A turning point for Zvezda, and perhaps for football in Novi Bečej in general, came in 1939. Players who had once been children had now matured into young, competent footballers, whose skills far surpassed those of Jedinstvo players. Most of these footballers had come up through the youth clubs Zvezda and Banat, where they systematically honed their football abilities without guidance from older players.
Banat is mentioned intentionally, as several of its former players—Branko Juanin, Vlađiša Kiprović, Sredoje Baračkov, Ištvan Berta, and Eči Janković—became regular starters for Zvezda.
In 1939, Zvezda joined the Football Association of Yugoslavia and played its first official league matches—the first in Novi Bečej since 1934, when Jedinstvo lost to ŽAK and Sloga from Velika Kikinda. Although the results did not yet fully reflect the team’s skill, Zvezda’s style of play was attractive, even in matches they lost. For a long time, Novi Bečej had lacked a reliable goalkeeper, and beautiful play often ended in defeat. Nonetheless, in 1939, Zvezda defeated Građanski from Stari Bečej (1:0), Kosovo from Kikinda (4:2), and Delija from Mokrin (5:3).
The results of 1939 and 1940 clearly demonstrated the progress of football in Novi Bečej. Public interest grew with every match, although the club’s financial situation remained modest: players were unpaid, there was no coach or caretaker, and the pitch was unfenced. Match revenues barely covered expenses, and some spectators entered without paying.
During 1939–1940, Zvezda played more matches than in previous years: 16 in 1939 and 19 in 1940. The club represented a significant improvement over the performances of Jedinstvo in previous seasons, yet official league standings still showed limited advancement. In 1939, Zvezda ranked below the Kikinda clubs and Delija from Mokrin but above the teams that Novi Bečej traditionally outperformed.
Zvezda’s play was tactical and technically polished, but results often suffered due to inexperience and insufficient physical and mental preparation. Seasons were short due to pitch flooding, and spring matches were often played without proper preparation. Points lost in these matches were difficult to recover in the autumn, especially with a schedule heavy in away games.
In the autumn 1940 season, Zvezda performed better, finishing second ahead of Delija from Mokrin. Despite the high placement, they ended with a negative goal difference, losing their final match in Kikinda to Kosovo 2:11. Zvezda started that game strong, even leading twice in the first half, but a weak goalkeeper led to a devastating defeat. Still, the team had every chance to win the league in the 1940/41 season, which was cut short by World War II.
The achievements of these pre-war years reflected the dedication of players who had trained persistently since childhood. Their success was driven by their own initiative, without adult guidance, raising the question of how much further they could have progressed with a professional coach.
One of Zvezda’s founders and most promising players was Stanimir, known for his humility and dedication. He trained in his family yard in Vranjevo, where Zvezda was founded. Calm and quiet off the field, Stanimir was equally disciplined and selfless on the field, playing halfback or center-half, controlling the midfield with intelligence and persistence. He was fair, hardworking, and resilient, enduring injuries without complaint. Tragically, Stanimir passed away at the age of twenty, cutting short a bright footballing future for Novi Bečej.
The Zvezda team that lost 0:2 to Delija from Mokrin was as follows:
Standing (left to right): Branislav Krstonošić, Đoka Vratan, Karči Burunka, Dušan Vlajovanov, Bogdan Boškov, Stevan Mojić, Bora Zavišić, Ivan Garčev, Bora Kovačev, Vladimir Kiprović
Crouching: Eči Janković, Miša Glavaški, Stevan Jovčić, Unknown, Ištvan Berta
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