The Cibalia Chronicle
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Gabrijel Boban scores twice — 9.07
Two goals and a mark of 9.07 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.
Transfer targets31 Aug 2026
The paperwork begins on Sven Lesjak
A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. Cibalia have done the hard part with NK Varazdin, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
Transfer targets31 Aug 2026
Valentin Ţicu turns down Cibalia
The clubs had agreed and the player had not. A snub, and a public one: Dinamo Bucharest keep him, and the supporters here are left wondering what he had heard about the place.
Transfer targets31 Aug 2026
Door shut on Evgeniy Yablonskiy
Cibalia asked and PAOK said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Match29 Aug 2026
Gabrijel Boban the difference as Cibalia beat Imotski
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Gabrijel Boban. 2‑0 against Imotski, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Petar Mišić runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 16. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Transfer targets31 Aug 2026
Cibalia ask about Dmitry Chistyakov
A loan enquiry to Dinamo Moscow: cover, or a look at somebody the club cannot afford to buy yet. Either way the answer will come back inside the week.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
Fran Horvat has his say
“We earned that. I asked them for a reaction and I got one, and now I want the same again on Saturday.” Fran Horvat on a 2‑0 afternoon that pleased him more than he was prepared to show.
Squad31 Aug 2026
The weekend belonged to Gabrijel Boban
Player of the week, judged against every other man in the division. A small award, and one most careers never collect.
In brief
- Player ratings The chances came and went for Ante Kuliš
- The dugout Karlo Kamenar does not fit this one
- Squad Gabrijel Boban makes the position his own