Government and Croatian Football Federation sign land donation agreement

(Hina) - The Croatian government and the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) on Monday signed a land donation agreement for the construction of a national football camp in Velika Gorica, just south of Zagreb.

The plot measures about 92,000 square metres in area and is worth €4.2 million. The HNS has requested a land donation to build four football pitches and a multi-function sports hall with accommodation and catering facilities. The HNS is required to complete the project in five years' time.

The donation agreement was signed at the Garden Hill Hotel in Velika Gorica by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, Branko Bačić, and HNS President Marijan Kustić.

The signing ceremony was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Minister of Tourism and Sport Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Šime Erlić, and national football team coach Zlatko Dalić. 

"This camp will be a base. The Croatian national football team, especially this generation led by Luka Modrić, has brought so much happiness and satisfaction to the Croatian people. When I speak to my counterparts, prime ministers and presidents, they cannot stop admiring Croatia's football successes," Plenković said, noting that the football camp would be used for other sports as well.

Plenković said that the project would be implemented in cooperation with UEFA and FIFA. "These large federations have decided to support the construction of sports infrastructure in Croatia. In particular, I would like to thank Zvonimir Boban and Aleksandar Čeferin, who are partners and friends of the HNS. The funding will make it possible for today's footballers, as well as for future generations, to work in much better conditions, to which many of our footballers are used in Europe," the prime minister said.

He pointed out the excellent location of the future camp -- near the airport and the Zagreb bypass, and added that investment in the reconstruction of sports infrastructure would continue, starting with Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb and Poljud Stadium in Split.

Kustić said that the HNS had been longing for a football camp for 20 years. "This is a special moment, and we deserved it with out results. This camp will be a good legacy after this generation."

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