Meraklije

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Meraklije - Мераклије
NicknameJuznjaci (The Southern) Južnoprugaši (Members of the Southern Track)
AbbreviationM89
FoundedSeptember 1989
Type
Radnički Niš
MottoIf you are a Nišlija, be a Meraklija!
HeadquartersNiš,  Serbia
ArenasČair Stadium,
Čair Sports Center
StandSouth
Coordinates43°18′55.90″N 21°54′30.72″E / 43.3155278°N 21.9085333°E / 43.3155278; 21.9085333
WebsiteMeraklije.com

Meraklije (Serbian Cyrillic: Мераклије) are the organized supporters of the Niš professional football club Radnički Niš, and are one of the major supporter groups in Serbia. Meraklije is plural of the singular form meraklija, which means something like "neko kome je sve po meri, neko ko uživa u nečemu", which roughly translates to "someone to just everything is right,[1] someone who enjoys something"; a person in this state is called a meraklija. Besides the football club, they also support other sport sections in Niš. They are also known for their special support to the Serbian national handball team.[2]

History

The rise in the 1960s

The first large organized support happened in 1962 against Vardar, where several thousand fans from

Nisava", which a length of 20 meters and a height of 2 meters. The transparent could be seen at every home game throughout the 60s. Since Radnički's entry to the Yugoslav First League, the stadium was well attended.[3]

1980s and the establishment

Legendary is the support beginning of the 80s, in the

Yugoslavia. There were several suggestions for a name, but the name Meraklije was chosen after a one-sided decision, as the group's name, mainly due to traditional reasons from the city of Niš. The name was originally proposed by Caci, a former well-known supporter. Meraklije is plural of the singular form Meraklija, which means something like "neko kome je sve po meri, neko ko uživa u nečemu", which roughly translates to "someone to just everything is right,[4] someone who enjoys something". A person in this state are called a Meraklija. After a short time, the Meraklije had over 2000 members.[5]

1990s

With the decay of

Radnički Niš was playing in the second league, but the Meraklije went to all games across Serbia. Time spent in the second league was short and the club's promotion to the first league meant that fans came in bigger numbers in the following seasons. The higher quality of football also brought younger fans to the stadium, as the Meraklije continued to grow and offered new jerseys and scarves to its members in a successful attempt to look better in the stands. In 1999-00, the Meraklije reach their climax.[6] After ten years of cooperation and living life together, their biggest honour is surely that the footballers and management are very proud of them. Thanks to good relations with the club's management, the Meraklije get their own center in the city, and no game is left unattended.[7]

Characteristics

The Meraklije are viewed as one of the most loyal followers in

Radnički Niš with the Niš Fortress and the flag of Serbia. The group's traditional colors are therefore mostly red in combination with blue and white, which may differ from the official team equipment worn on match days. In addition to the acoustic support, like chanting and singing, which is often coordinated by a so-called "Vodja" (Serbian: leader) by a megaphone or microphone and accompanied by drums, the Meraklije put also emphasis on visual aids, such as waving large or small flags, displaying of banners and the creation of colorful choreographies, with many other activities along the way.[9]

Friendships

The Meraklije are in a brotherhood with the organized fan groups of

Radnički Kragujevac, the Crveni Đavoli. Their relations began mainly through the mutual support of the growing local patriotism in the last years of the Serbian fan scene. To the two clubs can be drawn various parallel. The clubs connects next to the club name also the founding years of the two clubs in 1923.[16] Also both supporter groups were founded in the same year, in 1989.[17]
The name Radnički means "Labourers'" in Serbian and its roots come from the relation with the Labour movement that the clubs had during the first half of the 20th century. Their often mentioned slogan is: "Radnička deca, radnička braća", which translates to "Workers children, workers brothers". All reasons, why the first top tier match between these clubs ended during the 2012–13 season especially in a respectful and peaceful atmosphere for each other, although they not played against each other for a long time.[18]

Meraklije today

At the time of

Radnički Niš
as their only club and became its supporters. The number of members rose and some subgroups were founded. Many of the local population have now the opinion that there is nothing more beautiful than the support of his club in their own town or region, so no matter where and no matter in which league the club plays. The Meraklije gather in the south stand of the stadium, from where they support Radnički Niš. The Meraklije created new props, flags, banners, shirts and scarfs and on many of their articles is written: "Nemoj da budeš stranac u svom gradu, oboji grad bojama svog kluba. Budi i ti Meraklija", which roughly translates to "Don't be a stranger in your own city, colour the town with your club's colours. Be a Meraklija." or "Gradska deca uz gradski klub" which roughly means "Children of the City, for the club of their city". The goal of the Meraklije is to return to the old fame like in the beginning of the 1980s, to continue and encourage the local patriotism, to grow as a group and in their organisation and the creation of a fiery and sports atmosphere at Radnički's matches.

References

  1. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 9
  2. ^ novosti.rs
  3. ^ "О Нама". www.meraklije.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14.
  4. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 9
  5. ^ "О Нама". www.meraklije.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14.
  6. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 9
  7. ^ "О Нама". www.meraklije.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14.
  8. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 9
  9. ^ novosti.rs
  10. ^ "The Sportski žurnal". Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Marinci i Meraklije na istoj strani (Meraklije and Marinci on the same side)". The B92. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  12. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 10
  13. ^ "Meraklije i Marinci zajedno navijaju (Meraklije and Marinci cheering together)". The Sportski žurnal. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Marinci i Meraklije na istoj strani (Meraklije and Marinci on the same side)". The B92. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Crveni djavoli: Verni vama veruju u vas". Kapiten.rs. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  16. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 9
  17. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 10
  18. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 13
  19. ^ The Blickfang Ultra, Edition Nr. 25, Radnički Kragujevac vs. Radnički Niš, Germany, 22 September 2012. p. 9
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