Swimming was becoming increasingly popular in Vojvodina during the early 1950s. In 1953 alone, as many as 43 clubs were registered, including Swimming Club Jedinstvo from Novi Bečej, listed under number 23.
As part of preparations for the Zrenjanin Swimming Sub-Association Championship, swimmers and water polo players from Novi Bečej traveled to Senta in early July 1953 for a friendly competition. At the time, Senta had the only “large” swimming pool in Vojvodina, measuring 33.33 by 16 meters, filled with its characteristic “lukewarm yellow water.”
The journey itself was an adventure. The team traveled along the Tisa River on a small tugboat named “Grgeč,” which towed a large barge. Around fifteen swimmers and water polo players were on board, including several boys from the swimming school, aged between 11 and 13.
One participant vividly recalled the incident:
“I remember the ‘Grgeč’ and the barge moving upstream along the left bank of the Tisa. As we approached Senta, coach Radomir ‘Braša’ Ivanić told us to get dressed as we were about to dock. While everyone was getting ready, I was at the back of the barge, trying to put on my sneakers. At that moment, the cable connecting the barge to the tug first loosened and then suddenly tightened. The jolt threw me straight into the river.”
What started as an unfortunate accident quickly turned into a serious situation.
“While most of the others laughed at my mishap, my tracksuit quickly soaked up water, and soon only my nose and ears were above the surface. Luckily, coach Ivanić hadn’t gotten dressed yet. Realizing the situation could turn from funny to dangerous, he jumped into the water and helped me reach the shore. Everything ended well—except my socks, which stayed in the Tisa.”
Competition Results and the First Major Away Trip
At the competition, swimmers from Senta dominated most disciplines. However, Novi Bečej celebrated one victory—Sava Ivanić won the 100-meter butterfly race. After the swimming events, a water polo match was played, with Senta winning convincingly 9:1. Still, goalkeeper Sava Ivanić managed to save a penalty, preventing an even heavier defeat.
The trip lasted from early morning until late afternoon on the way to Senta, while the return journey downstream was significantly faster. The team arrived back in Novi Bečej shortly after midnight. The evening voyage was made even more memorable by swarms of Tisa mosquitoes, whose bites lingered for days. Despite everything, this trip remained etched in memory as the team’s first great and unforgettable away experience.
Competing Again Under the Name Jedinstvo
Just a week later, the swimmers from Novi Bečej competed again in Senta, this time at the Subotica Swimming Sub-Association Championship. Seven clubs took part. Senta won first place with 197 points, followed by Spartak from Subotica and Jedinstvo from Bačko Petrovo Selo. The team from Novi Bečej, along with clubs from Čantavir, Feketić, and Moravica, did not score any points.
That same year brought changes within the Zrenjanin Sub-Association. Dinamo from Pančevo and Radnički from Kovin did not participate, while Tehnika from Novi Kneževac joined instead. In Zrenjanin, Proleter II and Kristal merged, while the Novi Bečej team once again competed as a section of the Sports Society Jedinstvo.
New talents also emerged in the squad: Vladimir Davidović – Nјora (backstroke), Milorad Miša Berbakov (freestyle, the first from Novi Bečej to swim 400 meters freestyle), Ivan Ivica Popov (breaststroke), and Karlo Karči Štaud (butterfly).
Rise in Water Polo
Although Jedinstvo still lagged behind teams like Kristal and Radnički in swimming, they achieved notable success in water polo. They defeated Radnički from Kikinda and Tehnika from Novi Kneževac but lost to Kristal.
Match results:
- Jedinstvo – Kristal 3:5
- Radnički – Jedinstvo 3:6
- Jedinstvo – Tehnika 6:1
Final standings (1953):
- Kristal – 6 points
- Jedinstvo – 4 points
- Radnički – 2 points
- Tehnika – 0 points
By finishing first, Kristal from Zrenjanin qualified for the playoffs for the Serbian Water Polo League.
Champions of the Sub-Association
The Zrenjanin Sub-Association Swimming Championship was held in August 1953 in front of more than 500 spectators. Jedinstvo swimmers defeated the home team Radnički 60:52.
Shortly after, they also beat Kristal in Novi Bečej with a score of 62:55. Although they lost the return match in Zrenjanin 68:43, their overall performance secured them first place and the title of sub-association champions.
An Unforgettable Journey to Zrenjanin
As part of preparations for the regional championship, a friendly match against Proleter II was organized in mid-July in Zrenjanin. However, the journey itself became just as memorable as the competition.
The team traveled in an open truck—a Russian ZIS—chosen as a cheaper alternative to the train. The route led through Bašaid, Melenci, and Elemir, along rough roads and dirt tracks. The truck had to stop frequently so the engine could cool down with water from canisters.
Trouble escalated when a rear inner tire burst. With no spare available, an improvised solution was found—a blanket was used instead. Thanks to this creative fix, the journey continued, but the “tire” held only until the entrance to Zrenjanin.
“The truck kept moving forward, but also bounced up and down as if doing squats.”
Despite everything, the competition at the “Brankovan” pool in Zrenjanin was held, albeit with a delay. Meanwhile, the driver managed to find and replace the tire and refill the water canisters, ensuring a safe return to Novi Bečej.
Jedinstvo Water Polo Team 1953/54 (from right to left):
A. Marčić, M. Berbakov, M. Marić, R. Ivanić, V. Davidović, M. Gurjanov, M. Jakšić
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