Journalists had always been some sort of problem for anthropologists, despite their valuable help for us. Thanks to them, our researches take more attention from the public. However, most often, before they publish we have to check what they wrote about us, about our researches and about the people on whom we conduct our researches. But, sometimes it becomes a bit difficult.
João Seixas, journalist from Portuguese daily sport journal “Records” made an interview with me just before the match between Portugal and Bosnia and Hercegovina fort he World Cup 2010 qualification.
Here you can find the original article
Here is the translation (I had to add some corrections for the most visible ones):
FANS FIERCE TO SCARE PORTUGAL
UNIVERSITY SPECIALIST ON FOOTBALL FANS WARRANT THAT BOSNIAN FANS ARE LOYAL
The anthropologist Dirim Ozkan is one of the most famous researchers of the organized supporters on an european level. (Erratum 1) Born in Turkey, this university professor, that one day decided to leave the turkish army in search of “more brain and less muscle”, spent a big part of his life looking and the root of human behaviour related with the football phenomenon.(Erratum 2)
After a few e-mails we scheduled an encounter in a nice coffee shop in the muslim part of Sarajevo. (Erratum 3) Smiling and in a good mood, Dirim is a master of the spoken word and after four hours of academic talk, almost nothing is left unanswered about this country's supporters and what extra motivation they can give to Miroslav Blazevic players on the game between Portugal and Bosnia, on the way to the South Africa world cup.
“The organized supporters are, like in the rest of the Balcans, very strong and prepared for violence. However, here there's not attacks behind the back. Loyalty is the base and the confrontations are always on a man to man basis, ther's no uneven forces”, reveals Dirim. The “Bosnia Fanatics”, code name for the group that gets together to support the national team, is described as an “well organized force”, beeing that they divide themselves to make sure the team never lacks support: “If the game is at home, national members take care of it. If it's away, there are bosnian supporters in Norway, Sweden and other countries that take care of organizing things”.
Ethnicity
Next, it was time for a pull of ears from this Turk that, after studying the phenomenon in several countries, based himself in the Balcans. “Please, don't write that the problems here are motivated exclusively by religion. The problems that exist are motivated by ethnies, by rivalry between urban and rural and finally the normal differences between clubs. What we have between Zenica and Sarajevo is like your Benfica – FC Porto. The ones from the capital city, closer to the power, against the ones further away from it who want to be in front one day”, assumes Dirim.
In fact, connected to this two clubs Dirim tells a story that explains the phenomenon in this region. “Sarajevo's supporters were going to Travnik and were stopped on the road by the Zenica supporters, who are rivals... of Travnik. (Erratum 4)And if some threw stones, others replied with grenades! Sometimes is complicated...” To end, it was time to explain the choice behing Celik's stadium, in Zenika. “It's an english style stadium, with the field very close to the stands. The insults and provocations will be more than many, as is a good example the club's organized supporters, the Robijasi Boys.”
ERRATUM 1: I am really trying to do my best, but I am sure I am too far away of being the “most famous”. This might be a naive exeggeration of João.
ERRATUM 2: There is a great misunderstanding here.I was in military service in Turkish Navy in November 2008 – May 2009. “Less muscle,more brain” is not my own word.It might be a sort of journalistic imagination.
ERRATUM 3: There is nothing like “muslim” or “catholic” or “orthdox” part of the city. The cafe was located in the middle of the Stari Grad (Old City) some hundred meters to some mosques, some churches and even to a synagogue.
ERRATUM 4: The case had happened in Zenica when Zeljo fans were on their way back from a match in Zepce (not in Travnik).
NOTE: Thanks to Filiz Kahveci-Kıyıcı and Pedro Gomes for the translation.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Friday, 6 November 2009
LET TURKEY NOT BE IN THE SAME GROUP WITH BOSNIA AGAIN
I have mentioned many times about love of Bosnians for Turkey in that blog, especially in the articles just before Turkey-Croatia match in EURO 2008. Do not be confused with the fact that Bosnian king Tvrtko had fought against Otoman Army in Kosovo War in 1389 together with Serbian king Lazar. Kepin mind that, Anatolian princedoms also did not hesitate to fight against Ottomans who tried to establish hegemony over Turkomans. So to say, it does not mean that Tvrtko was a real enemy against Turks. Maybe he just did not want his people to be under control of Ottomans.
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There had been relations between Turks and Bosnians in pre-Ottoman Era as well. The Bektashi Fathers were the first to visit the region before the warriors and it is very well known how local Bosnians were hospitable for those heartfelt visitors. It is even argued that, that relationship between Bektashis and Bosnians made it to easier to occupy this are by the Ottomans. This sincere relationship between Ottomans and Bosnians were such deep that Habsburg monarchs, who occupied and annexed Bosnia to Austria-Hungary in 1878 had to accept that Bosnians would be directly connected to Sheihk-ul Islam (religious head) who was residing in Istanbul. Bosnians identify their religions as “Turkish type Islam”, and even not very fond of those neo-Turks in Bosnia: “Those neo-Turks do try to cnvert us to Arabic type of Islam.”
