Chapter 81 - 79: The Championship Belongs to Mostar

Chapter 81: Chapter 79: The Championship Belongs to Mostar

With the contract signed, the weight on Suk’s mind was finally lifted.

Be?i? knew Suk had a crucial match the next day, so he didn’t keep him long. The two soon parted ways.

When he returned to the training facility, Suk was noticeably more relaxed.

"Finished signing the contract?"

Modric asked.

The club hadn’t made an official announcement, so no one else knew, but Modric was in on it.

Suk smiled and made an ’OK’ sign, which brought a smile to Modric’s face as well.

He could continue being teammates with Suk.

After the pre-match training session ended, Head Coach Van Stiake gathered everyone.

Suk and the others stood in two rows, waiting for the head coach’s address.

Van Stiake’s gaze swept from left to right, making eye contact with each player, his eyes filled with encouragement.

"After a whole season of hard work, we’ve finally reached the last moment!"

Van Stiake announced, his voice trembling slightly. It was clear he was also tense about the impending crucial battle.

"The championship—there’s only one each season! It’s an honor bestowed upon the team with the best performance!"

"Since the founding of Mostar Zrinjski, this is the first time we’ve ever been this close to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Super League title!"

"You must remember, you are making history!"

Van Stiake’s words ignited a fire in the players’ hearts.

"I can’t predict tomorrow’s match, but I believe in you! Your hard work and training this season will not betray your expectations! The spirit of a champion will be injected into the DNA of Mostar Zrinjski for the very first time!"

"This is a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, barely worth a mention on the national stage!"

"But this time, with a single victory, you will make all of Bosnia and Herzegovina hear the voice of Mostar!"

Van Stiake clenched his fist and roared, "The championship belongs to Mostar!"

Their hearts pounding, the players roared as one:

"The championship belongs to Mostar!"

...

"We’re playing the Sarajevo Railway Workers tomorrow. It feels like they’re always the ones standing in our way for every crucial match!"

Stelk said, looking at Suk and Modric.

Then, with a hopeful look, he added, "I wonder if I’ll get a chance to play tomorrow!"

Stelk had already given up.

For him, being friends with Suk and Modric was, in a way, a rather disheartening experience.

He watched his two friends perform so brilliantly in matches while he was still on the bench, competing for a starting spot.

At first, he felt unwilling to accept it and tried to catch up, but as time went on, Stelk had long since resigned himself to it.

’I can’t catch them!’

’They’re just not in the same league as me.’

"You should get a chance in the second half. Our strategy is to gain an advantage quickly, and then we’ll most likely switch to a defensive posture. Even though Van Stiake is an aggressive young head coach, he’ll be more cautious with his lineup in a critical match like this."

"Right! I should have a chance!"

Hearing Suk’s analysis, Stelk looked full of anticipation.

"Everyone get a good night’s sleep after you go home tonight. Don’t let it affect tomorrow’s match!"

Kosopech walked over, casually placing his hands on Suk’s and Modric’s shoulders to remind them.

Suk turned his head and smiled. "Captain, get ready to score tomorrow. I’ll pass to you!"

Modric added seriously, "I’ll push harder in the first half, too!"

Seeing the two of them so full of fighting spirit, Kosopech felt extremely gratified.

The day before the match passed peacefully.

Everyone was making their final adjustments to be in peak condition for the game.

「The next morning.」

The usually quiet town had become bustling with activity.

Since early morning, vendors had been pushing their carts, flocking towards Jirinsky Stadium.

The town’s fans were also bringing various items needed for the match to the stadium.

Although the match didn’t start until 3 p.m., the tense atmosphere preceding the championship battle had already become palpable.

WHOOSH!

The broadcast van from Bosnia and Herzegovina Television sped down Mostar’s main road toward Jirinsky Stadium.

They needed to arrive at the stadium first to set up their camera positions, laying the groundwork for a better broadcast of the championship match.

Media reporters who had flocked from all over the country also appeared in Mostar Town, randomly selecting townspeople for interviews.

"The championship? Yes! We are the champions!"

A young man in a fisherman’s hat and a short-sleeved shirt proudly told the camera, "This is Mostar’s first championship. It touches everyone’s heart. We all believe Mostar Zrinjski will bring the title home to us!"

"The player I’m most excited to see is Suk! HAHAHA! Two seasons ago, we were teammates on a B-level Field!"

"That’s right! That’s right! The Mostar Wanderers! HAHAHAHA!"

