Whilst the Euros and Copa America entertain most of the footballing world with their long lists of star studded players, many clubs in Europe are preparing for another, even more important event: the qualifiers for European competitions.
Every July and August, about a hundred clubs or so qualify to have a chance at making the group phases (now league phase) of either the Champions League, the Europa League or the Conference League. Of course, not all of the teams will be successful, but it still opens the door for upsets and wonderful stories to be shared with the fans.
Amongst one of those stories will be the tale of GFK Tikvesh, who have qualified for European competition qualifiers for the first time in their history. The Red and White will be hoping to make a splash in the competition in which they are already guaranteed almost €250,000 just for participating in the first round. But their journey to this point has not been smooth, nor has it been pleasant at times.
Early beginnings
Fudbalski klub Tikvesh Kavadarci was founded in the 1930s by a few football enthusiasts who just wanted their own club. The club would have difficulties establishing itself as the dominant force in Kavadarci but by the end of the second World War, Tikvesh had already established itself as the main side from the town.
From the 1950s all the up to the 1970s, Tikvesh had proven itself as a capable side within the Yugoslav leagues, with it competing in the nations second tier on multiple occasions. This was all thanks to players like Vuko Karov, Angel Kimov, Blazho Malinkov and many more who came through its youth ranks. By the 1980s however, the club had regressed and had even fallen down as far as the Macedonian Second Republic League, the fourth tier of Yugoslav football.
Eventually, Yugoslavia would see itself crumble upon the massive rise in nationalism and cries for across the republics. Macedonia would see itself become a newly independent nation and with it came a new league structure. As one of the bigger sides in Macedonia, Tikvesh was assign to compete in the 1.MFL in its inaugural season.
The downfall
Tikvesh established itself as a regular midtable side within the 1.MFL, with it only ever finishing as high as 7th in 1992/93 and 1998/99. However by 2001, the club would see itself get relegated to the 2.MFL. The Red and White would go straight back up but only last another season in the 1.MFL before crumbling down the pyramid.
By 2005 the club was in the 3.MFL, and by 2007 the club was declaring bankruptcy. It would eventually restart its journey to the top from the municipal divisions, the fourth and lowest tier in Macedonian football. They would get immediate promotion into the 3.MFL and it would only take them another two seasons to get back into the 2.MFL. For once the club stabilized, even getting funding from the municipality and adding the G (which stands for Gradski or City in English) in GFK Tikvesh.
However, the club’s finances were once again in shambles as the club struggled to keep itself together. By the end of the 2012/13 season, the club was relegated back into the 3.MFL and the fans were demanding serious change. The club would have to withdraw for the 2013/14 season to regroup and sort out its precarious financial state. For the second time in its history, Tikvesh would have to start from the municipal leagues.
The return to the top
With the club back in action, they would once again waste no time winning their municipal league and re-enter the 3.MFL. The club would only finish third, however with FK Ljubanci out of money to compete in the 2.MFL, the club sold its license to Tikvesh and with that saw them promoted.
Tikvesh would immediately establish itself as a top half side with it competing for promotion across all of its seasons in the second tier. They would eventually reach the 2018/19 playoffs after finishing second in the East group. They would first have to face off against Labunishta, a small town side which had more than overachieved. Tikvesh would dispatch of them in a game that ended 6–3, but still had to face the challenge of 1.MFL side Sileks to take their spot in the top flight. It would all be for naught as Tikvesh would lose to the side in navy and red by 3–2.
The defeat wasn’t ideal, but Tikvesh pressed on and made sure that they would come back and be a much stronger side. In the 2020/21 season they once again got into the playoffs and once again had to face Sileks. This time however they beat them, thanks to a goal from Ediz Spahiu. The club from Kavadarci had completed its ascent into the 1.MFL after almost two decades of waiting.
Shaky start
Tikvesh’s first season in the top flight would be a rough one. They began the campaign by sacking their manager only six games into the season, and replacing him with the much more experienced Vlatko Kostov. Kostov would lead his side into tenth place, and would have to fight in a playoff match to decide their fate. Their opponent happened to be Ohrid based Voska Sport, a club who had been supercharged up the Macedonian leagues thanks to notoriously shady businessman Nefi Useini.
Despite many tipping Voska to win, Tikvesh would send the Swans back into the 2.MFL by thumping them 4–1. Ediz Spahiu once again proved to be a hero with his brace, with Ivan Ivanovski and Blagojche Ljamchevski getting the other two goals each.
All the celebrations would be short however, as Tikvesh once again started the same way the began the previous season. After several poor results, Kostov would be relieved of his duties and the managerial role would go to his assistant.
In comes Gjorgji Mojsov
Gjorgji Mojsov is a Kavardarci native, where he would grow up and begin his first steps into football alongside his brother, Daniel Mojsov. Although his brother would end up having a much more successful career than him, with Daniel representing the national team on 39 occasions, Gjorgji still paved himself a respectable journeyman career.
Gjorgji would end his playing days as captain of the Tikvesh squad that got promoted up into the 1.MFL, with the club giving him a TV as a parting gift. No, I’m not kidding, here is photographic proof.