In that “football culture”blog, I will not bother the reader with the friendship of Bosnians and Turks. I just wanted to open a paranthesis before introducing in the subject of recent football matches between Bosnia and Turkey. Friendship between Turkey and Bosnia has great historical and cultural background. While Bosnian Serbs have got close ties with Serbia, and Bosnian Croats with Croatia, this situation makes Bosnian Muslims (aka Bosniaks) closer to Turkey: “If you have your Beograd and Zagreb, we have our Istanbul!” The national football matches between Turkey-Bosnia, or football matches between Turkish and Bosnian football matches in UEFA cups are played within this atmosphere. It is very common to see Turkish flags in the stadiums of Bosnia..png)
On the other side, it is somehow strange that the first friendly match between Turkey and Bosnia was played in August 16, 2000. Turkey could only by then think of playing with her sister eight years after the independence. The result of the first friendly game between Turkey and Bosnia played in Koşevo Stadium was 2-0 for Bosnia.
The destiny made two teams to play couple of times in the international tournaments. The first match between Turkey and Bosnia in the qualifying group was played in June 2, 2007. Although Turkey had scored the first goal, Bosnians were the victorous side at the end: 3-2. The revenge of that match was played by November 21, 2007 in Istanbul. Instead of identifying it as “played” we would better to say “acted like to be played”.Bosnia, who did not have any chance in the group did not make the thing more difficult for Turkey and the result was areasonable 1-0 defeat for Bosnia. The headlines of Hungarian newspapers were meaningful: “Eternal Brotherhood”. The threepoints of Turkey gathered from that match made it possible for Turkey to go to Austria and Switzerland instead of Hungary.
I had written about possible attitude of Bosnians about Turkey-Croatia match in that blog before: Zagreb ce biti turska mahala.
Hence, I had also mentioned how they celebrated Turkish victory: Turmoil in Bosnia After Turkey-Croatia Match.
For South Africa 2010, Turkey and Bosnia were seeded in the same group again. I had mentioned that Bosnia would not bean easy team to pass: Bosnian Surprise for Turkey.
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The first match would be in Istanbul, at October 11, 2008, in İnönü Stadium with the new trainer of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Ciro had asked Bosnia fans to not to wear Turkey jerseys during the match. It is well known that Bosnians have great sympathy to Turkish football, not only on national level, but on local level as well. Not only those jerseys or accessories of great teams of Istanbul, but even Turkish teams which do not play in Super League can be seen on Bosnian football fans. Just before that match, Ciro had asked Bosnian fans: “I know you enjoy Turkish flags, but at least in that match come only with Bosnian flags!”. When I have wrote about this in my blog, our “football fans” began to produce conspiracy theories about “anti-Turkish character of Ciro”. Bosnians did not do any surprise for Turkey. Athough they had scored the first goal, the rule that “who scores Turkey the first goal will be defeated” was valid in that match as well, and the final score was 2-1. And among 1600 fans of Bosnia, it was possible to see Bosnians with Turkish flags, scarves or other accessories.
Bosnians never hesitate to be kind to Turks in such circumstances. But, it is visible that Turks do not reply that kindness very often. On the contrary, when Bosnians lit torches, they are groaned down by Turkish fans. When Bosnians prefer to sing their original national march “Jedna si jedina”, during their artificial national match is played in the stadum, or when they replace the artifical flag with the original Bosnian flag with the “ljiljans”, Turkish fans start jeers again. It ispartly because of disinformation about Bosnian history and reality, and partly because of other sentiments.
In fact Bosnian did not make a surprise in Zenica in September 9, 2009. One could see numerous Turkish flags in there as well and the result of the match was a draw:1-1. But, it was Bosnia at the end who had obtained the right to attend in play off matches. “Emperor Terim the Arrogant”s desires were avoided by Belgium in fact, but how could our brothers Bosnians could do that to us? They had to know their place and since they did not they have right to be target of Turkish football fans and media.
A kind of analogy is very common to be made considering the relationship between Turks and Bosnians: “Turkey and Bosnia are brothers. Turkey is the elder one, Bosnia is the younger,and it is obvious that from time to time the younger brother would wish to beat the elder brother in games.” Aparently, Turks consider Bosnians as somebody from “home”. However, it might be because of the deformed vision of pax-Ottomanism which examine some nationalities as subjects of the Empire, more than being the “younger brother” some Turks likely are more likely to see Bosnians as “step-brother” who knows who is the real boss.
I do not want Turkey to seed in the same group with Bosnia ever again. It is not because of my fear from Bosnia, which is getting better results like her ex-Yugoslav sisters as inheritors of the magnificient Yugo ecolé. I am from the generation who witnessed defeats of disastrous scores of 8-0s. I can deal with defeats, but not with some other things. Before Bosnia played with Armenia and Estonia, there were rumors in Bosnia that considerable amount of money passed to Riga and Erivan from Turkey. I remember an oldie was complaining that the real situation made him to be fan of Armenia. For those who live in my beautiful country Turkey, maybe not in other spheres, but surely at the top-5 in corruption world wide, rumors about “incentive bonus” offered to Armenia or Estonia would not be surprising to hear. That is what I cannot deal with as well.
