In less than four years of existence, RSK Zora, the forerunner of Budućnost, according to preserved testimonies of its players and management members, had two coaches, both foreigners: Karl Vugrinec i Duja Vlaka. Moreover, we cannot view the term "coach" in its current sense. Usually, these were more experienced football players, somewhat more knowledgeable about the essence of the game, more authoritative, and able to give their teammates some tactical advice.
In previous sports journalism dealing with Zora's coaches, the view was that, chronologically speaking, Vugrinec was the first, and that Vlak succeeded him. The documentary heritage cannot fully support this order, especially since it is undeniable that they were in Podgorica at the same time for a certain period.
Information about Vugrinec is scarcer. It is known that he was a Slovenian, a communist, and worked at the power plant in Podgorica, some say as an electrician, others as a driver.
"Interesting, strange and good man", due to his physical resemblance to the Austrian national team player Matijasom Sindelarom, he was nicknamed Sindelar. As a guide to when he came to Podgorica, the fact that on May 12, 1927, almost two years after the founding of Zora, “Vogrinec Dragutin” was registered for it can serve as a guide. The name should not be misleading - “Dragutin” is a Slovenian variant of the German “Karlo”.
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A good footballer himself - he proved himself as a centre forward in several matches - he was also dedicated as a coach, say contemporaries. The Montenegrin press of the time mentions him three times. On all three occasions, as a referee of matches that Zora played with Lovćen in the summer and autumn of 1927 (1:1, August 2) and Balšić (1:0, September 25), and Balšić with Lovćen (1:2, August 7).
An anecdote from the Podgorica derby remained about how Vugrinec encouraged his players the night before the match: "We'll beat them tomorrow... Just play bravely," he told them before the friendly duel.
Zora defeated Balšić 1:0, with a goal Bećir Abdomerović - from the penalty spot.
"Judge Karlo Vugrinjec was biased," reported Slobodna misao.
As the author of the text himself, Jovan P. Vukcevic, as we said, connected to Balšić. Allegedly, the Slovenian found himself in the hands of his own team after the match, provoking the anger of the rival's management.
It is from the previously mentioned statement by Balšić, published in the Split Jadranska Pošta, that we learn that Vugrinec - "Fugrinec" as he is called - is "a member of the Ljubljana Podsavez and a legitimized federal judge", and at the same time a member of Zora.
Due to his political affiliation, the Slovenian coach was under the watchful eye of the authorities.
"The police constantly prevented the activities of our club, especially Vugrinec, when they found out that it belonged to the Communist Party," he said. Milo Bulatovic, Zora's secretary.
“In order to prevent the arrest of comrade Vugrinec, Kico Scepovic "You and I hid it together."
It didn't last long. The district police chief expelled Vugrinec from Podgorica, on the grounds that he was a vagrant, a vagrant, and a communist.
Po Šefket Šabanadžović, that happened at the beginning of 1928. However, when in August 1929 Budućnost was accepted under the auspices of the Split Football Sub-Association, among the registered players was - Dragutin Vugrinec. No further information about him is available. After leaving Podgorica, his trace was lost.
Zora's second coach, Duje Vlak from Split, the "pastry chef" - the nickname came from the pastry chef, the profession he was involved in - is a colorful sports personality, a true football vagabond.
Born in 1902, the sharp center midfielder played for RŠK Split, Slavia from Sarajevo, and GOŠK from Dubrovnik in the first half of the third decade of the 20th century, of which he was a member at the time of the founding of Zora.
It is not possible to say for sure when and how long he stayed in Podgorica, but it is certain that it was short, for a few months, and that Zora was not his first address. At the meeting of the Business Board of the Split Football Sub-Association on March 2, 1927, one of the decisions was that Duje Vlak would be “read out for Balšić for 6 months”.
At the end of May 1927, he refereed a friendly match between Zora and Lovćen. He did not stay long in Balšić. He soon expressed his desire to continue his career in Zora, “with his people”.
As early as March 1928, the Split native was mentioned as a member of Jedinstvo from Herceg Novi, and in May he was playing for Borac from his hometown. His football career took him to Zrinjski from Mostar...
Duje Vlak did not live to see the end of World War II - he died in 1944 in Split. Decades later, his grandson Marian He would regularly visit Podgorica (Titograd) for football reasons, as a goalkeeper for Dinamo Zagreb (1973-1988).
(From the monograph “Proud Past, One Future”, which will be on sale soon)
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