DOHA
The Croatians, who are hoping to become the first back-to-back finalists since Brazil in 2002, will be looking to their supporters in the stands and those back home for their good wishes and prayers to make it past two-time winners Argentina in the semi-final clash of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night at the Lusail Stadium.
Among the many passionate Croatian fans, who will be behind the small nation of four million and watching football action from the comforts of their home is the Kovacic couple.
Marian Theresa De Souza and her husband Ivo Kovacic will be glued to the television and following the match from their home in Split, Dalmatia.
If many football fans from Gaundalim village in North Goa which has historic and economic links to Dubrovnik in Croatia, backing Kockasti was not enough, here we have a Goan girl Marian married to a Croatian, who will be rooting for her husband's country at the football showpiece.
“The St Blaise Church in Gaundalim built by Croatians is a smaller replica of the St Blaise church in Dubrovnik which uncle of my husband Don Slavko Kovacic, professor of Church history enlightened us when my husband’s family learned he is getting married to a Goan,” recalls Marian.
The Kovacic couple are missing out on the football action in Qatar, which was their second home till 2020, having moved out of the football-hosting country and settled back in Croatia.
Both of them have fond memories of Qatar and the union of hearts between the Goan lady and the Croatian man happened in Qatar, and it was their deep-rooted faith and association with the church activities which brought them together and which finally led to them tying the knot at the Our Lady of Rosary church in Qatar.
“Faith brought us together, thanks to Our Lady of Rosary Church in which we were blessed with in 2008. We met in the church compound when I tried to recruit him to join the Legion of Mary, five months later we got married in the same church. The marriage was officiated by his priest uncle Don Dr Slavko Kovacic from Croatia and witnessed by both our families and friends,” recalls Marian, who traces her roots to the coastal village of Calangute in North Goa, but was born and brought up in Mumbai.
Recalling her time in Qatar she said: “I was fascinated with the multicultural environment, the Arabic culture, the beautiful churches and the hospitality and safe environment in Qatar.”
“I spent most of my life in Qatar, almost 30 years. During which time besides my job I assisted and rendered service in the church and my husband too was a Eucharistic Minister,” she added.
“My husband and I came back to Croatia in December 2020,” she said.
Once in Croatia, Marian went on a Church searching mission and she was amazed with what she discovered.
“When I arrived in Croatia, my first six months I visited 40 churches only in the Split area. This itself will tell you how strong the Catholic faith is in Croatia. 80% of Croatians are Catholics and I am overwhelmed to see the young and old come in big numbers to church. Even the young men bring their babies in peaks to church,” she said about the Catholic faith in the country which was earlier part of Yugoslavia.
Croatia's national football team have appeared in the FIFA World Cup on six occasions (in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022) since gaining independence in 1991. Before that, from 1930 to 1990, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. Their best result thus far was reaching the 2018 final, where they lost 4“2 to France.
Marian has been hit by the sports bug with her better half an avid marathon runner taking part in 12 marathons and 3 ultramarathons including Mumbai Marathon 2017.
“When he came to Qatar he first invested in a bicycle to commute to the Parish Center near Marriot. After nine months he bought a car with a bicycle rack so he could go swimming, cycling and running as he is a triathlon runner as well. He joined Doha TriClub in Qatar and did many triathlons and sporting events. He continues his sporting activities in Croatia. His hometown Split considers itself the most beautiful and sportiest town in the world having produced Goran Ivanisevic - winner of Wimbledon 2001, quite a few NBA players and quite a few Croatian national team stars like Perisic and Livaja,” she said, about her husband who is a Civil Engineer who came to Qatar in 2007 to work with a Croatian company.
Ivo likes many things Goan, says Marian, from food to feni.
“He likes the influence of Portuguese culture in different walks of life, architecture and cuisine, Old Goa’s resemblance to Rome, the beaches and warm hospitality of the Goans.”
“He is an avid visitor of Mumbai and a few other places in India. He happily ventured on the bicycle going to Gorai beach, National Park, Kanheri Caves,” she adds.
Goa Pork sausages, Poie, Pomfret, fresh and dry Bombay Duck; sweets: Dodol, Bebinca, Dos and drink Goa Feni are some of the things Ivo makes sure to taste and drink on his visit to Goa which happen every year.
Marian on her part has adopted Croatian food and sweets in her daily life.
“Fritule, bobici, walnut roll, krempita, aplle strudel, galetta etc. Dishes “ grilled lamb, bakalar, black risotto, soparnik, cevapcici and burek,” are my favourite, she adds.
And she adds as a parting shot, do not be surprised to see us in Qatar for the December 18 final.