For those reasons, I really do not want Turkey to seed again with Bosnia in the same group…
.png)
There had been relations between Turks and Bosnians in pre-Ottoman Era as well. The Bektashi Fathers were the first to visit the region before the warriors and it is very well known how local Bosnians were hospitable for those heartfelt visitors. It is even argued that, that relationship between Bektashis and Bosnians made it to easier to occupy this are by the Ottomans. This sincere relationship between Ottomans and Bosnians were such deep that Habsburg monarchs, who occupied and annexed Bosnia to Austria-Hungary in 1878 had to accept that Bosnians would be directly connected to Sheihk-ul Islam (religious head) who was residing in Istanbul. Bosnians identify their religions as “Turkish type Islam”, and even not very fond of those neo-Turks in Bosnia: “Those neo-Turks do try to cnvert us to Arabic type of Islam.”In that “football culture”blog, I will not bother the reader with the friendship of Bosnians and Turks. I just wanted to open a paranthesis before introducing in the subject of recent football matches between Bosnia and Turkey. Friendship between Turkey and Bosnia has great historical and cultural background. While Bosnian Serbs have got close ties with Serbia, and Bosnian Croats with Croatia, this situation makes Bosnian Muslims (aka Bosniaks) closer to Turkey: “If you have your Beograd and Zagreb, we have our Istanbul!” The national football matches between Turkey-Bosnia, or football matches between Turkish and Bosnian football matches in UEFA cups are played within this atmosphere. It is very common to see Turkish flags in the stadiums of Bosnia.
.png)
On the other side, it is somehow strange that the first friendly match between Turkey and Bosnia was played in August 16, 2000. Turkey could only by then think of playing with her sister eight years after the independence. The result of the first friendly game between Turkey and Bosnia played in Koşevo Stadium was 2-0 for Bosnia.
The destiny made two teams to play couple of times in the international tournaments. The first match between Turkey and Bosnia in the qualifying group was played in June 2, 2007. Although Turkey had scored the first goal, Bosnians were the victorous side at the end: 3-2. The revenge of that match was played by November 21, 2007 in Istanbul. Instead of identifying it as “played” we would better to say “acted like to be played”.Bosnia, who did not have any chance in the group did not make the thing more difficult for Turkey and the result was areasonable 1-0 defeat for Bosnia. The headlines of Hungarian newspapers were meaningful: “Eternal Brotherhood”. The threepoints of Turkey gathered from that match made it possible for Turkey to go to Austria and Switzerland instead of Hungary.
I had written about possible attitude of Bosnians about Turkey-Croatia match in that blog before: Zagreb ce biti turska mahala.
Hence, I had also mentioned how they celebrated Turkish victory: Turmoil in Bosnia After Turkey-Croatia Match.
For South Africa 2010, Turkey and Bosnia were seeded in the same group again. I had mentioned that Bosnia would not bean easy team to pass: Bosnian Surprise for Turkey.
.png)
The first match would be in Istanbul, at October 11, 2008, in İnönü Stadium with the new trainer of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Ciro had asked Bosnia fans to not to wear Turkey jerseys during the match. It is well known that Bosnians have great sympathy to Turkish football, not only on national level, but on local level as well. Not only those jerseys or accessories of great teams of Istanbul, but even Turkish teams which do not play in Super League can be seen on Bosnian football fans. Just before that match, Ciro had asked Bosnian fans: “I know you enjoy Turkish flags, but at least in that match come only with Bosnian flags!”. When I have wrote about this in my blog, our “football fans” began to produce conspiracy theories about “anti-Turkish character of Ciro”. Bosnians did not do any surprise for Turkey. Athough they had scored the first goal, the rule that “who scores Turkey the first goal will be defeated” was valid in that match as well, and the final score was 2-1. And among 1600 fans of Bosnia, it was possible to see Bosnians with Turkish flags, scarves or other accessories. Bosnians never hesitate to be kind to Turks in such circumstances. But, it is visible that Turks do not reply that kindness very often. On the contrary, when Bosnians lit torches, they are groaned down by Turkish fans. When Bosnians prefer to sing their original national march “Jedna si jedina”, during their artificial national match is played in the stadum, or when they replace the artifical flag with the original Bosnian flag with the “ljiljans”, Turkish fans start jeers again. It ispartly because of disinformation about Bosnian history and reality, and partly because of other sentiments.
In fact Bosnian did not make a surprise in Zenica in September 9, 2009. One could see numerous Turkish flags in there as well and the result of the match was a draw:1-1. But, it was Bosnia at the end who had obtained the right to attend in play off matches. “Emperor Terim the Arrogant”s desires were avoided by Belgium in fact, but how could our brothers Bosnians could do that to us? They had to know their place and since they did not they have right to be target of Turkish football fans and media.
