Rogaška is fighting for a license, and Nino Ivačič is critical of local businessmen: “The joint contribution does not even allow the purchase of 15 sandwiches”

Published on 6. May 2024 6. May 2024

Photo: Danilo Vezjak

Rogaška is facing a problem. And a big one. The Slovenian Football Association (NZS) did not grant them a license for the 2024/25 season at the first stage, but the black-and-whites still have time to rectify what wasn’t right. Nino Ivačič, the club’s sports director, expressed his belief days ago that Rogaška will still get the license, which they would probably find easier to obtain if they also had the support of the local business community. Nino Ivačič says he is very dissatisfied with this aspect.

“The club can be satisfied primarily with the help of the municipality, especially the mayor, who took on a considerable burden when it was necessary to meet certain infrastructure standards in record time so that we can watch the top league in Rogaška Slatina this season. Miracles are hard to repeat, so in the absence of meeting the infrastructure standards for the next season, we cannot point fingers at the municipality in this situation, but we must be realistic and understanding,” Nino Ivačič told Stadion.si website.

The club official, who won the 2nd SNL last year, was also highly critical: “The time has certainly come for our city to ask itself whether we want to have football at this level or not. If we do, we will have to provide millions of euros to ensure quality training conditions for the first team, especially for all the children who are increasingly joining our club – the number is approaching 200. If we do not want or cannot afford this, it is right that someone speaks out loud, especially to those who invest their time, money, and energy into the club. Knowledge, effort, enthusiasm, and success must be followed primarily from an infrastructural point of view, but we have not yet decided in our town what our priorities are.”

Nino Ivačič: “Unfortunately, not all conditions are met”

Much sharper tones followed when local business was mentioned. “Another story is the local business community, which has failed miserably. We have companies that are leading players in Slovenia and beyond in their field, they can be found on the list of top managers, the wealthiest Slovenes, the most influential people in the country, but their joint contribution does not even allow the purchase of 15 sandwiches for our youngest footballers. Some smaller entrepreneurs support the club, but these are mainly individuals who are directly connected to the club in various ways,” Nino Ivačič elaborated for Stadion.si.

The sports director of the black and whites concluded: “We are also saddened by the fact that the local community, as well as the local economy or tourism, do not recognize the potential of sports tourism. Rogaška Slatina has a long tourist tradition, accommodation capacities, top-notch healthcare offerings, but lacks training facilities, especially football fields with natural grass and a central multi-purpose sports hall, which would enable the flourishing of sports tourism, which is on the rise worldwide. There is enormous demand for the destination, but unfortunately, not all conditions are met that would attract foreign millions to our town. However, we are not lacking much, and this could be an opportunity for our town, tourism, and economy, as well as for sports in our area.”