Vidi prepare to face Balmazujvaros for the first time

The new OTP league season kicks off on the 16th July for Videoton FC. The first opponents will be newly promoted Balmaz Kamilla Gyorgyfurdo. The team from the east of Hungary have never before faced Videoton in a league fixture.

Sunday’s opponents were first formed as Balmazujvaros back in 1913 and went on to compete in the league in season 1971-72. They would go on to play 25 years in the third tier and two in the second division until 2011. They had not been able to gain promotion to the NBI during that period. A new chapter started in 2011 with a merger with NBII side Bocs and then NBIII side Balmaz, which resulted in them continuing to play in the second tier and in their original colours of yellow and black. There was a fourth place finish in 2012-13 and a fifth place in 2015-16. However, they would cause a surprise in the most recent season when they managed to negotiate their way out of the league and to promotion.

They went into the final league game of last season with Soroksar, Bekescsaba and Kisvarda all competing to go up to the first division. It was Balmazujvaros that performed the best at the end: the final 8 games included 2 draws and 6 wins. The two clubs have never met in the league or cup. Our opponents did have a season in the second division back in 1993-95, but Videoton were in a league above at that time. This is why this will be the first official league game between Videoton FC and Balmaz Kamilla Gyógyfürdő. Today’s opponents will have a regular face in the dugout as former Vidi manager Ferenc Horvath recently took charge. He led Vidi to a second place finish in 2016.