László Gomba appeared on the football scene of Novi Bečej at a very young age. Together with Ferik Kiš and József Čanji, he was among the group of young enthusiasts who initiated the founding of a new club in Novi Bečej in 1940, originally named Napredak. Shortly after its establishment, the club changed its name to S.K. Zanatlija, where Laci quickly secured a place in the first team and proved his footballing quality.
With the establishment of the occupation authorities and the formation of DMKS Turul in the summer of 1941, Gomba joined the newly founded club. During the war years, he became one of Turul’s most reliable and dependable defensive players. In the period of competition in the Banat Hungarian League, Laci was regarded as a pillar of Turul’s defense and one of the most trustworthy full-backs in Novi Bečej football at that time.
On the pitch, he was calm, composed, and highly dedicated. He was known for his good tackling, powerful shot, and strong sense of positioning, which placed him among the best defenders in Novi Bečej during the occupation period. Had a representative team of Novi Bečej been formed at that time, composed of players from Zvezda and Turul, Laci Gomba would undoubtedly have earned a place as a full-back in the town’s strongest lineup.
His only weakness was relative slowness, but this flaw rarely came to the fore. Gomba possessed an exceptional sense of timing when committing to a tackle—guided more by instinct than calculation. He knew precisely when to launch himself toward the ball, covering the distance in a few powerful strides and often reaching it before his opponent. With timely jumps and well-judged challenges, he repeatedly disrupted opposing attacks.
Throughout the full ninety minutes of play, he remained a tireless and determined fighter, earning the respect of both his teammates and his opponents. As such, László Gomba is remembered as a stable, reliable defender who left a lasting mark on Novi Bečej football during a difficult and complex historical period.
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