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John 'Ivo' Kerschbaum, who was an integral member of the Croatia team of the 1960s, passed away in Hobart on New Year’s Eve aged 86.
The tall, powerfully-built Kerschbaum was good in the air and possessed a thunderous shot.
Born in Croatia, he came to Australia at the end of the 1950s and first played for Croatia in 1961, finishing as the club’s leading scorer.
In 1962, Kerschbaum was selected for The Rest team against a team representing the British Commonwealth. The Rest won 4-2 and Kerschbaum netted twice.
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In an article in The Mercury on 3 September 1962, in relation to Croatia’s game against Rangers, Kerschbaum is described thus: “Tall, well-built centre-forward Kerschbaum was the hero of the match, scoring a sparkling hat-trick - his third of the season.
“He deservedly was carried off the field by excited supporters after the game.”
Kerschbaum was passionate about his football and sometimes let his emotions rule.
After scoring the equaliser in this game against Rangers, The Mercury reported that “…he took off the boot that had kicked the goal and threw it high in the air, caught it, and kissed it to the obvious delight of the big crowd.”
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He was beginning to attract attention and a State honour soon followed.
Kerschbaum represented Tasmania against South Australia at South Hobart on 13 April 1963 in the famous 0-0 draw in which Tasmania’s goalkeeper, Harry Alexiadis, saved a penalty.
Alexiadis, the Olympia keeper, was very familiar with Kerschbaum’s abilities as the Croatia centre-forward had a marvellous scoring record against the Greek-backed club.
He almost always scored against Olympia and hit a memorable hat-trick against them in 1963.
In one game against Olympia, he tangled with an opponent and both were sent off. Kerschbaum copped a six-week suspension while his opponent only got two weeks.
Kerschbaum also represented Southern Tasmania in the intrastate series, scoring once in the 2-1 win over Northern Tasmania in 1963.
He was a member of the Croatia team that won its first-ever silverware in 1963 when they beat Olympia 1-0 in the Tasmanian State KO Cup Final.
In 1964, he played for a Select XI against Rangers in a benefit match for the injured Jim Hunter of Rangers.
In that season, he scored 7 of Croatia’s 36 goals.
He captained Croatia in 1965.
He was also a member of an ‘all-Croatian’ Croatia side in the early 1960s.
Kerschbaum is survived by his wife, Della, and children Tony, Michael, Mark and Sonia and their families.
Photo: Croatia's 1965 team at South Hobart with Kerschbaum standing fourth from the left.
2 comments:
Condolences to Johns family great player and person rest in peace
Thanks Walter (and Karl),a lovely and moving tribute to Dad. He was always extremely passionate about his soccer (sometimes a little too much!). I know he always had an immense amount of time for you. Michael Kerschbaum.
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