams can actually win games.
So cutting the league down to 8 would create a real blood bath–no holds barred competition! More than 8 and the league gets watered down like your teta’s bevanda.
Great article colin, i also watch hnl games (only hajduk), but can’t always watch every week. But it is a nice change of pace from the richer leagues.
Hajduk is my #1 team, but its really a grind to watch their games…past two weeks i haven’t even been able to find a stream.
Why is it that every time I mention Ziva, a brand new user account is created and attacks me?
🙂
Colin, what do you do for a living?
This is a very well thought out and well written piece!
Good job!
^^^^^^^
enough please, the biggest troll on this site is you Ivica
give it a break with your attack on Ziva, just avoid him, you are like a little school girl
LOL @ the 4-team comment.
Ziva trolling everyone for the past year with that ridiculous proposal.
But on a serious note, the 10-team format is good.
There seems to be 7 or 8 teams that are competitive with each other every season, and two teams that battle each other to avoid that automatic relegation spot. Kind of entertaining watching those bottom two teams try to survive, lol.
As much as we complain, the league has gotten better these past 5-10 years.
Good for you, bravo, the best Croats of Croatdom, cream of the crop, elite of the Croatian nation. You are surely blessed with a myriad of Croatian pussy and palacinke in your parents basement. I have to take a shit now,
bravo Colin and a big HVALA for all your hard work!
This is what CS articles should be! This is CSR. Bravo Colin! Finally a breathe of fresh air
Nice write bud
more people would watch the league if they contracted and had a 4-team league.
Amazing write up.
Amazing.
Colin,
You’re doing an amazing job. I always read your posts.
I might be the only one but I really do care more about Rijeka than about those shit English teams. Why should I care if Everton beats Manchester City? They’re both a bunch of niggers anyway.
One of the best pieces i’ve read on the site this year. I’ll admit that I don’t watch the HNL, but I totally respect your commitment. The high school field line had me cracking me up.
Svaka cast, Colin! Nice piece! We need to get you to some games so you can get some live coverage, interviews, etc. You should do an interview with Mamic just in English, bet that would be amazing.
Use to watch more HNL, but now that I’m a home owner and have shit to do around the house, those Saturday’s with nothing to do are becoming more and more rare.
Question – who has a bigger supporter group?
NK Zagreb’s Bijeli Andeli
NK Istra’s Demoni
or
Ziva Istina followers/imposters on CSR
close one I think….
Bravo i watch the HNL as well and thats why i know most HNl players and guys on this site didnt know who Kramric was before he scored for Cro i said back in 2012 the guy should have been on team as 5th or 4th striker and learn and should have gone to 2014. and the 2014 world cup should have been a mix of HNL players on team Rebic Kramaric Halilovic Leskovic l Kalinic Vargic Tomeack should have been watched for 2014 and have a shocking young team but instead 2014 was one of the worst 23 in history a coach has ever called up beating Baric 2004 and Cico 2006