From the Journalist’s Notebook
By finishing second in the First A Federal League in the 1999/2000 season, behind Novi Sad’s SPC Vojvodina, the women’s bowling team of Jedinstvo from Novi Bečej achieved the greatest success in the club’s history up to that point and earned the right to participate in the European Cup, the second most important European club competition.
The final tournament of the European Cup was held in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, from 10 to 14 October 2000, where the best European clubs competed for the prestigious trophy.
Final Standings of the First A Federal League (1999/2000)
| Position | Club | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Score | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | SPC Vojvodina | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 212:52 | 42 |
| 2. | Jedinstvo (Novi Bečej) | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 175:89 | 36 |
| 3. | Somboled | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 147:117 | 30 |
| 4. | EDB (Belgrade) | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 166:98 | 28 |
| 5. | Pionir (Subotica) | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 145:119 | 28 |
| 6. | Vrbas | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 141:123 | 26 |
| 7. | Duga (Belgrade) | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 133:131 | 24 |
| 8. | Kristal (Zrenjanin) | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 123:141 | 22 |
| 9. | Hajduk (Kula) | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 122:142 | 22 |
| 10. | T. Marković (Kikinda) | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 119:145 | 20 |
| 11. | Ruma | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 113:151 | 20 |
| 12. | Radnički (Novi Sad) | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 83:181 | 12 |
| 13. | RK Beograd | 24 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 37:227 | 2 |
Behind this great sporting achievement stood many organisational and financial challenges. As on many occasions before, the club management faced the difficult task of securing the necessary funds for participation in the European competition.
The members of the club’s board searched everywhere for sponsors and financial support. Promises were made, but the money was slow to arrive on the club’s account, making participation in the European Cup uncertain for some time.
Despite all the difficulties, the success achieved in the national championship was a reason for great celebration. The players of Jedinstvo DEKO, together with their supporters in Novi Sad, celebrated their historic qualification for European competition.
It was a moment that marked a new chapter in the history of the club and confirmed that a team from a small town like Novi Bečej could compete among the best in Europe.
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