HISTORY

It has been exactly 20 years ago, in a cafe, with real enthusiast and lover of basketball, in a far far land called Sydney Australia, when any talk of sport was mainly about rugby and football, an idea was formed and came to fruition, to start a basketball club.

This happened in the month of June 1990. The first Serbian Basketball Club was born in Australia, under the name of DELIJE. The name given to the staunch supporters of Red Star Belgrade (either in the soccer or basketball) Delije means brave, strong and even handsome young man.

The founder and director of KK Delije, Mr Misho Putica, who was also the first member and Coach of this young club. In last two decades countless trophies were won. Amongst those that were won

were: 25 first place around the Sydney Metro area and 18 other placings, 14 Draze Mihalovic Cups (2 Open Men, 2 Open Women, 8 Boys U18, 2 Girls U16) 3 times Champions in Alburn and 2nd Place in U16 Girls in Canberra. The responsible people for all these wins are the players themselves who grew through the club and later left and continued an amateur or professional career in other teams and other representative squads throughout the world.

It wasn’t easy for a enthusiastic and young trainer, Misho Putica, but he gathered and attracted the interest of young people and their parents to the basketball club. This small band of people, held the club morally as well as financially to become the first Serbian Club in Sydney Australia.

On the bases that the club was founded, the success of the teams in the first few years, was all due to the fact we always felt like family. Strong support, full trust and the name that brought all this together, DELIJE.

1990 – 1995

This was the most difficult period in the history of the club. A time when we struggled to get this started, as there was no money for the Gym hire, uniforms, balls and other items that were important for a club to have, because at that time, not much was said or known about “basketball”. With all the troubles the club has had, in February 1991, in Sydney, for the first time, a Serbian team began to compete in an official Championship league. KK Delije had two teams in the Men’s Divisions and one team in the women’s division.

The Club had 3 teams

Men’s 1st Team:

Miso Putica (igrac i trener ) Sipka Stefan, Konjevic Dejvid, Gaic Tomislav, Naprta Dragan, Nikola Miric, Dudukovic Jovo, Vuksic Zeljko i Todorevic Dragan

Men’s 2nd Team:

Dragan Zabic ,Zoran Skoric, Sasa Alavanja S.Tomson ,Milorad Komlenic, John Allins ,Vladimir Barac, MilanPapic, Petar Skoric & Coach Miso Putica

Women’s Team:

Dragana Ivanovic,Gordana Jokic ,Mirjana Vrankovic, Sandra Tepsa,Gorica Bubnjevic , Vesna Tepsa & Coach Miso Putica

In this time the first trophy was won for Delije. We won in the Auburn Comp and came second place in Bankstown after a loss in the Finals against the Old Boys 48 : 43, even though Delije was winning the first half with a result of 28 : 20. That Delije generation held onto its European style of play, charm and creativity. It was a team to be considered the Dream Team, it was then came into being, Delije a club of very talented players that earned respect as a representative of Serbian basketball in Sydney Australia.

1995 – 2000 In the second half of the decade Delije continued a series of successes. This was a time when we had to show that basketball was taking it’s spot right next to a very popular soccer. Through hard work and perserverance, Delije earned its reputation. In 1993, Delije travelled to Melbourne to the first ever Draze Mihajlovic Cup. We came to the finals but the White Eagles won with the help of a very well known Coach, D. Uzelac (he came from Zagreb where he coached, KK Ciboni, the younger teams)

The Girls came in second place with White Eagles being the winners in this instance

The Winners of the Cup over the next 3 to 4 years were mainly won by:

Milan Vrankovic , Nikola Miric ,Dragan Naprta ,Vanja Jokanovic , Minister Jankovic ,Oleg Koktovic

While for the women's team are Mirjana Vrankovic ,Jelena Ivan Novkovic ,Nadia Gulic Bojan, Milica Djurdjevic

In that period Delije received 12 trophies in the Bankstown Competition which represents a major success for Club which only just started to stand on its own two feet.

It should be noted that from this generation Milan Vrankovic’s career continued in England and after in Sweden. Nikola Miric went to the AIS (Australia Institute of Sport ) where he received an invitation for Under 18 year Men’s team in the Australian Squad. That year they won the World Series which being held in Greece and then won a scholarship in an American College.

2000-2005 A new Century, the First Olympics in Sydney Australia and a new generation of basketball players. 2000 has been a generation of loans made. There came some new kids who in the next 5 years with her youth and eagerness left a deep mark in the history of the club.

Names like Miljan Gligorevic, Bane Zekanovic, Sinisa Bukarica, Sanjina Jukica, Slavena Gulica, Aco Alavanja,Drazena Despota, Zarka Romica and then onto Petra

Omcikusa, Sase Milanka, Damjana Borovine, Luke Nikolica, Dejana Pajovica, Mirka Djerica, Dragana Devica, Stiva Markovica and Ace Opacica will always stay in the history of the Delije Basketball Academy.