“Yes, we are seriously considering and planning to come to the final if we make it,” said Marian, who spends her Goan holidays at her sister’s place in Saligao.
Among the many passionate Croatian fans, who will be behind the small nation of four million and watching football action from the comforts of their home is the Kovacic couple.
Marian Theresa De Souza and her husband Ivo Kovacic will be glued to the television and following the match from their home in Split, Dalmatia.
If many football fans from Gaundalim village in North Goa which has historic and economic links to Dubrovnik in Croatia, backing Kockasti was not enough, here we have a Goan girl Marian married to a Croatian, who will be rooting for her husband's country at the football showpiece.
“The St Blaise Church in Gaundalim built by Croatians is a smaller replica of the St Blaise church in Dubrovnik which uncle of my husband Don Slavko Kovacic, professor of Church history enlightened us when my husband’s family learned he is getting married to a Goan,” recalls Marian.
The Kovacic couple are missing out on the football action in Qatar, which was their second home till 2020, having moved out of the football-hosting country and settled back in Croatia.
Both of them have fond memories of Qatar and the union of hearts between the Goan lady and the Croatian man happened in Qatar, and it was their deep-rooted faith and association with the church activities which brought them together and which finally led to them tying the knot at the Our Lady of Rosary church in Qatar.
“Faith brought us together, thanks to Our Lady of Rosary Church in which we were blessed with in 2008. We met in the church compound when I tried to recruit him to join the Legion of Mary, five months later we got married in the same church. The marriage was officiated by his priest uncle Don Dr Slavko Kovacic from Croatia and witnessed by both our families and friends,” recalls Marian, who traces her roots to the coastal village of Calangute in North Goa, but was born and brought up in Mumbai.
Recalling her time in Qatar she said: “I was fascinated with the multicultural environment, the Arabic culture, the beautiful churches and the hospitality and safe environment in Qatar.”
“I spent most of my life in Qatar, almost 30 years. During which time besides my job I assisted and rendered service in the church and my husband too was a Eucharistic Minister,” she added.
“My husband and I came back to Croatia in December 2020,” she said.
Once in Croatia, Marian went on a Church searching mission and she was amazed with what she discovered.
“When I arrived in Croatia, my first six months I visited 40 churches only in the Split area. This itself will tell you how strong the Catholic faith is in Croatia. 80% of Croatians are Catholics and I am overwhelmed to see the young and old come in big numbers to church. Even the young men bring their babies in peaks to church,” she said about the Catholic faith in the country which was earlier part of Yugoslavia.
Croatia's national football team have appeared in the FIFA World Cup on six occasions (in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022) since gaining independence in 1991. Before that, from 1930 to 1990, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. Their best result thus far was reaching the 2018 final, where they lost 4“2 to France.
Marian has been hit by the sports bug with her better half an avid marathon runner taking part in 12 marathons and 3 ultramarathons including Mumbai Marathon 2017.
“When he came to Qatar he first invested in a bicycle to commute to the Parish Center near Marriot. After nine months he bought a car with a bicycle rack so he could go swimming, cycling and running as he is a triathlon runner as well. He joined Doha TriClub in Qatar and did many triathlons and sporting events. He continues his sporting activities in Croatia. His hometown Split considers itself the most beautiful and sportiest town in the world having produced Goran Ivanisevic - winner of Wimbledon 2001, quite a few NBA players and quite a few Croatian national team stars like Perisic and Livaja,” she said, about her husband who is a Civil Engineer who came to Qatar in 2007 to work with a Croatian company.
Ivo likes many things Goan, says Marian, from food to feni.
“He likes the influence of Portuguese culture in different walks of life, architecture and cuisine, Old Goa’s resemblance to Rome, the beaches and warm hospitality of the Goans.”
“He is an avid visitor of Mumbai and a few other places in India. He happily ventured on the bicycle going to Gorai beach, National Park, Kanheri Caves,” she adds.
Goa Pork sausages, Poie, Pomfret, fresh and dry Bombay Duck; sweets: Dodol, Bebinca, Dos and drink Goa Feni are some of the things Ivo makes sure to taste and drink on his visit to Goa which happen every year.
Marian on her part has adopted Croatian food and sweets in her daily life.
“Fritule, bobici, walnut roll, krempita, aplle strudel, galetta etc. Dishes “ grilled lamb, bakalar, black risotto, soparnik, cevapcici and burek,” are my favourite, she adds.
And she adds as a parting shot, do not be surprised to see us in Qatar for the December 18 final.
“Yes, we are seriously considering and planning to come to the final if we make it,” said Marian, who spends her Goan holidays at her sister’s place in Saligao.