A kind of analogy is very common to be made considering the relationship between Turks and Bosnians: “Turkey and Bosnia are brothers. Turkey is the elder one, Bosnia is the younger,and it is obvious that from time to time the younger brother would wish to beat the elder brother in games.” Aparently, Turks consider Bosnians as somebody from “home”. However, it might be because of the deformed vision of pax-Ottomanism which examine some nationalities as subjects of the Empire, more than being the “younger brother” some Turks likely are more likely to see Bosnians as “step-brother” who knows who is the real boss.
I do not want Turkey to seed in the same group with Bosnia ever again. It is not because of my fear from Bosnia, which is getting better results like her ex-Yugoslav sisters as inheritors of the magnificient Yugo ecolé. I am from the generation who witnessed defeats of disastrous scores of 8-0s. I can deal with defeats, but not with some other things. Before Bosnia played with Armenia and Estonia, there were rumors in Bosnia that considerable amount of money passed to Riga and Erivan from Turkey. I remember an oldie was complaining that the real situation made him to be fan of Armenia. For those who live in my beautiful country Turkey, maybe not in other spheres, but surely at the top-5 in corruption world wide, rumors about “incentive bonus” offered to Armenia or Estonia would not be surprising to hear. That is what I cannot deal with as well.
For those reasons, I really do not want Turkey to seed again with Bosnia in the same group…
Monday, 19 October 2009
More with "Bosnian Football Culture" soon, and a new blog
My articles in this blog had unfortunately been cancelled for a while beause of my obligatory military service in the navy and phd thesis. I apologize from the readers who follow this blog.
I am back in Sarajevo and I will restart to write actual articles again, as well as with mre articles about my preivous observations on Bosnian football fandom.
I have decided to keep this blog free from "football news" which I have designed to write only those articles about "Football Culture". Thus, I have prepared another blog just only for "football news". But, I do not want to limit this blog only to football news from Bosnia, but with a wider spectrum including Balkan countries, especially ex-Yugoslav countries. Here is the address:
http://www.balkanfootball.blogspot.com/
I hope you will enjoy my new blog as well.
With regards,
Özgür Dirim Özkan
I am back in Sarajevo and I will restart to write actual articles again, as well as with mre articles about my preivous observations on Bosnian football fandom.
I have decided to keep this blog free from "football news" which I have designed to write only those articles about "Football Culture". Thus, I have prepared another blog just only for "football news". But, I do not want to limit this blog only to football news from Bosnia, but with a wider spectrum including Balkan countries, especially ex-Yugoslav countries. Here is the address:
http://www.balkanfootball.blogspot.com/
I hope you will enjoy my new blog as well.
With regards,
Özgür Dirim Özkan
Saturday, 4 April 2009
A short break for "Essays on Bosnian Football Culture"
I have to give a break to my essays. Firstly, because of the painfull process of PhD dissertation, and than followed by obligatory military service (currently in Turkish navy). By July 2009, I will go on writing essays on Bosnian Football Culture when I will be finally settled in Sarajevo again.
All the best,
Özgür Dirim Özkan
Saturday, 11 October 2008
BOSNIAN SURPRISE FOR TURKEY
Those who had watched the recent Turkey-Bosnia match which was played in İstanbul may remember: Bosnian players “acting” like playing, apparently without any wish to struggle, and Turkey scoring only one goal without any intention to afflict Bosnians. The headline of the Hungarian newspapers was; “ETERNAL BROTHERHOOD” referring to the antipathic “Scandinavian brotherhood”.
The 1-0 result was the best for both Bosnians and Turks. Turkey had managed to go for EURO 2008 and it was a resonable defeat for Bosnians, against Turkey in İstanbul hell. All of the Bosnians that I have talked in Sarajevo were confident about the result fort hey did not avoid Turkey’s involvement in EURO 2008, and 0-1 was not an ashameful result.
C’est la vie! Turkey is again in the same group with Bosnia for FIFA 2010 and the first match will be played in Turkey. But, will Bosnians act like playing again?
A PACK OF PROBLEMS: BOSNIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
Being one of the important inheritor of Yugoslav football ecolé, Bosnia could not managed to succed in football since the war. The most evident reason behind this is the lack of normalization of the relations between the ethnic groups in Bosnia since Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995. It has got its reflections in the sphere of football as well. Each football team in Bosnian league represent one of the ethnic groups. The balance is very fragile. In a way, there is an unwritten rule of rotation system: If one year a Bosnian Serb team is champion, then the next year is Bosnian Croat team, and the next year is the turn for a Bosnian Muslim team. Lack of disintegration does not only decresases the level of quality of football in Bosnian league, but also it negatively effects the national football team.
However, there is even a more dramatical problem: Corruption. N/FSBiH (Nogometni/Fudbalski Savez Bosne i Hercegovine - Football Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shıortly recalled “Savez” by fans) is recognized as a haven. This is has been subject of many protests in Bosnia. We can even argue that, protest demonstrations against Savez may be called as the most serious opposition protest movement in Sarajevo. Graffitis against Savez can be seen everywhere in the country. Bosnians fans became famous by halting the matches of Bosnian national team by their protests.
