Culture and sports in Zelenika

The ensemble “Bokelji”, the first klapa in Montenegro, was founded in Zelenika in July 1966. The ensemble existed for 35 years, until 2001, and its regular members were: Dragan Rakic, Zdravko Vuksanovic, Dusko and Lazar Seferevic, Milivoj Peruskovic and Stanko Macura. In addition to the original, permanent lineup, many others performed in the ensemble over the years. At the beginning, a mandolin orchestra of Music School students also performed with the ensemble.
“Bokelji” have held over 1200 concerts, both in the region and all over Europe, and even reached the famous Moscow concert hall “Tchaikovsky” in 1981, where they performed with Gertruda Munitic, the prima donna of Sarajevo Opera. They have also performed at Eurovision and Intervision.”
They participated in numerous festivals throughout Yugoslavia, including the most prestigious regional vocal group festival in Omiš, and performed three times at the World Tourism Fair in Berlin. They were also part of the program at the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo in 1984.
They also performed for the Danish queen Margrethe and, on several occasions, for Josip Broz Tito and Jovanka Broz.
The ensemble recorded 19 independent television shows, three LP records, two singles, several audio cassettes and CDs, and also recorded an LP record and three TV shows about Herceg Novi and the Bay of Kotor with one of the greatest music stars of Yugoslavia, Tereza Kesovija. (Lazar Seferovic, Znameniti Novljani u svijetu muzike, Herceg Novi 2015, p. 154-6.)

The members of the ensemble, Lazar and Dusan Seferevic, wrote a monograph about it titled “The Sagas of the Bokelji Ensemble”.
Their song “Zeleničke tihe vale” (Gentle waves of Zelenika) is an unofficial anthem of Zelenika.
In honor of “Bokelji,” Zelenika was awarded a commemorative plaque and a memorial bench in 2022.

Source: Facebook page of the folklore group Ilija Kišić

The karate club, based in Kuti, is engaged in Kyokushin Kaikan (Jap. Society of Ultimate Truth) karate, a type of karate with full contact. The school started operating in Bijela in 1981. The founder is Joko Krivokapic, a Bijela native who practiced this type of karate in the Netherlands and earned a black belt there. Since 1987, the school has grown into the “Bijela” club, which was one of the most successful karate clubs in Montenegro in classical karate until 1996, and from 1997, the most successful Kyokushinkai karate club in Yugoslavia. Since 1992, there has also been a Kyokushinkai karate club in Herceg Novi. Since 2006, the clubs have been unified, with a training ground at the cultural center in Bijela. Since 2022, the headquarters of the Kyokushinkai karate club is at the Spiritual Center of St. Cyril and Methodius in Kuti-Zelenika. 

The most successful members of the club are Filip Kovacevic, junior vice champion of the world and the best athlete of Herceg Novi in 2014; Djordje Pesikan, junior vice champion of the world in 2017; Jelica Golubović, bronze medalist at the World Championships in 2012; Darko Boroje, bronze medalist at the World Championships in 2014; Milan Jovanov, international master and world champion for 2022, now a coach of the Serbian national team; Stefan Perišić, international master; the late Jovan Kosać, international master; Nataša Vujicic, international master; Nikola Begović, international master; Željko Bošković, international master; Igor Pesikan, international master and Dragan Pesikan, multiple international master, coach of the Yugoslav national team since 1994, and head coach since 2001.

The first football club in Zelenika, FK Obilić, was formed in 1924. Their stadium was Obilića poljana. The club had blue jerseys. The club’s activity was interrupted by World War II. After the war, the club Radnički was formed instead of Obilić. Matches were played at the military stadium in Kumbor. The club was disbanded in 1948. In the same year, a new club called “Obalac” was formed. Again, the matches were played at Obilića poljana. The club existed under difficult conditions until 1952.

After almost thirty years of Zelenica clubs, it was time for a local one. A football club “Mladost” was formed in Kuti. Completely amateur, the club had no management, coach, or captain, and was extinguished as early as 1958. Soon the same-named club was formed in Zelenika. At first, they played at Obilića poljana, but later had to move to Kumbor due to the construction of a school and warehouse.

Zelenika currently does not have a basketball club, but there used to be the OKK Zelenika. The club was formed in 1985 on the initiative of young players from Zelenika who played in Primorje. The main initiators were Jovica Maslan and Dragan Vico. The first coach of the club was Sasa Ogurlic, the first president was Savo Morovic, and the first secretary was Ljubo Maslan.

The original team of OKK Zelenika consisted of: Ivica Miljevic, Krsto Vuksanovic, Jovica Maslan, Dragan Bakoc, Ljubo Bakoc, Slobodan Popovic, Davor Milic, Ilija Kovacevic, Boris Ozrinic, Drasko Tripkovic, Jovica Gudeljevic, and Zoran Curcic.

After its establishment, in the 1985/86 season, they competed in the second league of Montenegro. They won first place and entered the first league, where they stayed for two years. Then they dropped to the second league and later to the South Region league. Due to financial difficulties, the club ceased to exist at the end of the 1989/90 season. In the last two years of its existence, the club was led by Milan Dabovic.

Now there are two basketball schools in Zelenika. One of them is led by former OKK Zelenika player Ilija Kovacevic, who is also the founder and coach. The school was established in 2014 and has seen hundreds of boys and girls pass through it, not only from Zelenika and Kuti but also from Kumbor and Djenovici. For three years, they provided competitive teams in the younger categories for KK Primorje. Currently, the school gathers around fifteen children between the ages of 6 and 11.