The development and continuity of swimming and water polo in Novi Bečej were carried by several distinct generations:
FIRST GENERATION (1934–1939)
Founders, leaders, organizers: Oto Kinezl, Imre Kelemen, the Sauer brothers
Qualified coach: Herman Bergl
Competitors: O. Kinezl, I. Kelemen, T. Flajhbart, K. Kelemen, I. Veljača, B. Hafne, P. Sauer, J. Sauer, I. Senci, B. Janković, S. Kiurski, Š. Krstić, V. Bojić, I. Šafranj, R. Šafranj, S. Malešev, M. Gulović.
SECOND GENERATION (1939–1944)
Founders, leaders, organizers: Stevan Kiurski, Branislav Kiselički, Imre Farkaš, Rada “Bakar” Aćimčev
Coaches: Herman Bergl, Stevan Kiurski
Competitors: Bergl, X. Brikner, Đ. Vukov, K. Gulović, R. Ivanić, D. Ivanić, S. Kiurski, B. Kiselički, I. Farkaš, B. Hafner, V. Nićin, P. Džigurski.
THIRD GENERATION (1939–1944)
Leadership: Same as the previous generation
Coach: Stevan Kiurski
Competitors: A. Marčić, M. Nićin, Z. Tolmačev, D. Cvejin, F. Rigo, M. Rackovan, B. Padežanin, S. Janković, R. Miloradović, B. Miloradović, I. Janković, Ž. Simić, B. Kiselički, A. Berbakov, O. Marticki, J. Padežanin, N. Ćeremov, B. Boberić, N. Aracki, M. Glumac, M. Stajić, D. Nešović, A. Bukinac, J. Bukinac, O. Tolmačev, V. Nikolić, Ž. Boškov, A. Janković, B. Kečkeš, as well as youngsters: B. Vojnov, Žarin brothers, Simić brothers, Đ. Marić, A. Cuka, S. Ivanić, the Miloradović brothers, and others.
FOURTH GENERATION (1948–1957)
Founders, leaders, organizers: R. Ivanić, M. Nešić, I. Jovanović
Coaches: R. Ivanić, S. Ivanić, T. Acković, I. Jagodić
Competitors: R. Ivanić, A. Marčić, Z. Tolmačev, B. Kiselički, A. Šari, B. Vojnov, V. Davidović, M. Marić, S. Tašin, S. Ivanić, D. Novikov, D. Perović, M. Berbakov, M. Gurjanov, P. Merkulov, M. Jakšić, B. Miloradović, K. Štaud, T. Acković, M. Števkić, B. Beljuc, N. Vukčević, S. Lazarević, V. Stanbolić, D. Stanbolić, and others.
The “Manager Era” (1954–1961)
After 1954, systematic and professional work ceased. This period, later known as the “Manager Era”, lacked sporting justification but had social value: it kept local youth gathering on the Tisa, preserving the tradition of swimming and water polo.
The person most responsible for sustaining this phase was M. Berbakov.
Relocation to the “Banja” and Its Consequences
After 1959, due to technical reasons, water polo was moved from the Tisa to the “Banja.” Swimming did not survive the move—there was no interest, no audience, and the area itself was unappealing.
This proved to be a fatal mistake. The Banja served more as an informal dumping site than a sporting environment. With no swimmers, no spectators, and no natural community around it, the sport lost its foundation for future generations.
FIFTH GENERATION (1958–1963)
Leaders, organizers: V. Davidović, D. Tikvić, B. Ćurčić
Coaches: I. Jagodić, S. Ivanić, T. Acković
Competitors: S. Ivanić, Ž. Berbakov, M. Kiselički, V. Davidović, P. Sauer, I. Kovačević, Z. Marić, M. Matić, P. Fa, I. Glavaški, Bata, Bođul, Karči.
The Peak and the Collapse
This generation achieved the greatest rise in the history of Novi Bečej water polo, reaching the very top of the Republic League and contending for entry into the Second Federal League.