Players who who ruled in those years and who have earned the club the next 28 trophies (15 in the Bankstown competition and three in Draza Mihajlovic Cup. Here we should not forget those young girls who have dominated the competition under 14’s, U16’s

and U18’s in which they won 10 more trophies.

Most responsible for the success’s of the time were Maja Peric, Tamara Djeric, Ana Sapina, Teodora Djuric, Sonja Golub, Milena Koprivica, John Bardak, Emilia Mrkela, Matilda Ratvanong, Jelena Kodori and Sanja Radmanovic.

As in every generation 4-5 very good players were produced who continued their career in other clubs around Australia and the world. Dejan Pajovic and Dragan Devic were taken into from Westfield Sport School (best known school of sport) and Luka Nikolic take representive team Bankstown association, Steve Markovic played in representative team in Bankstown and quickly after that was taken into the NBL Razorbacks and finally went to play for Red Star in Belgrade, that we should not forget the Aca Opacic which taken by Westfield Sports high school and was picked up by the AIS and then to America to play college basketball.

2005-2010 What to say about the forthcoming five-year period. Except that was a time of great change. In early 2005, the club changed its name to DELIJE BASKETBALL ACADEMY and thus satisfying one basic idea, the idea that the club has always built and stressed, and that is to teach young children to enjoy playing this wonderful game under the hoops. Next big change was club was the commitment of two young and ambitious coaches Milan Mesaroski and Fab Zenatti. After these changes, the club returned to what do what was best and that is to make young basketball players. As always working with a distinctive generation which has seen countless talented players and teams which won many new trophies and brought joy to myself and everyone at the club.

Among them have been Dalibora Novakovic, Dejana Boskovic, Milos Djukic who during competition were the most talented U18. Also, Emilija Jez, Jasmine Saltirov, Tamara Spoa, Sarah Wannous U16, Jarrod Tobin ,Radovan Tatomir, Nikola Pupovac, Vasilije Maric U16, Alexandra Putica, Chloe Tobin, Sabrina Zenatti, Rachel Arkley U14, Mitchell Rogers ,Jake Cairns, Dylan Davoodifar, Mahdi Akbar,Tomas Anaki, Nemanja Djukic, Dejan Stevic, Brane Gligorovic, Adrian Bogdanovski U14,

Marko Putica, Lazar Mesaroski, Evanda Tuala , Stefan Stijacic, Dushan Krsticevic , Giorgio Tzortzis, Miro Gligorevic, Kristian Caporale U12, Ashleigh Rogers, Megan Arkley, Siaan Mason, Tayla Saltirov, Sandra Spoa, Emilija Mesarovski, Tamara Stijacic, Milena Spoa U12, Luka Kaludjerovic , Stefan Cvetkovic, Matthew Jibrail, Stefan Kotevski, Raucheen Shamoon, Nikolas Jukic, Njegoslav Gligorovic, Aleksandar Tadic and Aleksandar Spoa U22.

Like previous generations, (and this is a record) 10-11 quality players came out of that. Dalibor Novakovic played for the NSW State which he then left to try playing in Serbia, Dejan Boskovic played for Youth League, although only 17 years old he too went and trailed to play for Serbia and Montenegro. Milos Djukic who was named MVP of U18 2008, 2009 (Most Valuable Player) has been accepted by Westfield Sports School with whom he was in America at the tournament of talented young players. Emilija Jez taken for NSW Metro Team, Jasmine Saltirov taken in Westfield sports schools, selected for the NSW State U16, she was the MVP in 2009. Alexandra Putica selected for the PSSA NSW State then along with Chole Tobin was selected to the NSW Metro Team. Brane Gligorović selected in the State NSW, Tayla Saltirov was chosen MVP of U12 2009, Njegoslav Gligorović was selected to go into the Youth League U / 22 then went to camp Dejan Bodiroga in Trebinje and staying to play in Serbia. Alexander Spoa was MVP in 2009 U / 18 who also was at the camp in Serbia with the intention to get himself a club.

One phenomenal generation that has produced a record number of representative (REP) 24 players to date, which has not been succeeded by any club in Sydney for the past 20 years. All in all they

have won 12 trophies in metropolitan competitions around Sydney and the Girls U / 16 earned 2nd position in the Canberra tournament.

This concludes this five-year period of DELIJE BASKETBALL ACADEMY. It celebrates 20 years of the first Serbian basketball club in Australia of which we can be very proud of the work and impact of the club and the desire to continue in the same way with the tracks we have imprinted already.

2010-2015 History is waiting to be written .........................................................................

Nothing nicer than when a new house is built on a sturdy foundation, and DELIJE had it.

