Once enormous football institution in North Macedonia, Vardar find themselves entangled in a web of distress, wrestle with financial want, deficiency of a home Earth, severe shortage of Funds for reward dedicated to them players.
for decades from their perch in The capital city of Skopje Vardar was the envy of of The nation, which boasts an impressive spectrum of local f former Yugoslav addresses.
However, the club There is now just a shadow of that it former Landed in North Macedonia second league where they depend on Give me-down equipment And substandard practice amenities.
In an effort to make ends meet, the club stepped up ultras, known as the Kumite up to fill in gaps with Fundraising, grants and an unwavering presence in stands for support their miserable team.
“I was a fan of Vardar since my birth,” says Gene Petkowski, 36. “I’m going to be a fan of Vardar so my last breathes.”
Despite her modesty populationthe football- The crazy Balkan country has maintained three domestic leagues and achieved remarkable success success on the international stage, incl qualifying for Euro 2020 and the defeat of Germany and Italy in a failed Try to reach the previous year’s finals.
in homeVardar once reigned as A.J force to be reckoned with withfeaturing 11 titles in Macedonian First League, five Macedonian Cups and two super Glasses.
However, their downfall began in 2021 when the team’s owner, Russian businessman Sergei Samsonenko, divested and sold clubleaving Vardar to drown in debt And on the edge of bankruptcy.
Unable to cover basic expenses, and team Stop paying players who can no longer afford the necessary fees play in Tose Proeski National Stadium in Skopje, hmm home for several years.
Subsequently, matches They were moved to much smaller quarters, holding only a few hundred fans.
Timing of they financial The crisis has been particularly harsh, with pandemic restrictions preventing supporters from attending gameswhich is forbidden team of another source of he won.
however, fans They got together and staged “Ghost game” ticket Sell, raise scores of thousands of euros for help mitigation financial critical.
“all team… It has its ups and downs, and we stand together, and we grieve together, and we do best We can support each other,” says Pierre Knopp who Traveled from Germany with a group of The presence of Schalke supporters a match.
The club launched its dedicated supporters various initiatives, including fundraisers and memorial sweepstakes, to contribute to the club’s expenses.
Since the lift of pandemic restrictions, fans came back in full forcewaving red and black Flags, igniting flares, and leading cheers in modest places on outskirts of the city of Scooby.
Despite turbulent property changes, unpaid salaries and displacement of Talent in other clubs, Vardar is holding out for hope of A late season surge could reverse their fortunes.
Just one win Far from reclaiming their positions in The first football league Vardar aims for attract new And the investors who need it most financial support.
“we play without money And simply with the best fans”,” says Vardar goalkeeperPhilip Jaszewski, 32. “We simply give Super effort for the club. Some say we’re crazy, but we’re really positively crazy.”