However, after 1963, professional and systematic work stopped completely. The best players either left the sport or moved to other clubs:
- Z. Marić, M. Kiselički, Ž. Berbakov → “Odred” Kikinda
- P. Sauer → “Mornar” Novi Sad
- I. Glavaški → “Partizan” Belgrade
- P. Fa → “Proleter” Zrenjanin
“Odred” became the champion of Serbia in 1964 and entered the Second Federal League in 1967, largely thanks to Ž. Berbakov, the top scorer of the qualifying tournament.
The Selector Era (1963–1991)
With the decline of true enthusiasts, a “selector-style” system emerged. Twice a year, former players assembled a team solely to register for competition.
Many young players who finished water polo schools in major Yugoslav clubs had no future in their home clubs, and Novi Bečej became a temporary refuge for them.
Although unsustainable, this approach kept water polo alive until 1991.
The main figure in this period was Z. Marić.
Braša Ivanić and the Last Revival Attempt (1977)
After returning from France in 1976, Braša Ivanić, full of passion and expertise, gathered a new generation of children under the large poplar tree by the Tisa.
He introduced dry-land training, organized monthly sessions in pools in Bečej and Belgrade, and in the summer of 1977 built the fifth floating pool on the Tisa, this time made of steel.
Despite ideal conditions for that time, the revival lasted only a few years due to a lack of community support.
Only “Braša’s Generation” remained:
Srđan Mašić, Dušan Rakić, Ilija Kovačev, Nebojša Vlaškalić, Miša Vrebalov, Jager Stevan, Mamula Zoran, Dragan Jovanović, Hajdu Karči, Smilja Dobožanov, Cica Dragić.
This was the last generation that practiced swimming; afterward, only water polo survived.
Social and Political Context — Reasons for Decline
After WWII, the political elite in Novi Bečej consisted mostly of people who were not native to the town and did not share the traditional affection for the Tisa or water sports.
Sports policy favored disciplines popular among the working class, which enjoyed political priority.
Swimming and water polo — traditionally practiced by students and school youth — were therefore considered secondary.
An often-retold anecdote illustrates this mentality:
“Ivanić feeds his swimmers chocolate while the workers’ youth have no bread.”
Meanwhile, football players dined with aperitifs and spritzers in the “Jadran” restaurant — tolerated because football was the top-priority sport.
With such attitudes, Novi Bečej could not influence broader sports standards of the country. The community remained conservative, resistant to change, and dismissive of enthusiasts.
Why No Swimming Pool Was Built After the War?
Because the community simply did not support it.
Even though the DTD canal and the Tisa dam significantly improved conditions, no major development followed. The general indifference toward water sports continued.
The Final Decline (1958–1991)
- Swimming disappeared after 1958
- Water polo began declining after 1963
- All activities ended in 1991
In that time, Yugoslavia became a global water polo power, while Novi Bečej stagnated.
Historical Significance of Novi Bečej Water Sports
In the era of amateur and seasonal sports, Novi Bečej was among the pioneers of swimming and water polo in Vojvodina and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Out of 25 river/canal lakeside towns, only six practiced these sports — Novi Bečej proudly among them.
Popularity peaked during the occupation, when water polo was second only to football.
Living Memories
Two testimonies illustrate the cultural impact of these sports:
- The mother of librarian Verica Dacić said:
- “I remember you. You were a great swimmer.”
- Painter Janoš “Janči” Mesaroš said on TV Belgrade:
- “That was a time when people in Novi Bečej swam the butterfly.”
Comparative Example: Kikinda
Kikinda founded its swimming club in 1951 — twenty years after Novi Bečej — yet:
- 1964 — champion of Serbia
- 1967 — entry into the Second Federal League
- 1985 — one step from the First Federal League
This success was enabled by strong community support and the construction of both outdoor and indoor Olympic pools.
Novi Bečej significantly contributed to these achievements through its own players: Ž. Berbakov, M. Kiselički, Z. Marić.
The Contribution of S. Ivanić
Before leading “Jedinstvo” to high competitive levels, S. Ivanić had already achieved notable success:
- 1949 — worked with Novi Bečej swimmers and water polo players
- 1954 — silver medal in swimming and gold in water polo at the JRM Championship
- 1955–1958 — player and coach in “Bečej”
- 1959–1960 — coach of “Neptun” Celje; trained Danijel Vrhovšek, youth champion of Yugoslavia in 100 m backstroke and later a two-time Olympian
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