The Karadjordje Cup (Карађорђев куп) is a football tournament held each year in October with a different Australian city as the host. The Tournament is organized by the local Serbian Australian community.[1] The competing clubs have their roots within the Serbian Community but the players that participate reflect the Multicultural society that is Australia.

Karadjordje Cup
Organising bodyVarious Serbian-Australian affiliated soccer clubs
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Region
  • Australia
Number of teamsVaries per year
Current championsSpringvale White Eagles Men's (8th title) and Westgate FC Women's (3rd title)
Most successful club(s)Springvale White Eagles Men's (8 titles) and Westgate FC Women's (3 titles)

The first attempt to organize an annual football tournament that would bring together Serbian clubs from Australia took place in 1973. Then, the Avala football club from Sydney (today Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC) organised a tournament called "Nikola Tesla". Only three clubs participated in the tournament, in addition to Avala, FC Mona Vale White Eagles from Sydney and Mawson Serbia from Canberra reported their participation. This competition did not last long. During the 70s and 80s of the 20th century, there were several attempts to organize a football tournament on an annual basis, but without success. FC Belgrade Adelaide and Dianella White Eagles SC started playing mutual cup matches called "Karadjordjev Cup" in 1984. The first, real tournament, which gathered a large number of Serbian clubs from Australia, was organized by Avala from Sydney. The tournament was held on December 26 and 27, 1987, under the name "All-Serbian Transitional Cup Tournament". The title was won by the host of the FC Avala competition, beating the Westgate Sindjelic team from Melbourne in the finals with 4:3 on penalties, since the regular part of the game ended 1: 1. Since then, every year, a tournament of Serbian clubs called "Karadjordjev Cup" is organized in its current form. The only competition was not held in 2001. Until 1996, the rule was that the winner of the tournament had the honor of organizing the next tournament, but after that the cup was organized by agreement.

The Football Association of Australia made a decision in 1992 that all clubs must remove symbolic national symbols from their names, so some clubs were forced to change their names.

Past tournaments edit

2006 edit

In 2006 the tournament was held at the Serbian sports centre in Keysborough, Melbourne, Victoria and was hosted by Noble Park United.

Westgate Sindjelic would meet Springvale White Eagles FC in the final with Westgate winning 4-1 on penalties, after 3–3 at full time.[2]

2007 edit

The 2007 tournament was hosted by White City Woodville at their home ground, The Frank Mitchell Park.

In total 9 teams competed; 5 being from Melbourne, 2 from Adelaide and 2 from Perth.

The eventual winners were Springvale White Eagles, beating Westgate Sindjelic in the final 3-0 on penalties, after 1–1 at full time.

2013 edit

In 2013 the tournament was held at Northcote, Victoria and was hosted by Fitzroy City SC.

White City Woodville would meet Westgate Sindjelic in the final with White City Woodville winning 1–0.

2014 edit

In 2014 the tournament was held at Derrimut, Victoria and was hosted by Westgate Sindjelic.

Springvale White Eagles would meet Westgate Sindjelic in the final with Springvale winning 5–2.

2018 edit

In 2018 the tournament was held for the first time in Willawong, Queensland and was hosted by St. George Willawong.

White City Woodville would meet St George Willawong in the final with White City Woodville winning 1–0.

2019 edit

In 2019 the tournament was held at the Serbian sports centre in Keysborough, Melbourne, Victoria and was hosted by Noble Park United.

Springvale White Eagles would meet Fitzroy Serbia in the final with Springvale White Eagles winning 4-3 on penalties, after 0–0 at full time.

For the first time, a women's competition was held at the same time with Westgate Sindjelic edging out Noble Park United 4-3 on penalties, after 1–1 at full time.

2022 edit

2022 saw the Karadjordje Cup return after a two year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic in Australia and was held in Adelaide and hosted by FK Beograd (Australia).

The tournament saw a replay of the 2019 final which pit Fitzroy Serbia playing against Springvale White Eagles. This time though we would see Fitzroy getting the win and being crowned the 2022 Karadjordje Cup Men's Champions with a 4 - 0 win in the final against Springvale.

2022 also saw the return of the Karadjordje Cup Women's tournament with the final being once again a contest between Westgate Sindjelic and Nobel Park United. A great performance by both sides would see Westgate get the win with a score of 1 - 0 and once again be crowned the Karadjordje Cup Women's Champions, continuing their undefeated streak at the tournament.

2023 edit

The 2023 Karadjordjev Cup was held over the AFL Grand Final long weekend in Melbourne and hosted by Casey Kings "Krajina" FC.

The Tournament officially began on Friday night 29/09 with the opening ceremony taking place and the official draw to determine the playing groups for the rest of the tournament.

