The football club Zvezda began its activities in the summer of 1942, but with very modest results. In its first match, the team narrowly defeated the weak side Turul by 2–1. However, already in the second game, Zvezda suffered a devastating defeat at home in Novi Bečej, losing 1–8 to Banat from Dragutinovo (today Novo Miloševo).
This loss came as a major shock, as a victory for Zvezda had been widely expected. Banat played a highly organized and combinational style of football, completely dominating the match, while Zvezda remained in a subordinate role throughout. The heavy defeat was fully deserved, and disappointed supporters expressed their dissatisfaction by whistling at their own players.
After the match, the atmosphere was so gloomy that the continuation of the club’s activities was seriously questioned. It almost became Zvezda’s final appearance. Nevertheless, perseverance has always been a defining trait of athletes, and within the club there were individuals who, at that critical moment, doubled their efforts to build a team capable of competing successfully even against stronger opponents.
Still, it was impossible to create a competitive team overnight from the existing squad. Although many in Novi Bečej believed the crisis would be resolved within a month and that a solid team had been formed, reality proved otherwise.
At the end of the 1942 season, in October, Zvezda played its second match against Turul. Entering the game as favorites, Zvezda’s players started confidently, but Turul quickly punished this attitude with their determination and fighting spirit. Zvezda suffered another defeat, this time 0–4.
Consolidation and Team Strengthening (1943)
Following these setbacks, the winter break proved extremely beneficial. Thanks to this pause, the club’s work in 1943 was approached far more seriously, both by the management and the players.
The club leadership realized that better results could not be expected with the existing squad and that reinforcements were necessary. That year, Branko Petrović joined Zvezda — a pre-war youth player of FK Vojvodina from Novi Sad, an excellent technician with a powerful shot, known for his calm and modest character. In addition, Božidar Sandić and Džata Erdeljan regularly came from Kikinda to play matches.
The players themselves understood that a place in the first team had to be earned through dedication and performance in training.
These measures brought results relatively quickly. Although Zvezda lost its first matches in 1943, those defeats came against stronger opponents. Within a month or two, however, even those teams were no longer able to match the increasingly confident and well-organized Zvezda.
Besides matches against clubs from Kuman, Melenci, Dragutinovo, Mokrin, and Ruski Krstur, top clubs from Belgrade began to visit Novi Bečej more frequently. These included SK 1913 (Jugoslavija), BSK, Obilić, Vitez, Jedinstvo, and the Belgrade Representative Team.
Matches in Novi Bečej gradually became true showcases of football strength — primarily among Banat clubs, but also featuring the best teams from Belgrade. As a result, these games attracted large crowds, not only from Novi Bečej but also from surrounding towns. It was rare for a match to be attended by fewer than one thousand spectators.
Memorable Matches and Historic Achievements
Among all visiting teams, Obilić from Belgrade left a particularly strong impression. Two friendly matches were played on June 13 and 14, 1943, both won by Obilić with scores of 6–3 and 3–2.
That year, Obilić was one of the strongest clubs in Belgrade, finishing third in the championship, behind BSK and SK Jugoslavija. The team was well-balanced and highly coordinated, with outstanding attacking players such as Tubić, Pandurov, and Putnik.
Obilić was also the first club from Belgrade to visit occupied Novi Bečej, which is why their arrival attracted special attention. The players justified this attention not only through their football skills but also through their exemplary behavior on and off the pitch. Although Zvezda later hosted even stronger teams, Obilić remained deeply remembered and respected by the people of Novi Bečej.
Equally significant were the matches against Obilić from Kuman, always regarded as derbies between the two strongest teams in Banat. Regardless of the venue, the visiting team was always supported by at least one-third of the spectators.
During the war years, Zvezda and Obilić from Kuman played nine matches against each other, either in Novi Bečej or in Kuman.
The Greatest Victory – SK 1913 (Jugoslavija)
The greatest success achieved by a football club from Novi Bečej up to that time was the victory over SK 1913 (Jugoslavija) from Belgrade, on August 28, 1943, in Novi Bečej, with a score of 5–3.
The match was watched by more than 3,000 spectators, marking the highest attendance ever recorded at a football match in Novi Bečej.
Goals for Zvezda were scored by Ostojić (2), Pandurov, Novakov, and Petrović, while goals for SK 1913 were netted by Sandić, Đajić, and Stanković.
The following day, SK 1913 took revenge with a 3–0 victory, but the historic importance of Zvezda’s triumph remained undiminished.
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