Anto Grabo
Encyclopedia
Anto Grabo is a Bosnia
n football (soccer)
player who spent most of his career in Hong Kong
.
, namely FK Željezničar Sarajevo, NK Dinamo Vinkovci
, Rudar (Lj.) and FK Velež Mostar
. In 1987, he was called to the Yugoslavia national football team
training section, but was unable to win a cap. During late 80's, Grabo left Yugoslavia
due to the unstable situation in the country. He joined Belgian Second Division
team K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
. In 1990, he left Europe
and joined Kuala Lumpur FA
in Malaysia.
team South China. His debut was the semi-final match against Sing Tao in Hong Kong Senior Shield
. He scored the first time for the team in his second match against Army. He was included in Hong Kong XI to compete in Carlsberg Cup
and scored in the match against Denmark U-21 national team. Grabo played very well in the season and was awarded Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
Best Attacking Player Award, Hong Kong First Division League Best Foreign Player and was included in Hong Kong First Division League Best Player Squad.
In 1993-94, he assisted South China to win Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
again and he himself won the Best Attacking Player Award the second time. In the same year, he assisted the team to get into Asian Cup Winners Cup
final, the best result in Asian club competition.
In 1996-97, 36-year-old Grabo only scored 4 goals and the team was unable to get any trophy.
, but Grabo was able to score 8 goals in the season.
In 1998-99, many Sing Tao players were found involved in match fixing
and were suspended. The team was dissolved after the season.
.
In 2000-01, the team captured Hong Kong FA Cup
and got the 2nd place in Hong Kong First Division League
. However, the team quit the league after this season and Grabo also left professional football.
In 2002-03, despite being 42 years old, he scored 8 goals. HKFC was unable to prevent a regulation.
He stayed in HKFC to compete in Hong Kong Second Division League
for 3 more years.
Post-retirement, Grabo dabbled in a bit of coaching with the HKFC Colts. Upon his first session, he greeted his teammates with these words: "I am Anto Grabo, do not fuck with me."
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who spent most of his career in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Early career
He played for several clubs, mostly in the Yugoslav First LeagueYugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
, namely FK Željezničar Sarajevo, NK Dinamo Vinkovci
HNK Cibalia
HNK Cibalia, or just Cibalia, is a Croatian football club from the town of Vinkovci in eastern Croatia. Cibalia currently play in the Prva HNL, Croatia's top flight. Their stadium is located in the south part of their home town and can hold 12,000 spectators...
, Rudar (Lj.) and FK Velež Mostar
FK Velež Mostar
FK Velež , successor of RŠD Velež, is a football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the city of Mostar, founded on June 22, 1922....
. In 1987, he was called to the Yugoslavia national football team
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
training section, but was unable to win a cap. During late 80's, Grabo left Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
due to the unstable situation in the country. He joined Belgian Second Division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
team K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
Koninklijke Football Club Lommelse Sportkring was a Belgian football club that existed between 1932 and 2003. It played two spells at the highest level in the Belgian football league system: from 1992 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2003. Its best ranking was reached in 1997 when it finished...
. In 1990, he left Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and joined Kuala Lumpur FA
Kuala Lumpur FA
The Kuala Lumpur Football Association is a Malaysian professional football association based in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The association was founded as the Federal Territory Football Association in 1974 and entered Malaysian football competitions in 1979 before being renamed Kuala Lumpur in 1986...
in Malaysia.
South China period
In 1992-93, Grabo joined Hong Kong First Division LeagueHong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
team South China. His debut was the semi-final match against Sing Tao in Hong Kong Senior Shield
Hong Kong Senior Shield
Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield is the oldest football knockout inter-club competition in Asia. Usually only the teams in First Division would enter into the competition...
. He scored the first time for the team in his second match against Army. He was included in Hong Kong XI to compete in Carlsberg Cup
Carlsberg Cup
The Lunar New Year Cup, also known as the Carlsberg Challenge or the Carlsberg Cup before, is an annual football tournament organised in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Football Association, established on 1948. It is usually held on the first and the fourth day of the Chinese New Year as a part of...
and scored in the match against Denmark U-21 national team. Grabo played very well in the season and was awarded Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
Hong Kong Viceroy Cup is an abandoned football competition in Hong Kong. It was the first footabll competition in Hong Kong which allowed business sponsorship. Together with First Division League, FA Cup and Senior Shield, they were at the time considered as Big Four compeititons in Hong Kong...
Best Attacking Player Award, Hong Kong First Division League Best Foreign Player and was included in Hong Kong First Division League Best Player Squad.
In 1993-94, he assisted South China to win Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
Hong Kong Viceroy Cup is an abandoned football competition in Hong Kong. It was the first footabll competition in Hong Kong which allowed business sponsorship. Together with First Division League, FA Cup and Senior Shield, they were at the time considered as Big Four compeititons in Hong Kong...
again and he himself won the Best Attacking Player Award the second time. In the same year, he assisted the team to get into Asian Cup Winners Cup
Asian Cup Winners Cup
The Asian Cup Winners' Cup was an association football competition run by the Asian Football Confederation . The competition was started in 1991 as a tournament for all the domestic cup winners from countries affiliated to the AFC...
final, the best result in Asian club competition.
Golden period
In 1995-96, he joined Golden. He scored 16 goals for the team, which is the highest scoring in his years in Hong Kong. However, for the three times he faces South China in cup competition, Golden lost all of them.In 1996-97, 36-year-old Grabo only scored 4 goals and the team was unable to get any trophy.
Sing Tao period
Sing Tao only got a 4th place in Hong Kong First Division LeagueHong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
, but Grabo was able to score 8 goals in the season.
In 1998-99, many Sing Tao players were found involved in match fixing
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
and were suspended. The team was dissolved after the season.
Instant-Dict period
Originally, he was linked to Rangers but the deal finally fell through. He then joined another giant team Instant-DictDouble Flower
Double Flower Football Association is a Hong Kong football club and plays in Hong Kong Second Division League. It was a very successful team in 1990s under the name Instant-Dict .-Events:...
.
In 2000-01, the team captured Hong Kong FA Cup
Hong Kong FA Cup
Hong Kong FA Cup is a knockout cup competition in Hong Kong football, run by and named after The Hong Kong Football Association. The first edition of the competition was held in 1975, before then the cup was known as the Golden Jubilee Cup. The current season is the 33rd edition of the event...
and got the 2nd place in Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
. However, the team quit the league after this season and Grabo also left professional football.
HKFC period
In 2001-02, he joined newly promoted team HKFC and he scored only 2 goals in the season.In 2002-03, despite being 42 years old, he scored 8 goals. HKFC was unable to prevent a regulation.
He stayed in HKFC to compete in Hong Kong Second Division League
Hong Kong Second Division League
Hong Kong Second Division League is the second level of football league in Hong Kong, founded in 1909. The top two teams are promoted to the Hong Kong First Division League.-Competition format:...
for 3 more years.
Post-retirement, Grabo dabbled in a bit of coaching with the HKFC Colts. Upon his first session, he greeted his teammates with these words: "I am Anto Grabo, do not fuck with me."
External links
- Profile at Playerhistory. (As Anton Grabo)
- www.GoalGoalGoal.com 請介紹一下南華基堡資料 (in chinese)
- Stats from Yugoslav Leagues at Zerodic.com. (As Anton Grabo)