Vivax televisions aside, Mojsov would be brought in by Kostov as his assistant as soon as he took over, and once the manager from Shtip was out the door his replacement was not hard to find. Gjorgji’s start to life in Tikvesh would be explosive, with him finding the best out of his squad and finishing the first half season in fourth. To say he had brought in new life to the club was an understatement to say the very least.
Tikvesh would eventually peter out into sixth place by the season’s end, but for a first go in management it was beyond impressive. In spite of all that, many commentators, journalists and fans were still putting down Tikvesh as one of the favourites to go down. The three teams that had come up from the 2.MFL proved to be amongst the strongest the division had seen, with the exception of debt-ridden Vardar.
A year to remember
Tikvesh’s season began much better than their previous two, with the club sitting pretty in the midtable for the majority of the season. As things started to cool down, it became clear that Tikvesh would have to fight for a spot as the “best of the rest” with Rabotnichki, AP Brera, Voska Sport and Gostivar. The club, now also joined by Gjorgji’s brother Daniel Mojsov, would end up finishing the season in fourth and claiming said crown.
Usually that would grant them a spot in European qualifiers, however since Macedonia’s coefficient had dropped so low that only the top 2 or 3 sides and the cup winner get that privilege, it meant that the Kavadarci club would have to win the Macedonian Cup to achieve so. That was easier said than done, as Tikvesh had only reached as far as the semi final back in 2010/11 and that the cup was constantly changing hands across multiple teams.
The Red and White’s journey would begin with a visit to 2.MFL side Arsimi, whom they would easily dispach 2–1. Their next opponent however would end up being a rejuvenated Pelister. Whilst the trip to Bitola proved to be challenging, Tikvesh still prevailed as 1–0 winners in the end.
The quarters were still no easier, as their next round saw them host the newly renamed AP Brera. The tie between them and the Nero-verdi would have to be decided in a penalty shootout, which Tikvesh would win 6–5. The semi finals hailed the biggest challenge so far, with Tikvesh having to play two legs against Shkupi. The Pigeons were by far the superior side from an ability stand point, however with their attack that season changing like the spring weather, consistency was always lacking for them. Tikvesh would hold back the team in blue to two goalless draws, leading to a decider in penalties. Once again, Tikvesh prevailed and would see itself enter its first cup final.
Their final opponent, the team who stood in Tikvesh’s way of Kavadarci’s greatest ever sporting achievement, was once again Voska Sport. The two teams had once again faced off eachother before, with the teams playing thrice in the league and results favouring Tikvesh. Needless to say though, the final was going to be a tight affair. It was a battle between the rich history of Tikvesh and the rich pockets of Voska Sport.
The final began in favor of Tikvesh, with the Red and White providing most of the chances early on. Even with all their chances, the Tikvesh attack was either just off the mark or were being denied by a heroic Kostadin Zahov display. Eventually, Kristijan Stojkoski would score the first goal with a sensational free kick in the 40th minute. It was evident that this was Tikvesh’s game to lose, with them dominating the stats, possession and keeping Voska’s attack silent.
The second half did not change much, as the team from Kavadarci would once again prove to be the more prepared team. By the 60th minute, they would score their second through loanee Luan Silva. However by this stage, Tikvesh’s midfield and defense became a bit too content with the result, which saw a mistake by goalkeeper Arian Rener punished by Nikolche Sharkoski. All the sudden the score was now 2–1, and the game was very much on with 20 minutes left to play. The more Voska tried, the more Tikvesh would push back, and it all once again boiled down to one final moment.
A perfect cross had hit the head of Voska striker Aleksa Marušić, the top goalscorer of that years 1.MFL. Were it any other game that header would’ve gone into the back of the net, but Rener was able to just barely get a hand onto it and leave it heading towards the post. In the end that was all that was needed, and Tikvesh were crowned the champions of the Macedonian Cup.
A decade in the making
It has been precisely a whole decade since Tikvesh were back in the municipal leagues, and look at where they are now. If Luton Town’s rise is a miracle, Tikvesh represent the dreams everyone tell us are impossible. A small town, with only about 40,000 inhabitants, finally has something to celebrate and for future generations to aspire to achieve.
All credit here has to go to Gjorgji Mojsov and his players who achieved such a feat. The manager’s style of football has been a joy to watch and he undoubtedly has the potential to reach the highest level. Ediz Spahiu has been there for the club when they needed him the most, Daniel Mojsov came to Tikvesh to play for his boyhood club and rewarded them with their highest honor and players like Imran Fetai, Robertinho and Kristijan Stojkoski had a great game. However, I believe there is one player that deserves the most praise of them all.
Aleksandar Varelovski has been back at Tikvesh since 2018, having guided Akademija Pandev to two consecutive promotions from the 3.MFL to the top flight. Like the Mojsov brothers, he is a Kavadarci native and came with the purpose of giving the people from his hometown a reason to be proud. After Gjorgji Mojsov’s retirement, he would be assigned as the club’s captain and he has proven to be amongst the 1.MFL’s best rightbacks despite his age.
It is players like Varelovski, managers like Gjorgji Mojsov and fans like the Lozari that we know that even in the bleakest times, with the right plan, the right people and the right mindset, that the impossible can become possible.
