There is no doubt that football stars playing minifootball after retiring are still a magnet for media, spectators and amateur players. They are playing minifootball with friends for their recreation and joy like all others do.
Two of them are playing for the media team Kapodol in Slovenian Minifootball Media League called “Medijska Liga”. League was established 14 years ago with 6 a side system. Dzoni Novak (photo 1, 2, 4) who has played for football clubs Olimpija (SLO), Partizan (SRB), Fenerbahce (TUR), Le Havre, Sedan (FRA), Unterhaching (GER) and Olympiacos (GRE). He was also one of the best players for the Yugoslavian and later the Slovenian national team. Together with Zlatko Zahovic (Porto, Valencia, Olympiacos and Benfica) and coach Srecko Katanec they composed the main Slovenian team figures in Euro 2000 Belgium/ Netherland and World Cup Korea/Japan 2002. He’s joke from match Romania – Slovenia 1-1 (Bucharest 14th Nov 2001) from extra qualifications round for WC 2002 Korea/Japan is legendary. He said joking that when the foul was committed against him forward player Mladen Rudonja, also a Slovenian football legend, relaxed without stress scored, his first and last goal in his 65 games long career for Slovenian national team, thinking the referee has whistled the foul against Novak… but he didn’t. This goal qualified Slovenia for WC 2002.
Video of the goal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFfxWQWdE0I&feature=player_embedded
The second one is Gregor Zidan (photo 1, 3) who has played for Olimpija (SLO), Dinamo (CRO) and Maribor (SLO) in their famous time of participating in the Champions League in the season 1999/2000. He played for 3 different national teams: Yugoslavia, Croatia (on their first epic match against USA in October 1990) and for Slovenia. Like Novak he was also a captain of the Slovenian national team.
“It is superb that famous stars from football, who are great and respectable personalities in their community, and playing minifootball after retiring makes this social game more popular and attractive for all. The amateur players who watch them on their big screens for years could now play and talk with them. Unforgettable experience and we are glad and proud that we have such personalities with us in Slovenian minifootball story.”, said Andrej Manfreda the president of Slovenian minifootball association.
If you are interested in checking the media on how guys are playing minifootball you could find all information about Slovenian Media League here:
http://www.kapodol.com/Medijska_liga/2011/index.php
Please have in mind that 90% of recreational minifootball in Slovenia is played on asphalt, 5% on rubber soil and 5% on natural or artificial grass. In the coming years we are expecting rapid growth of artificial grass fields.