This situation end up with a negative stand of Bosnian players towards playing in the Bosnian national football team. Those Bosnian players who play in West European football leagues boycott the national team. The reason behind this is the told to be bribery which is asked from players to play in the national squad. Bosnian national squad, which started the group matches for EURO 2008 like a thunder did not have any success except a victory over Norway in Oslo and over Turkey in Sarajevo.
However, recently in July 2008 some changes had happened in Bosnia.
THE BILL FOR THE EX-TRAINER!
The ex-trainer Fuad Muzurovic who is a recognized feature by Turkish fans since he had been training Adanademirspor in 1987-1990 and Adanaspor in 1998-1999 was found to be guilty because of the results. After Muzurovic, Meho Kodro, 41 years old, who had a succesful career in football as a player in teams like Barcelona, Deportivo, Vitoria but surely inexperienced as a trainer became the new boss of Bosnian national squad. After some problems with the Savez, he also had to leave his job. Bosnia was shaked by a news in July 10. Miroslav Blazevic, nicknamed as “Ciro” (spelled as “cheero”) would be training the national squad for the group matches of FIFA 2010!
WHO IS CIRO?
Being 73 years old, Ciro is a member of “grandfather” ecolé in football. In many occasions, he remarks that he had not been a brilliant player when he was playing football. That is why he started his training career in an early age. When he was 33, he started to train FC Vevey in Switzerland and then in Sion and Lausanne. Then he found himself as sub-trainer of Swiss national squad.
He returned back to his homeland Yugoslavia to train Dinamo Zagreb. In the third season Dinamo managed to be the champion, which was their first after 24 years, making Ciro a hero. Increasing political tension in Yugoslavia had its effects on Ciro’s career as well. He trained different teams in Yugoslavia and Europe like PAOK, Grasshopers, Pristina, Nantes. He was sacked from Nantes when it was understood that he was involved in bribery, which implied the end of his career.
Spending time with the political figures of those years, Ciro was supporting the Croat nationalist leader Franjo Tudjman and he was assigned as trainer and general manager of Tudjman backed Dinamo Zagreb. With the championship in 1993, Croatian Cup in 1994, Ciro proved his quality again and was assigned to be the trainer of the Croatian national squad.
THE HERO WHO MADE CROATIA WORLD’S 3rd BEST TEAM
Ciro Era is recognized as the ever best period of Croatian national squad. They involved in EURO 96 in England with considerable succesful results. But, the real sansational success came 2 years after in FIFA 98 in France: Croatia, having sympathy of every football lover with their interesting red-white-squared jerseys became the 3rd in the toyurnament. But, this success did not bring luck for Ciro. He beganm to travel from that team to this team again. First Iran national squad, than Dinamo Zagreb. After being assigned to be trainer for Hajduk Split -fatal rival of Dinamo Zagreb- the man of sansations became subject of hatred of both sides. The 8-0 aggragate defeat of Hajduk against Hungarian Debrecen was the end of his career in Split, and was even marking the end of his career. When he was working on permanent contracts with different small clubs, he was surprisingly ask for a contract. Ciro who was born in Travnik, a city in Bosnia, was recalled by hiss homeland. He accepted.
PEACE WITH FOOTBALL PLAYERS, PEACE WITH BOSNIA
The first thing Ciro wanted to do in the team was to establish unity. He contacted with those players who refused to play in national squad. The new trainer brought a new atmosphere and 7-0 victory over Estonia did not only motivated players but also Bosnians who were hopeless about national squad previously. Bosnians became more interested in national team since there was a new trainer who was popular and known to be a successful one.
Moreover, bing a Bosnian Croat, Ciro has a potential to be figure of unity in Bosnia-Herzegovina. For example, in summer 2007 Bosnia played a friendly game against Croatia in Sarajevo. During this match, the fans of Croatia were mostly Bosnian Croats and a considerable part of did come from Travnik, homeland of Ciro. Now, it is expected that not only Bosnian Croats’ but also Bosnian Serbs’ attitude towards the national squad will change positively.
3-5-2 and CIRO
Ciro’s game tactics are not alien to those who knows Yugoslav style. Basically, it requires keeping the ball in mid-field with technical capabilities and short passes, if they loose the ball they do Yugoslav faul –a type of technical faul aiming to stop rival’s attack at the very beginning of the attack. They wait for rival to offend them, and look for open spaces in the rival field. When they see that, with long balls and fast winders they attack quickly.
THE SQUAD
The expected squad to play against Turkey is:
Goal keeper:
Kenan Hasagiç (İstanbul BB)
Defence:
Emir Spahiç (Lokomotif Moskva)
Saşa Papats (Glasgow Rangers)
Cemal Berberoviç (Litex),
Midfield:
Elvir Rahimiç (CSKA Moskva)
Zvjezdan Misimoviç (Wolfsburg),
Senijad Ibriçiç (Hajduk Split)
Miralem Pjaniç (Lion)
Samir Muratoviç (Sturm Graz).
