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Branimir Poljac

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Branimir Poljac
Personal information
Full name Branimir Poljac
Date of birth (1984-05-17) 17 May 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Oslo, Norway
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker, Winger
Youth career
Klemetsrud
KFUM Oslo
Stabæk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Stabæk 42 (11)
2004 → Start (loan) 1 (0)
2008 Moss 20 (3)
2009–2010 Konyaspor 40 (11)
International career‡
2000 Norway U16 4 (1)
2002 Norway U18 9 (4)
2003 Norway U19 9 (1)
2001–2004 Norway U21 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 May 2010
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 January 2009

Branimir Poljac (born 17 May 1984) is a former Norwegian football striker who was playing for Konyaspor in Turkey before he had a car accident which ended his career. He has Croatian parents.

Career

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Poljac started his career in Klemetsrud and KFUM Oslo and then as a junior player he signed for Stabæk. He played for Stabæk in the Norwegian Tippeliga, but limited playing time saw him moving to Moss ahead of the 2008 season. In January 2009, Poljac signed with the Turkish club Konyaspor.[2]

On 2 April 2010, Poljac was seriously injured in a car accident. Poljac lost control of his car in a curve, and went off the road, landing on its roof. According to news reports, Poljac suffered serious neck injuries in the crash, and might be permananently paralyzed.[3]

His accident shocked Turkey, since the fans and the city liked him, and saw him as great gentleman and a good player, with potential. Many fan groups, likewise ordinary Turks, are praying for him, since he was popular in the city. On the 6 April, it was first reported that he was still in a serious condition and could potentially die and that the risk for him, becoming paralyzed was as high as 90%.[4]

Later the same day, doctors said, that he would survive the accident, whereas Branimir Poljac stated:

I survived a huge accident. For now I feel lucky I am live. I want to get well as soon as possible and return to football. From the accident until today, I want to thank everyone who has supported me. Everyone who loves me, keep on praying for me.[1]

In order to give him moral support, a website has been created for his honour, called "Legend Poljac" where people wrote messages to him.[5]

Poljac is currently[when?] in Norway in Sunnaas Hospital and fighting back after his accident. He is slowly regaining use of his limbs. At first he could only move his shoulders, but now he is beginning to feel his arms, and his situation has moved very fast forward. In an interview[citation needed] he stated that he will be back somehow, as fit as before the accident.

Konyaspor's involvement with Poljac after the accident

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Konyaspor is constantly in touch with Poljac. The team bus now displays the pictures of Poljac, and the Turkish Football Federation has reimbursed the player with 100,000 Turkish liras for the accident.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Club bio Archived 2008-04-29 at the Wayback Machine at Moss FK
  2. ^ "Konyaspor'da Poljac imzaladı" (in Turkish). Sporx.com. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  3. ^ Tidligere Stabæk-spiller risikerer å bli lam, VG Nett (3 April 2010). Retrieved on 3 April 2010. (Norwegian)
  4. ^ "POLJAC'IN SAĞLIK DURUMU - Konhaber.com - Türkiye'nin İnternet Gazetesi - 06 Nisan 2010, Salı". Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Gecmis Olsun Poljac Nalcaci.com". Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Konya, Poljac'ı unutmadı".
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