The program with DELIJE Basketball Academy is designed to adapt to children of different ages and skills. With fun and play in a healthy safe environment so they can learn the basic rules of basketball. With the already recognisable red - white colour we are known wherever we go. We teach a style of the game that is respected everywhere in Sydney to both viewers and with other basketball coaches, the very kind of work that produces good results. This program includes the following top and representative players that have come from DELIJE

• MILAN VRANKOVIC - Went to England and then to Germany • STEV MARKOVIC -Westfield Sports High School , Razorbacks NBL , Australian

Representative, Red Star Belgrade • ALEXANDAR OPACIC - Wesfield Sports High School, Australian Institute of Sport, American

College • NIKOLA MIRIC - Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Representative U18,

American College, Townsville NBL • DRAGAN DEVIC - Wesfield Sports High School, Bankstown Reps U18 • LUKA NIKOLIC - Bankstown Reps U18 • MIRKO DJERIC - Wesfield Sports High School, Bankstown Reps U14, U16, U18 , State

NSW, Australian Representative • DEJAN BOSKOVIC -Sydney City Reps U18, Bankstown, Youth League • DAMIJAN BOROVINA – Representative U18 Penrith • DEJAN PAJOVIC - Wesfield Sports High School, Bankstown Reps U18 • DALIBOR NOVKOVIC – Representative U16 Paramatta, Bankstown Reps U18, MVP for NSW

State, Went to Serbia – Novi Sad • MAJA PERIC - Representative U18 Bankstown, went to Serbia • MILOS DJUKIC - Westfield Sports High School ,Representative U18 Bankstown, MVP

for NSW twice • NIKOLAS JUKIC - Sydney City Reps U18, NSW State • NJEGOSLAV GLIGOROVIC – Representative U18 Parramatta, Parramatta Youth League, went

to Serbia • JEANADRE VERMAAK - ST Augustines • ALEKSANDER SPOA - Representative U18 Bankstown, went to Serbia • STEFAN SANKOVIC - Representative U16 Bankstown • STEFAN KOTESKI - Representative U16 Bankstown • JARROD TOBIN - Representative U16 Bankstown, Kings School 1st’s team • THOMAS YUEN - Westfield Sports High School • MITCHELL ROGERS – Representative U14 Bankstown, MVP State Nationals, Representive

Glebe U16 • BRANE GLIGOROVIC – Representative U14 Hills, NSW PSSA • DYLAN DAVOODIFAR – Representative U 14 Alexandria Comets • ADRIJAN BOGDANOVSKI – Reprsentative U14 Bankstown Bruins

• DANIJEL UROSEVIC – Representative U14 Bankstown • DUSAN VUJINOVIC – Representative U14 Bankstown • RAMON CAO – Representative U12 Bankstown • PAUL CAO _ Representative U18 Bankstown • DEJAN UROSEVIC - Representative U18 St George • MARKO PUTICA - Representative U12 Bankstown • LAZAR MESAROSKI - Representative U12 Bankstown • NIKOLA OLIVERIC - Representative U12 Bankstown • GIORGIO TZORTZIS - Representative U12 Bankstown • ALEXANDRA PUTICA - Representative U14 Bankstown, CIS, NSW PSSA, NSW Metro • CHLOE TOBIN - Representative U14 Bankstown, NSW Metro • KALOTINA APOSTOLOPOULOS – Representative U14 Sutherland, Rep Nationals • ANA MACURA - Representative U14 Bankstown • SABRINA ZENATTI - Representative U14 Bankstown • NADINE WANNOUS - Representative U12 Bankstown, South West District • SAMANTHA JONES - Representative U12 Bankstown, South West District, Westfield

Sports High School • SARAH WANNOUS - Representative U14 Bankstown, South West District, NSW

Metro • EMILIJA JEZ - Representative U16 Bankstown,U18, South West District, NSW

Metro • TAMARA SPOA - Representative U16 North Sydney, NSW Metro • JASMINE SALTIROV - Representative U14 Bankstown, Westfield Sports High School,

NSW Metro, MVP Rep • ANGELINA PUPLIEVSKA - Representative U18 Bankstown • HANNA WANNOUS - Representative Parramatta U16 • RACHEL ARKLEY - Representative U14 Bankstown • ASHLEY ROGERS - Representative U12 Bankstown • MEGAN ARKLEY - Representative U12 Bankstown • SIAAN MASON - Representative U12 Bankstown • ISABELLA WHITCHER -Representative U/14 Bankstwon , TAP • EMMA RUTHERFORD - Representative U/14 Bankstwon , TAP • CHLOE BLOOM - Representative U/16 • JORDANA NICHOLSON - Representative U/16 • SANDRA SPOA - Representative U12 Bankstown • EMILIJA MESAROSKI - Representative U12 Bankstown • MILENA SPOA - Representative U12 Bankstown • TAYLA SALTIROV - Representative U12 Bankstown, MVP Representative • KEANU REED -Representative U16 Bankstown ,STATE NSW U/16 • ALEN NIKOLETIC - Representative U18 Bankstown • DEAN NIKOLETIC - Representative U/18 Ryde • ERROL MORGAN - Representative U18 Bankstown • AARON WABAN - Representative U16 U18 Bankstown, State NSW U/16

• KYLE QAUCH - Representative U16, U18 Bankstown