Forward:
Zlatan Muslimoviç (PAOK)
Edin Ceko (Wolfsburg)
Substitutes:
Goran Brašnić (Inter Zagreb)
Safet Nadarević (Eskişehirspor)
Ivan Radeljiç (Energie Kotbus)
Adnan Mravats (Materzburg)
Dario Damjanoviç (Luch Energija)
Sejad Salihoviç (Hoffenheim)
Mladen Bartoloviç (Hajduk Split)
Vedad İbişeviç (Hoffenheim)
Admir Vladaviç (Žilina Bratislava)
“IF WE ARE ON OUR DAY, NO ONE CAN STOP US!”
Ciro made an interview with journalists in Sarajevo on October 7 and said that no one can stop them if they will be on their day. He told that, last week he watched some of his players who are playing in the football leagues of different countries. He told that, as far as he observed all of his players are in good form and he is very happy because of that.
He expressed that especially Misimoviç and Muslimoviç are at the peak of their performance. But he is just a little bir afraid of injuries. It will be certain for Muslimovic –Wolfsburg’s star player- whether if he will play or not,, only in the last day.
SPAHIÇ: DRAGON OF BOSNIA
Ciro, emphasizing the fact that Bosnian squad is in a family atmosphere which had never been observed before until know, said that the forward players are at the peak of their form, but the only problem may be in defence. He added that he trusts their captain Spahiç. Spahiç has also got some minor injuries, which will not avoid him to play in İstanbul. He recalls his captain as “maj od Bosne – The Dragon of Bosnia”. As it is known, “Zmaj od Bosne” was the nick name of Kapetan Gradaşçeviç who leaded the uprising against Turks in 1831 in Bosnia.
Bosnian squad came to İstanbul on Friday night (October 10)
BOSNIAN FANS COME AS WELL
According to Bosnian Football Federation, 400 tickets of 1600 reserved for Bosnian fansa re sold. Most of those fans will benefit from Istanbul’s fantastic autumn and watch the match at the same time. Azra and Emir Bektasagic are two of them. They want to use this opportunity for a second honeymoon at the 11th anniversary of their marriage. Azra was in London during the war and she says her best friends were Turks in London and Turkey had always had a special place in her hearth. She says that her elder son learns Turkish and positive emotions towards Turks is valid for every Bosnian, and she adds “But we come to Turkey to beat you on the field!”. Azra admits that every Bosnian is excited about the match and says that the match will be like a match between two brothers, and they will not be sorry for a defeat, but she summarizes the situation: “Everybody would like to defeat his brother!”. Azra and Emir say that Bosnia had lived through difficult years since the war and they need successes in that kind of areas, that is why Bosnians need that victory more than Turks.
CIRO’S WISH FROM BOSNIAN FANS: “DO NOT WEAR TURKISH JERSEYS!”
It is very common to see jerseys of Turkish football teams in Bosnian stadiums. Bosnian fans frequently select jerseys of Turkish teams which is closer to their team’s colors. Last summer, I saw one of the fans of Sarajevo having scarf of “Boluspor” who plays in the second division of Turkey. Bosnians do also enjoy to celebrate victories of Turkish national squad. After every important victory of Turkey, the old city center of Sarajevo “Başçarşı” resembles the city center of Istanbul. Ciro warns Bosnians who have a tendency to wear Turkish jerseys or scarfs in their own national matches: “We are playing against Turkey. Please just only wear colors of Bosnia”.
BOSNIAN FANS: “FIRST WE WILL SURPRISE TURKS, THEN DEFEAT THEM!”
Around 50 members of BH Fanaticos – the fan group of Bosnian national team will be watching the match as well. They ague that the match is important fort hem and they will feel themselves like they are in thier second homeland: “Turkey is our second home. So, the match will be like a game between two brothers. But, we will be the winning side.”.
The 1-0 result was the best for both Bosnians and Turks. Turkey had managed to go for EURO 2008 and it was a resonable defeat for Bosnians, against Turkey in İstanbul hell. All of the Bosnians that I have talked in Sarajevo were confident about the result fort hey did not avoid Turkey’s involvement in EURO 2008, and 0-1 was not an ashameful result.
C’est la vie! Turkey is again in the same group with Bosnia for FIFA 2010 and the first match will be played in Turkey. But, will Bosnians act like playing again?
A PACK OF PROBLEMS: BOSNIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
Being one of the important inheritor of Yugoslav football ecolé, Bosnia could not managed to succed in football since the war. The most evident reason behind this is the lack of normalization of the relations between the ethnic groups in Bosnia since Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995. It has got its reflections in the sphere of football as well. Each football team in Bosnian league represent one of the ethnic groups. The balance is very fragile. In a way, there is an unwritten rule of rotation system: If one year a Bosnian Serb team is champion, then the next year is Bosnian Croat team, and the next year is the turn for a Bosnian Muslim team. Lack of disintegration does not only decresases the level of quality of football in Bosnian league, but also it negatively effects the national football team.
However, there is even a more dramatical problem: Corruption. N/FSBiH (Nogometni/Fudbalski Savez Bosne i Hercegovine - Football Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shıortly recalled “Savez” by fans) is recognized as a haven. This is has been subject of many protests in Bosnia. We can even argue that, protest demonstrations against Savez may be called as the most serious opposition protest movement in Sarajevo. Graffitis against Savez can be seen everywhere in the country. Bosnians fans became famous by halting the matches of Bosnian national team by their protests.
