The audience that attended swimming and water polo competitions when they were held on the Tisa River was mostly from the central part of the town and the riverside area, that is, from Novi Bečej itself. For the residents of Vranjevo, however, this location was quite distant, as they usually swam “by the town” and around the island.
When the club’s activities were moved to the “Banja” site, water polo began to attract young men from Vranjevo (the other part of Novi Bečej) to start training, while their families, friends, and neighbors increasingly attended matches as spectators.
After Milivoj Marić left Novi Bečej, the club appointed Ivan Jagodić-Krampi, a well-known swimmer and water polo player from Proleter Zrenjanin, who had ended his active playing career, as head coach. He brought a new level of seriousness, ambition, and discipline to training sessions. He insisted that everything in practice— including shooting at goal—be performed from various positions and situations, something that had not been seen in Novi Bečej until then.
He also strongly emphasized participation and mass involvement, so alongside the first team, many younger players joined the system: Ivan Kovačev, Pavle Sauer, Sava Petraškov, Slobodan Terzić, Rada Spasenovski, Slobodan Bošnjak, Svetozar Džigurski, Ivan Glavaški, Milan Nešić, and others.
The biggest problem for hosting matches at the “Banja” facility was the lack of proper rooms for changing and accommodating home and visiting teams, referees, and officials. This was solved by setting up tents that were assembled shortly before each match.
That year, the competition was organized as the Serbian championship divided into league tiers, and Jedinstvo competed in the Second Republican Water Polo League, alongside Student from Belgrade, Radnički from Kovin, and Proleter Zrenjanin.
At the tournament in Zrenjanin, held at “Brankovan,” Jedinstvo achieved a historic victory over Proleter, winning 5:3 for the first time in its history. The most satisfied were coach Jagodić and player Petar Fa, who had come from Proleter because he had not secured a place in their squad. He proudly claimed that he had moved to a better club and that even if he were offered a salary, he would not return to Proleter.
The second tournament was held in Novi Bečej, where Jedinstvo defeated all opponents and secured first place in the Second Republican League of Serbia, ranking fifth overall in Serbia.
Unfortunately, at the end of the season, coach Jagodić left both the club and water polo altogether, dedicating himself to a professional acting career.
Water Polo Players of Jedinstvo at Banja, 1960
From left: Milorad Berbakov (captain), Zlatoje Marić, Petar Fa, Živorad Berbakov, Milorad Kiselički, Vladimir Davidović, Miroljub Matić
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