The first ever Dinamo Zagreb Youth Camp in Australia was held this week at St Albans Dinamo’s Churchill Reserve in western Melbourne.
More than 130 young footballers were put through their paces by five visiting Dinamo Zagreb Academy coaches, as well as two local Australian Croatian junior coaches.
All holding professional UEFA coaching badges and combining many years of experience with one of Europe’s highest renowned youth footballing academies, the Dinamo quintet included Borut Babanić, Šimun Čičmak, Boban Đerić, Hrvoje Jukić and Bruno Franjić.
They were assisted both with regards to logistics as well as stepping in to translate where necessary by highly credentialled Australian Croatian coaches, former Dandenong City Hajduk Junior Technical Director Ljuban Palinić and current North Geelong Warriors’ Junior Technical Director, Ivan Jurinović.
Travelling with the Croatian entourage is the Dinamo Zagreb Liaison officer for the Croatian Diaspora, Ivan Novosel, who is better known as one of the members of the famous Croatian band Zaprešić Boys.
Novosel was a key player behind the initiative to bring the internationally acclaimed Dinamo Academy Down Under.
“Yes, it was my idea. However, one thing is to have an idea but to have people who will make that idea come true, that’s the most important thing,” admitted Novosel candidly.
“During my two tours here with my band Zaprešić Boys back in 2018 and then again in 2023, I felt that love for Croatia and that love for football, as well as the two Dinamos (Zagreb and St Albans) right here where we are standing today,” he said.
Connecting the Diaspora to the Domovina
Novosel arrived at an idea to bring the two Croatian football clubs closer together through the form of a youth academy.
“When I presented this idea to Ilija, Stjepan and John, they liked the idea and helped me to bring it to fruition,” he revealed.
The trio he is referring to includes St Albans president Ilija Dragičević, vice-president John Bilos, and Head of Women’s and Junior Football at St Albans Dinamo, Stjepan Gal.
“Of course, without the support of Dinamo Zagreb, it would not have been possible at all.
But in the end, we succeeded and we have brought one of the top European academies here to the Croatian community in Australia.
Novosel, who is set to step up on stage in an impromptu performance with cult Melbourne Croatian cover band Major Minor at St Albans Dinamo’s 50th Gala Ball on Saturday, excitedly revealed that this year’s inaugural Dinamo Zagreb camp is just the start of something bigger.
“I would like to think that this is the first, but certainly won’t be the last Dinamo Zagreb camp to be held in Australia,” said Novosel openly.
“Let’s talk again after Friday (the last day). But if everyone ends up being satisfied – and I’m sure they will be – then the sky is the limit,” he added.
“Who knows, maybe next year we will be back in Melbourne again. Or maybe we will be in another city, like Sydney or something like that,” concluded Dinamo Zagreb’s liaison officer, who is doing an enormous job in bringing the Homeland and the Diaspora closer together.