This situation end up with a negative stand of Bosnian players towards playing in the Bosnian national football team. Those Bosnian players who play in West European football leagues boycott the national team. The reason behind this is the told to be bribery which is asked from players to play in the national squad. Bosnian national squad, which started the group matches for EURO 2008 like a thunder did not have any success except a victory over Norway in Oslo and over Turkey in Sarajevo.
However, recently in July 2008 some changes had happened in Bosnia.
THE BILL FOR THE EX-TRAINER!
The ex-trainer Fuad Muzurovic who is a recognized feature by Turkish fans since he had been training Adanademirspor in 1987-1990 and Adanaspor in 1998-1999 was found to be guilty because of the results. After Muzurovic, Meho Kodro, 41 years old, who had a succesful career in football as a player in teams like Barcelona, Deportivo, Vitoria but surely inexperienced as a trainer became the new boss of Bosnian national squad. After some problems with the Savez, he also had to leave his job. Bosnia was shaked by a news in July 10. Miroslav Blazevic, nicknamed as “Ciro” (spelled as “cheero”) would be training the national squad for the group matches of FIFA 2010!
WHO IS CIRO?
Being 73 years old, Ciro is a member of “grandfather” ecolé in football. In many occasions, he remarks that he had not been a brilliant player when he was playing football. That is why he started his training career in an early age. When he was 33, he started to train FC Vevey in Switzerland and then in Sion and Lausanne. Then he found himself as sub-trainer of Swiss national squad. He returned back to his homeland Yugoslavia to train Dinamo Zagreb. In the third season Dinamo managed to be the champion, which was their first after 24 years, making Ciro a hero. Increasing political tension in Yugoslavia had its effects on Ciro’s career as well. He trained different teams in Yugoslavia and Europe like PAOK, Grasshopers, Pristina, Nantes. He was sacked from Nantes when it was understood that he was involved in bribery, which implied the end of his career.
Spending time with the political figures of those years, Ciro was supporting the Croat nationalist leader Franjo Tudjman and he was assigned as trainer and general manager of Tudjman backed Dinamo Zagreb. With the championship in 1993, Croatian Cup in 1994, Ciro proved his quality again and was assigned to be the trainer of the Croatian national squad.
THE HERO WHO MADE CROATIA WORLD’S 3rd BEST TEAM
Ciro Era is recognized as the ever best period of Croatian national squad. They involved in EURO 96 in England with considerable succesful results. But, the real sansational success came 2 years after in FIFA 98 in France: Croatia, having sympathy of every football lover with their interesting red-white-squared jerseys became the 3rd in the toyurnament. But, this success did not bring luck for Ciro. He beganm to travel from that team to this team again. First Iran national squad, than Dinamo Zagreb. After being assigned to be trainer for Hajduk Split -fatal rival of Dinamo Zagreb- the man of sansations became subject of hatred of both sides. The 8-0 aggragate defeat of Hajduk against Hungarian Debrecen was the end of his career in Split, and was even marking the end of his career. When he was working on permanent contracts with different small clubs, he was surprisingly ask for a contract. Ciro who was born in Travnik, a city in Bosnia, was recalled by hiss homeland. He accepted.
PEACE WITH FOOTBALL PLAYERS, PEACE WITH BOSNIA
The first thing Ciro wanted to do in the team was to establish unity. He contacted with those players who refused to play in national squad. The new trainer brought a new atmosphere and 7-0 victory over Estonia did not only motivated players but also Bosnians who were hopeless about national squad previously. Bosnians became more interested in national team since there was a new trainer who was popular and known to be a successful one.
Moreover, bing a Bosnian Croat, Ciro has a potential to be figure of unity in Bosnia-Herzegovina. For example, in summer 2007 Bosnia played a friendly game against Croatia in Sarajevo. During this match, the fans of Croatia were mostly Bosnian Croats and a considerable part of did come from Travnik, homeland of Ciro. Now, it is expected that not only Bosnian Croats’ but also Bosnian Serbs’ attitude towards the national squad will change positively.
3-5-2 and CIRO
Ciro’s game tactics are not alien to those who knows Yugoslav style. Basically, it requires keeping the ball in mid-field with technical capabilities and short passes, if they loose the ball they do Yugoslav faul –a type of technical faul aiming to stop rival’s attack at the very beginning of the attack. They wait for rival to offend them, and look for open spaces in the rival field. When they see that, with long balls and fast winders they attack quickly.
THE SQUAD
The expected squad to play against Turkey is:
Goal keeper:
Kenan Hasagiç (İstanbul BB)
Defence:
Emir Spahiç (Lokomotif Moskva)
Saşa Papats (Glasgow Rangers)
Cemal Berberoviç (Litex),
Midfield:
Elvir Rahimiç (CSKA Moskva)
Zvjezdan Misimoviç (Wolfsburg),
Senijad Ibriçiç (Hajduk Split)
Miralem Pjaniç (Lion)
Samir Muratoviç (Sturm Graz).
