The final farewell for Mate Miša Kovač is taking place today, 3 November, at Poljud in Split, with all tickets for the event reserved. Approximately 34,000 free tickets have been issued, and exactly that number of people is expected at the stadium.
The organisers of the final farewell are HNK Hajduk, KNH Torcida Split and the Croatian Music Union. The gates of the Poljud stadium open at 16:00, while the official musical programme begins at 17:00. Citizens who reserved tickets but will not be able to attend are freely passing them on to others via social media.
Miša will be bid farewell with songs by Mladen Grdović, Dražen Zečić, Joško Čagalj Jole, Giuliano Đanić, Alen Nižetić and the klapa Rišpet. Towards the end of the musical segment, after approximately 45 minutes, a vehicle carrying Miša’s coffin is expected to enter the stadium, which will proceed along the athletics track around the football pitch. After the farewell at Poljud, the coffin will head towards Šibenik and Zadar.
Due to the expected large number of visitors, special traffic regulations are in place around the stadium. Citizens are advised to arrive at Poljud on foot or by public city transport. A television broadcast of the final farewell has been organised for those who will not be at the stadium.
The President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, is also attending the final farewell. The Government of the Republic of Croatia has declared 3 November a Day of National Condolence. The major farewell will be broadcast by all three national television stations. RTL will air a special programme titled "Goodbye, Miša" from 15:30. Croatian Radiotelevision will broadcast the event live from 17:00 on HTV’s First Programme, Croatian Radio and its YouTube channel. Nova TV has prepared a special programme starting at 15:30, and from 16:00 its reporters will be reporting live from Poljud.
Mate Miša Kovač died on 31 October at the age of 86.
