KOHORTA HISTORY

Following FC Osijek promotion to first division in ex-Yugoslavia our stadium «Gradski Vrt» became filled and slowly Osijek had more and more noisy supporters. From 1972. till 1978. our group had name «ŠOKCI», in year 1986. we named ourselves «TORCIDA OSIJEK» (like oldest and most famous supporters then, Torcida Split). But in year 1988. group agreed to to take unique name and we chose KOHORTA. Term Kohorta is in fact Latin word Cohors  which have two meanings. First is that Cohors is tactical infantry unit; 1/10 of Roman Legion. In the time of Roman emperors Cohors had 400-600 people and it was gathered in town. Second version of that name is that Kohorta means strongly bonded group of people.
 First football madness concuss citizens of Osijek in early 1970`s. Qualification fever in our city started in time when club was in 2nd division and had players like Grnja, Lukacevic and Cordas. At that time you were forced to book your ticket (even the worst tickets) to see our players scoring 5-6 goals in single game. Also like that people cryed and tacitly declared grief days in city because of unfortunate and tragic losses in 1st division qualifications. Especially we remember those qualification that toook place in 1973. when in second leg match on «Maksimir Stadium» is set up record attendance(this record is still highest). More than 60 000 peoples was watching dramatical conclusion of 2:2 draw game and after penalty shootout thriller which led NK Zagreb in 1st division. More that 30 000 Osijek fans cryed on the way home. In the late 70` exactly on May 6th 1979. we remebered game which permanently removed fans from «Gradski Vrt» because club board of directors decided to give up points in favor of Red Star (Belgrade); game ended as draw (2:2).Red Star second goal was after end of regular time from Penalty Kick. That shame was brought by city leaders which were led by Serbian influence and players were forced to do that.

 "In early `80, like everywhere in Yugoslavia organized fans were formed; at first we called ourselves Šokci but after game with Red Star older fans left and new younger fans were organized like famous and most organized "Torcida Split" and named OSIJEK TORCIDA. In year 1988. fans knew that is necessary to have one unique name and we named ourselves KOHORTA." - awaken memory of Davor Runac. It`s funny to said that somewhere in season 1989./90. on away game in Ljubljana Osijek fans have had transparent "Vesele Ustaše" which was harshly convicted and club was clearly distanced from that kind of "elements". Kohorta always supported Osijek both home and away games. Biggest tension were when Osijek played with Serbian clubs. Away games in Belgrade were something special but also Kohorta went to Novi Sad in large numbers and the whole city knew what is happening when Kohorta arrived.
 "Domovinski Rat" (war) seriously made our numbers smaller because a lot of guys went to "ZNG" and "HV" and many of them were wounded or even killed. Football wasn`t in first plan anymore and that is perfectly understandable. When situation was better Kohorta recovered a bit too. But real renaissance happened in season 1994./95. when club made his first debut in European Cups mostly thanks to Branimir Glavaš“ - speaked by Davor Runac. Through that cooperation Kohorta was one of biggest groups in country (especially we remeber games in Zagreb where more than 1000 fans were on Maksimir or in Kranjčevićeva).

Supporters or fans doesn`t have to like each other and it`s very rare when they do. But you don`t have to like someone to respect them. Worst relationships is with BBB (especially remebered burning coffin with Dinamo name on it on game in Osijek in year 1996.) and with Ultras from Vinkovci. After War Kohorta had new life... there are more and more White-Blue fans and now Kohorta is one of biggest,most loyal and best supporters in Croatia.
In year 1998. and 1999. made renaissance of fans in Osijek. In spring 1998. Osijek was fighting for their second UEFA cup paricipation. That year Osijek fightet for 3rd place andin the end we were 3rd a that was rewarded with great decor on Gradski Vrt and away games. In Osijek we played best game in season with Croatia (Dinamo) under new lights which we putted for European games. 15 000 fans were on stadium that evening. UEFA cup participation was secured after defeat in Zagreb 2:4 (Croatia-Osijek). Probably 10 or more buses full of Osijek fans were in Zagreb that day.

Season 1998./99. started with UEFA cup game with Belgian Anderlecht. Again in front of 15000 spectators Osijek won 3:1 ande made his first European win. Kohorta was active all 90 minutes. Rest of season full of fluctuation but cream on top of season was Domestic Cup finals in Zagreb against Cibalia (Vinkovci). Whole spring of 1999. were just preparations for that history finals and possibly first club trophy in history! Kohorta already had big white-blue flag (40x9 meters), a lot of banners and just before final game Kohorta put up 10 white-blue flags game Osijek-Croatia. In final cup game Kohorta was fantasic.... 2600 fans came in Zagreb and they were on south stand of biggest Croatian stadium. In second half they were a little quiet because Osijek played very bad but goal in 90.min made them very loud again. After Davor Lasić scored golden goal in 97.min. celebration started. That year in UEFA cup we played agaist famous West Ham from London. Kohorta went to London with one bus. During whole game crazy supporting could been heared even Osijek had bad result. After end of game rest of stadium were impressed and gave applause to Kohorta because they have been loud and they have supported their club like crazy. In 2nd leg match Osijek was defeated again but atmosphere was great, songs and supporting didn`t stoped before and during the game. On stadium were around 500 West Ham fans.
Next season 1999./2000. leaves us great memories; we were first at end of first part of season. Osijek is the best club in 1.HNL, makes though 2 rounds of UEFA cup and sadly is knockout from 3 round UEFA cup by Slavia Prague. Kohorta went to Vienna in large numbers (around 1000 fans) and even in larger number in Prague (app. more than 10 buses and many personal cars). On the home match with Slavia Prague stadium was full. It was the season of Nenad Bjelica (best player in 1.HNL) but other player were also very good,until financial situation ended our football story.Even today you can hear "JEDAN JE BJELICA NENAD" that means "IT`S ONLY ONE BJELICA NENAD" as recollection on what could happen that year.

After that unfinished "football story" everything got really bad in Gradski Vrt. But everything bad happened to fans also, weak support on away games, supporting just on important matches, lame organization. FC Osijek is fightinf against demotion. In spring of 2002. our manager is Ćiro Blažević so that brings a little hope and happiness to fans. Osijek secure his first division place and again we are starting with organized support on away matches. In best memories is travel to Velika (over than 200 fans) and Osijek victory against Kamen Ingrad 2:4! Season 2002./03. Osijek starts disastrous, but that season brings reorganization of Kohorta. Especially because this web site, we are organized, first bar-scarfs are made and we are moved to south-east stand. Our new small transparents, two pole flags are made and we have torches sometimes. Problems are away matches because people are going in smaller numbers and unorganized. Best of all was our 15th birthday in spring of 2003. where we had 150 torches.