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Dushanbe-based football club Istiklol has signed contracts with three Croatian players, Fergana.ru reported, citing the club's press service.
Frane Ikic, Frane Čirjak, and Josip Tomašević have joined the team. All three players played for FC Bukhara last season, where they helped the team retain its place in the Uzbek Super League and reach the Cup final.
It is noted that Vitaly Levchenko, who spent four seasons coaching Fergana's Neftchi and led the team to the championship, was recently appointed head coach of Istiklol. Levchenko reportedly decided to bring in familiar and established players to minimize risks, as the team is tasked with winning the AFC Challenge League.
Earlier, another Tajik club, Khujand, invited Serbian specialist Milan Milanovic, who brought with him four Serbian footballers.
Istiklol currently has four foreign players on its roster. In addition to the three Croatian players, the team also includes Ukrainian footballer Dmytro Bilonog. According to current regulations, Tajik clubs are allowed to have no more than seven foreign players on their rosters, with no more than five foreign players allowed on the field at any one time.
Frane Ikić began his professional career at Zadar. Over the years, he played for Rijeka and its second team, Slovenian side Koper, Croatian side Cibalia, Bosnian side Željezničar Sarajevo, Hungarian side Girmot, and Slovenian side Fuzinar.
Frane Čirjak played for Zadar and Zagreb in Croatia. He later played for Zrinjski Mostar, Lviv in Ukraine, Lokomotiv Sofia in Bulgaria, Novi Pazar in Serbia, Sarajevo in Bosnia, and Bunyodkor in Tashkent. With Zrinjski, he won the Bosnia and Herzegovina championship in the 2017/18 season.
Josip Tomašević is a product of Hajduk Split's youth system. He played professionally for RNK Split, Imotski, Dugopolje, and Tsibalia. In Bulgaria, Tomašević played for Lokomotiv Plovdiv, winning two Bulgarian Cups and a Super Cup. He later played for Greek club Atromitos, Israeli club Hapoel Hadera, and Romanian club Otelul.
