Cleveland SC Set to Participate in 66th Annual St. Sava Soccer Tournament
- Cleveland SC
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Gianluca DiGiacomo
CLEVELAND, OH – This coming Memorial Day Weekend, Cleveland SC will once again be participating in the annual St. Sava tournament at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church for a weekend of action from one of the most historic grounds Cleveland has to offer in Broadview Heights.
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and SSK Karadjordje will be hosting the 66th annual Memorial Weekend tournament featuring a host of divisions and age groups, including 13 teams in the Men’s Open Division which Cleveland SC is set to be competing in. There are teams set to be traveling from places like Windsor, Milwaukee, and Chicago to compete for the two-day showcase.
A tournament like this not only represents another competition Cleveland SC are hopefully looking to take some hardware from, but a great representation of the rich culture of Cleveland from a group that has built such a tremendous community from the ground up.
After being founded in 1959, SSK Karadjordje was a hotspot for many immigrants coming from Serbia, and within the next two decades, the community was thriving with the club and St. Sava, and have established this weekend as a great landing spot for anyone looking to explore Serbian culture and the Cleveland Soccer scene. For many involved, it is so much more than just a tournament.
“Being a part of this incredible community means everything to me. It's where I grew up, and where my children will grow up as well…I've spent countless days and hours on those grounds, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life,” remarked former Assistant Coach Marko Gvozdenovic. “I realized that many of these players' fathers and grandfathers had coached me or had a huge influence on me when I was younger. The cycle is continuing, and one day, those players may even coach my own children. It’s a true testament to the lasting impact and importance of this community for so many people.”
Taking a deeper look in the local Serbian community can open the door for so many inspiring stories, making weekends like these so much more meaningful than what meets the eye.
“To me this is everything. My maternal grandfather was a prisoner of war during World War II and came to America from present-day Serbia after the war. He immediately became part of the Serbian community here in Cleveland, and for this I will forever be in his debt,” said Aleksandar Rakic, another dedicated member of the community. “A community such as ours is amazing because it allows future generations to keep that connection to Serbia through things like this.”
The tournament has showcased legendary talent such as former New York Red Bulls player Sinisa Ubiparipovic, former Cleveland Crunch legends Hector Marinaro, Zoran Karic, and Nikola Ristic, and current Cleveland soccer stars like Boban Cancar and Admir Suljevic.
“Our church grounds are something spectacular and we take great pride in it…the early ancestors who left former Yugoslavia built everything,” remarked former Cleveland SC captain Boban Cancar, who now serves on the board of the host club. Cancar recalls the church grounds being a massive part of his upbringing that still holds up to this day. “I remember growing up and I would be up there while my dad was at practice…we would call it our home and it still feels like that.”
The tournament is set with two fields for the senior levels and three fields for the expanding youth divisions, with action all day into late nights on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend will also have Serbian music, dancing, and delicious food including fire roasted pig and lamb, cevapi, kebabs, and a variety of baked specialties for sale.
Cleveland SC will be competing on Field 2 on Saturday, May 24th, at the following times:
9:00 a.m. vs. FK Zlatibor
3:00 p.m. vs. Sambadjordje
5:00 p.m. vs. USSC Milwaukee
The knockout round and finals will take place on Sunday, May 25th.
ADDRESS
2151 W Wallings Road
Broadview Heights, OH 44147
So join the fun and stop by to watch some exciting action and immerse yourself in one of Cleveland’s cultural staples this Saturday and Sunday with just over a week before the home opener!
View some more photos from over the years provided by St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and SSK Karadjordje