Saturday the group stages commenced with FC Eagles Sydney, Springvale White Eagles, Westgate Sindjelic, FC Melbourne Srbija, Canberra White Eagles, Noble Park Drina, Dianella White Eagles and White City Adelaide making it through to the knockout stages on Sunday. The group stages for the women also ended with defending Champions Westgate Sindjelic finishing top of the group with Noble Park Drina finishing second to set up a repeat Grand Final from the last two Karadjorje Cups for the title of Womens Champion.

Sunday was another day of amazing atmosphere and action packed football. The Women's Grand Final saw some very competitive football played from both Westgate FC and Nobel Park Drina, after the full time whistle though Westgate FC would once again lift the trophy and be declared Kara Cup Women's Champions. This result made Westgate Sindjelic three time Womens champions and still undefeated at the Karadjordje Cup.

The knockout stages for the Men's competition would see defending Champions FC Melbourne Srbija and 7 time Champions Springvale White Eagles make it to the Grand Final, once again setting up a repeat from the finals of the last two Kara Cups. The contest ended in a 4 - nil win for Springvale White Eagles which saw the Orlovi make history and become record breaking 8 time Kara Cup Champions.

Past Men's Winners edit

Year Champions Runner Up Host City Score in Final
2023 Springvale White Eagles FC Melbourne Srbija Melbourne 4-0
2022 Fitzroy City Serbia Springvale White Eagles Adelaide 4-0
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Sydney
2019 Springvale White Eagles Fitzroy City Serbia Melbourne 0–0 (Pen. 4–3)
2018 White City Woodville St. George Willawong Brisbane 1–0
2017 Dianella White Eagles White City Woodville Perth 1–1 (Pen.)
2016 White City Woodville Springvale White Eagles Adelaide
2015 White City Woodville Noble Park United Sydney 0–0 (Pen. 5–4)
2014 Springvale White Eagles Westgate Sindjelic Melbourne 5–2
2013 White City Woodville Westgate Sindjelic Melbourne 1–0
2012 Dianella White Eagles Springvale White Eagles Perth 2–0
2011 White City Sydney White City Woodville Adelaide 2–1
2010 Springvale White Eagles Noble Park United Melbourne 4–2
2009 FC Beograd - Sydney White City Woodville Adelaide
2008 Springvale White Eagles White City Woodville Perth 3–1
2007 Springvale White Eagles Westgate Sindjelic Adelaide 1–1 (Pen. 3–0)
2006 Westgate Sindjelic Springvale White Eagles Melbourne 3–3 (Pen. 2–1)
2005 Albion Park White Eagles Noble Park United Wollongong 3–1
2004 Springvale White Eagles Westgate Sindjelic Perth 0–0 (Pen. 4–2)
2003 Noble Park United Westgate Sindjelic Melbourne 2–0
2002 Westgate Sindjelic Casey Kings / Krajina Melbourne 2–1
2001 No Tournament N/A Perth N/A
2000 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Springvale White Eagles Melbourne 5–1
1999 Springvale White Eagles Fitzroy City Serbia Adelaide 3–0
1998 White City Woodville Fitzroy City Serbia Melbourne 2–1
1997 Fitzroy City Serbia White City Woodville Adelaide 1–0
1996 White City Sydney Bonnyrigg White Eagles Sydney 2–1
1995 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Delije Sydney 8–2
1994 White City Sydney Bonnyrigg White Eagles Sydney 2–2 (Pen. 5–4)
1993 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Fitzroy City Serbia Sydney 2–1
1992 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Westgate Sindjelic Melbourne 1–1 (Pen. 4–1)
1991 Westgate Sindjelic Bonnyrigg White Eagles Melbourne 2–1
1990 Westgate Sindjelic Bonnyrigg White Eagles Melbourne 1–1 (Pen. 4–2)
1989 Westgate Sindjelic Ringwood Srbija / Fitzroy City Serbia Melbourne 2–1
1988 Ringwood Srbija Fitzroy City Serbia Bonnyrigg White Eagles Sydney 1–1 (Pen. 4–3)
1987 Avala Sydney Westgate Sindjelic Sydney 1–1 (Pen. 4–3)

Past Women's winners edit

Year Champions Runner Up Host City Score in Final
2023 Westgate Sindjelic Noble Park United Melbourne 2 - 0
2022 Westgate Sindjelic Noble Park United Adelaide 1 - 0
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Sydney
2019 Westgate Sindjelic Noble Park United Melbourne 1–1 (Pen. 4–3)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Karadjordje Cup". Roads & Kingdoms. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. ^ "History - Springvale White Eagles FC". SportsTG. Retrieved 25 July 2020.