To this day he remains an icon in the eyes of football fans and will be so forever. He became a legend after losing his precious young life in a car crash- a legend that will never be outshadowed.
Mance had a special charisma which gained him unconditional support and love from all Partizan supporters, to this day. All of us, who were honoured to be around him while he played for his beloved club, knew with how much energy and passion he loved Partizan and how much he loved scoring goals, never forgetting his way of celebrating goals- sliding on his knees towards “Black and White Kop”.
It`s very hard, even after 24 years, gathering strength to write about tragic loss, loss that most of the Partizan supporters took very personally- it was like losing a close family member.
Still, gruesome reality pushes us to remember those moments, from 3rd of September 1985.
Sunny morning, 3rd of September, 1985. Dragan Mance got up in a good mood, phoned his mate Milan Nadoveza, telling him he`s got a training session at 10 o`clock, telling him to meet him afterwards..
Could`ve he guessed, just than, than he won`t make it for a training session..
Could`ve he guessed, just than, that doomed and pointless death is going to grab him in craze and enmity, before he reports to the coach Nenad Bjekovic…
Sadly, he could have guessed, many had thought!
For instance:
Why was he driving 150 km per hour?
Was he wearing a seatbelt?
Why didn`t he run over a kid who runned over the road, the reason he swerved, hit the pole and died?
And so on, in order..
Stupid questions, one after another, to make man shiver..
The truth is, Dragan Mance did what all of us would have done, anyone driving Peugeot 205, anyone at the age of 23, anyone who loves his job.
And, how many times we did it?
And?
Nothing! Simply nothing.
We got where we wanted. Alive and healthy, of course.
Him, Dragan Mance, Partizan supporters icon, who had everything one 23-year old could have wished for: money, fast car, love of the girls, family harmony, glory and open horisons of splendid colouring, did not get where he aimed.
Why?
Well, simply, he got into the- just bought- car and took the road to glory, took the road to one simple training session. Dragan was rushing for a training- and never got there.
I think it`s called destiny.
He lived short, but still became such a personality, that he was adored by supporters, loved by true football fans.He was mesmerised with some miraculuous strength, typical for those few predetermined for “open scene” and most notable achievements.
Dragan Mance did not only excite by his play, goals, strong attacks.he knew more than just that. He was able to “wake up” entire team, to get spectators on its feet, to make it a whole and create such an atmosphere on a stadium.Many expereinced, renowned and better football aces to envy him!
Simply said- he was a born leader, idolised by those attending football matches.
He was storming towards the goal, as quck as the lighting, and he lived so. As Momcilo Vukotic said:
-Just as he was supposed to start living, his life faded away..
Life has unconseivable logic- weakest don`t fall first, sinners don`t atone first, good-for-nothings don`t sink..In front of such a puzzle, which saddens some and comforts some, bulkiest human questions are forged along with most rational answers.
On a “Novo groblje” cemetary in Belgrade, on a 4th of September 1985, saying last goodbyes to Dragan Mance, we were aware that we are burying a man who had more reasons and logic to live, than the most of us.
That`s that unconseivable logic.
Biography: It all happened in September
Dragan Mance was born on 26th of September 1962, in Belgrade. His first footbal days were in Galenika FC( Zemun FC, now) in the youngest selections. His strong will, determination and distinctive feel for opposition goal, made him jumping easily into the higher selections, so he soon became a Galenika FC( than second division side) first team player, aged 17. Carried forward by his undisputable and sumptuous talent, he signs for Partizan, on a 15th of September 1980..
…Played 279 matches for Partizan…
…Scored 174 goals…
…Had 4 appearances for Yugoslav National Team, 7 under-21 caps, and two games for Yugoslav Olympic Team…
…Mance lived in Zemun with his family- father Ferdinand( died three years ago), mother Dusanka and younger brother Goran ( he still works with us in Partizan)…
…He was single…
September was a month when Dragan was born, moved to Partizan and, sadly, a month when Dragan Mance lost his precious life. Last goal Mance scored, was on a national league match versus Buducnost FC of Podgorica, on Partizan stadium . Partizan won 2:1, and Mance scored an 8th minute penalty goal. It was on a 1st of September, three days before his death.
