The first annual memorial tournament 'Ivan Šuker' was held in Velika Gorica. The initiative, the launch of which stemmed from the local club, aims to preserve the memory of the late official, and the organiser is the basketball club (KK) Gorica.
The tournament was held under the patronage of the City, in collaboration with the Croatian Basketball Federation (HKS), which confirmed the importance of joint work in developing sport in the local community. At the opening, the mayor, Krešimir Ačkar, were present, along with the Minister of Finance, Tomislav Ćorić, and former ministers, Zdravko Marić and Martina Dalić. Their presence highlighted the significance of the event for the local community, but also the wider basketball community.
Marko Šuker, the son of the late, expressed his hope that the gathering would turn into a lasting tradition, which would further strengthen the link between the local community and sport. The tournament became a platform for the promotion of basketball, especially the work with younger generations, which is key to the future of sport in the region.
The competition included four teams: KK Samobor, MK Nov Zagreb, the home KK Gorica and KK Cibona. The competition took place over two days, with participants showing a high level of competitive readiness. First place was taken by KK Samobor, who in the final beat the competition, while second place was taken by the home team, which was a special honour for local fans. Third place was taken by the players from Nov Zagreb, who confirmed their strength in the regional competition.
A special award was given to Ivan Majcunić, who was recognised as the best player of the tournament. This award, given to a young player, highlighted the importance of developing young talent in basketball. The tournament became a platform for the promotion of competitive spirit, but also cooperation between clubs, which is key to the future of sport in the region. KK Gorica, in collaboration with another team, KK VelGor, covers almost 150 children, which confirms the importance of joint work in developing sport in the local community.
This event, while marking the memory of the late, became a platform for the promotion of basketball. The tournament showed how sport can be used to strengthen the community, rather than just competition. This initiative, with the support of the local community, can become a model for other regions, promoting the development of sport and the strengthening of community values in local communities.