"Who’s better now, me or Suk? Well, I’d love to say I’m pretty good too, but in reality, I’ve already given up football. Besides, the Suk of today is even more outstanding than he was back then."

Kovic grinned widely at the camera.

He took a business card from his pocket and thrust it in front of the lens.

"I’m a sailor. We’re heading out to sea to fish this June. Any bosses in need can contact me!"

...

「Inside Mulinar’s artisan shop.」

Oripé spoke seriously to the camera, "I was the one who discovered Suk. He almost had to give up his professional career because of his height. But when I saw him play back then, I knew he had talent!"

"He’s unparalleled! And now, he’s proven it!"

"On my team, he was the absolute core player!"

...

"Mostar Zrinjski was founded in 1905. In the early days, we competed in the Former Yugoslavia First League, but we were quickly relegated. Mostar Zrinjski is a club with no honors, but we are about to bestow upon her her first honor and championship title!"

The sports director, Kelly Vicmanzhi, faced the camera and said sternly, "This season, we are determined to win the championship and create a brand-new future for Mostar Zrinjski!"

...

「By noon.」

The May weather was still cool, but the sun was scorching.

The fans gathered around Jirinsky Stadium had opened up umbrellas. They had arrived early in the area to claim spots.

That’s right! To claim spots!

For this match, Mostar Zrinjski and the town government had announced that admission would be free.

Fans didn’t try to claim spots in the south stands, as this was the area the club had designated for students.

After some discussion, the schools in Mostar reached an agreement with the club, requesting 500 seats for students to watch the match.

Clearly, this was also a way to plant the seed of ’hometown pride’ in the students’ hearts.

After all, with young people all flocking to big cities and no one willing to return to build up their hometown, they were racking their brains for solutions to this awkward predicament.

Instilling a ’sense of hometown honor’ was clearly a good method.

And right now, Mostar had an excellent opportunity.

As it approached two o’clock, more and more fans gathered around Jirinsky Stadium.

Even the rooftops were packed, and many worried they might collapse under the pressure.

The standing terraces on the other three sides were also swarming with people.

The fans on the outer edges could hardly see the field; they were just there for the atmosphere.

"They’re here!"

"They’re here!"

"Let’s go!!"

"Warriors of Mostar!"

The team bus pulled up to the edge of the stadium. As the players disembarked one by one, the fans erupted in thunderous cheers.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!!

The applause was a continuous roar. As far as the eye could see, there was a sea of people.

This was the first time Jirinsky Stadium had ever welcomed a crowd of this size.

"Must be at least ten thousand people, right?"

Billiar said, looking thrilled.

This guy fed off the crowd’s energy; the more people, the more excited he got, and the more he wanted to show off. Of course, players like him also had another nickname: Mr. Big Game!

"Are those people having a picnic?"

Suk looked at a nearby earthen slope where families were sitting on picnic blankets one after another, as if on an outing, with food and drinks spread out.

But this was a unique feature of the small town; you wouldn’t find a scene like this at a professional stadium.

Suk and the others walked into the stadium under the leadership of Head Coach Van Stiake, met with applause all the way.

In the front seats of the south stands, Dinamo Zagreb’s Head Coach Be?i? and scout Atgeni were also seated together.

"Their opponent in the final is the Sarajevo Railway Workers. That team is considered a powerhouse in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In past matches, Mostar Zrinjski and the Sarajevo Railway Workers were evenly matched, but this season, Mostar Zrinjski has already defeated them twice in two rounds. This will be their final encounter of the season!"

Listening to Atgeni’s explanation, Be?i? nodded slightly. "I remember Bosschenoqi transferred to a team in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

"To the Sarajevo Railway Workers, exactly!" Atgeni said with a smile before shaking his head. "But his form has declined too severely!"

As a former member of the Croatian National Team Players, even as a substitute, Bosschenoqi was still an outstanding choice for center-back.

But after turning 30, his form went into a steep decline.

He struggled through two seasons with Zagreb Railway, but was ultimately unable to regain his form and chose to leave.

As Atgeni spoke, Be?i?’s eyes also turned toward the field.

To be precise, he was looking at his favorite student, Modric.

As Modric’s first coach, and the one who brought him into the professional scene, Be?i? had always considered Modric his proudest masterpiece.

And Modric’s performance in the Bosnia and Herzegovina League this season had been exceptional.

This left Be?i? feeling extremely satisfied.