“This year Cementarnica is relegated to the Third League, for the first time in it’s 56-years-long history… My love for Cementarnica 55 Skopje started in 2003, when the club faced Katowice in UEFA Cup…”
The article you are about to read was sent to MacedonianFootball.com by a Polish fan of Cementarnica 55, Cezary Namirski.
“My love for Cementarnica 55 Skopje started in 2003, when the club from Kisela Voda faced Dospel Katowice in UEFA Cup – great spirit of Macedonian team and success achieved despite disproportion of potential and budget of both teams were truly heroic. Since then I’m a loyal supporter of Cementarnica, a club which brought so much happiness to my life, becoming it’s very important part. Every year since 2005 I travel by car from Poland to Macedonia to see live at least one game of my favorite team and talk to the players and president Dragan Tomovski, who is doing perfect job of leading the club and helping it to survive difficult moments.”
“This year Cementarnica is relegated to the Third League North, for the first time in it’s 56-years-long history. Problems of the club have started in season 2005/2006 – despite investments of the Russian sponsor the team got relegated to the Second League for the first time ever. However, most of the key players stayed in the club, and Perica Gruevski, the former coach of Vardar, Pelister, Tikves and Macedonian youth national team did the fantastic work of building the team which took 2nd place in autumn part of 2006/2007 season. Gruevski’s death in December of 2006 was a shocking tragedy, but the team which he build gained promotion to the First League. However, very tough group of teams in season 2008/2009 did not allow us to avoid relegation – our opponents in relegation battle where none else then Shkendija, current Macedonian champion, and Sileks. After the second relegation many key players have left the club – we had to say goodbye to such great footballers as Marjan Belcev, Igor Angelovski and Vladimir Tunevski. However, the new strategy of introducing young players from youth teams of Cementarnica 55 and talents scouted in lower leagues allowed us to play in Second League for three consecutive seasons – during that time Cementarnica has produced such promising talents as Aleksandar Trajkovski (currently at Inter Zaprešić, he was also tested by Chelsea and observed by Italian clubs), Filip Naumcevski (currently Vojvodina), Zan Manovski (currently Rad), Filip Najdovski (currently Napredok), Petre Vasilevski (currently Vardar) and many other. Unfortunately, spirit of Cementarnica players was not enough to keep the team in Second League in 2010/2011 season – lack of sponsor resulting in financial problems and trouble with the stadium on Kisela Voda were fatal blows for the young team from Kisela Voda.”
“I strongly believe that Cementarnica will come back to Second League, not only because I’m their loyal fan, but also because I think that club with such rich history deserves a place in on of top two levels of Macedonian league competition. Cementarnica’s contribution to Macedonian football is undeniable – such players as Vlatko Grozdanoski, Aleksandar Vasoski, Riste Naumov, Dejan Miloseski, Filip Despotovski, Zanko Savov and Marjan Gerasimovski were playing at Kisela Voda, which in many cases was an introduction to their future great careers. Cementarnica has won Macedonian Cup in 2003, defeating Sloga Jugomagnat in one of the best football matches ever played on any Macedonian stadium – 4:4 with goals of Zanko Savov (two), Chinedu Blessing and Wandeir dos Santos, 3:2 after penalties with three penalty kicks saved by Ljupco Kmetovski. Cementarnica also played in Macedonian Cup final in 2002 (1:3 defeat against Pobeda, but a wonderful goal scored by Aleksandar Toleski from distance) and made three appearences in European Cups, two of which resulted in beating the first round opponents – in Intertoto Cup 1999 “Cementara” has defeated Kolkheti (4:2 home, 4:0 away), while UEFA Cup 2003/2004 brought a victory on away goals against Dospel Katowice (0:0 home, 1:1 away with a stunning bicycle kick goal by Almir Bajramovski). Moreover, Cementarnica 55 is well-known of fantastic work with youth, which I have already mentioned. Another proof for that comes from 2010/2011 season – youth team won First League West with huge advantage over other teams, smashing the second-placed Vranista 8:1 in direct confrontation. The club from Kisela Voda is also very friendly place for football players – Zlatko Tanevski, currently a defender of GKS Bełchatów (Poland), gave an interview to official webpage of his former club Lech Poznań, in which he considered his time in Cementarnica as one of the best periods in his career, pointing out great team atmosphere on Kisela Voda in these days.”
“I am aware that most of the football fans in Skopje support Vardar, Rabotnicki and Makedonija, which results in small numbers of spectators on Kisela Voda stadion and difficulties in finding the strategic sponsor, leading Cementarnica to constant financial problems. It is very depressing, but it is not the only case like that – such important Macedonian football clubs as Ljuboten, Rudar and Sasa also vegetate in Third League. But can the 56-years-long history of Cementarnica, achievements and great work with youth be in vain? I can’t imagine that – even in Third League North, which might be a good place for young players to gain experience necessary to form a team capable of returning to Second League.”
“Despite the bitterness of relegation, I would like to thank all the players of Cementarnica 55 for their effort in season 2010/2011, especially Jane Ivanovski, who remains loyal to Cementarnica since the relegation from First League and is one of the most experienced players in our team. I would also like to express my gratefulness for president Dragan Tomovski, who helped the club to overcome so many problems in past years – I really hope that you will continue your great work despite the relegation, and that time of such victories as 6:1 over Bregalnica Stip in season 2004/2005 (four goals of Aleksandar Toleski, one of the best strikers in history of Cementarnica), 5:0 over Rabotnicki in season 2001/2002 or 4:1 victory on Gradski Stadium over Vardar in season 1999/2000 can be repeated!”
Cezary Namirski, the Polish fan of Cementarnica 55 Skopje