Forward:
Zlatan Muslimoviç (PAOK)
Edin Ceko (Wolfsburg)
Substitutes:
Goran Brašnić (Inter Zagreb)
Safet Nadarević (Eskişehirspor)
Ivan Radeljiç (Energie Kotbus)
Adnan Mravats (Materzburg)
Dario Damjanoviç (Luch Energija)
Sejad Salihoviç (Hoffenheim)
Mladen Bartoloviç (Hajduk Split)
Vedad İbişeviç (Hoffenheim)
Admir Vladaviç (Žilina Bratislava)
“IF WE ARE ON OUR DAY, NO ONE CAN STOP US!”
Ciro made an interview with journalists in Sarajevo on October 7 and said that no one can stop them if they will be on their day. He told that, last week he watched some of his players who are playing in the football leagues of different countries. He told that, as far as he observed all of his players are in good form and he is very happy because of that.
He expressed that especially Misimoviç and Muslimoviç are at the peak of their performance. But he is just a little bir afraid of injuries. It will be certain for Muslimovic –Wolfsburg’s star player- whether if he will play or not,, only in the last day.
SPAHIÇ: DRAGON OF BOSNIA
Ciro, emphasizing the fact that Bosnian squad is in a family atmosphere which had never been observed before until know, said that the forward players are at the peak of their form, but the only problem may be in defence. He added that he trusts their captain Spahiç. Spahiç has also got some minor injuries, which will not avoid him to play in İstanbul. He recalls his captain as “maj od Bosne – The Dragon of Bosnia”. As it is known, “Zmaj od Bosne” was the nick name of Kapetan Gradaşçeviç who leaded the uprising against Turks in 1831 in Bosnia. Bosnian squad came to İstanbul on Friday night (October 10)
BOSNIAN FANS COME AS WELL
According to Bosnian Football Federation, 400 tickets of 1600 reserved for Bosnian fansa re sold. Most of those fans will benefit from Istanbul’s fantastic autumn and watch the match at the same time. Azra and Emir Bektasagic are two of them. They want to use this opportunity for a second honeymoon at the 11th anniversary of their marriage. Azra was in London during the war and she says her best friends were Turks in London and Turkey had always had a special place in her hearth. She says that her elder son learns Turkish and positive emotions towards Turks is valid for every Bosnian, and she adds “But we come to Turkey to beat you on the field!”. Azra admits that every Bosnian is excited about the match and says that the match will be like a match between two brothers, and they will not be sorry for a defeat, but she summarizes the situation: “Everybody would like to defeat his brother!”. Azra and Emir say that Bosnia had lived through difficult years since the war and they need successes in that kind of areas, that is why Bosnians need that victory more than Turks.
CIRO’S WISH FROM BOSNIAN FANS: “DO NOT WEAR TURKISH JERSEYS!”
It is very common to see jerseys of Turkish football teams in Bosnian stadiums. Bosnian fans frequently select jerseys of Turkish teams which is closer to their team’s colors. Last summer, I saw one of the fans of Sarajevo having scarf of “Boluspor” who plays in the second division of Turkey. Bosnians do also enjoy to celebrate victories of Turkish national squad. After every important victory of Turkey, the old city center of Sarajevo “Başçarşı” resembles the city center of Istanbul. Ciro warns Bosnians who have a tendency to wear Turkish jerseys or scarfs in their own national matches: “We are playing against Turkey. Please just only wear colors of Bosnia”.
BOSNIAN FANS: “FIRST WE WILL SURPRISE TURKS, THEN DEFEAT THEM!”
Around 50 members of BH Fanaticos – the fan group of Bosnian national team will be watching the match as well. They ague that the match is important fort hem and they will feel themselves like they are in thier second homeland: “Turkey is our second home. So, the match will be like a game between two brothers. But, we will be the winning side.”.
Monday, 23 June 2008
TURMOIL IN BOSNIA AFTER TURKEY-CROATIA MATCH
After the EURO 2008 quarter-final match between Turkey and Croatia, street fights are reported from Bosnian cities of mixed Bosnian Croat and Bosnian Muslim communities where 27 were injured and 33 taken under custody according to Bosnian daily newspaper Dnevni Avaz.
MOSTAR
Fan riot occurred last night after the match between Turkey – Croatia. 16 policemen injured….
Public relation Officer at the Ministry of Internal affairs Srećko Bošnjak said that initial disorder started at two sites, prior at Square Rondo, where football fans of Croatian representation gathered. Just after the match tear gas was thrown at the members of police and fans attempted to go to Spanish Square (Španski trg).
At Square Musala football fans of Turkish representation started disorder as well, trying to reach Spanish Square too.
"Police tried to prevent fan groups to confront and pushed back both of them in different directions. We can say that around 2000 people from both sides participated it", said Bošnjak.
He also said that police had to use force, tear gas and combat vehicle in order to repress masses.
At Mostar locality 16 policemen and four fans are injured, four police vehicles and one special combat vehicle of police are damaged, and major material damage has been done. 16 persons are arrested. There were two attempts of direct car attacks at police officers. Both cases are documented; attackers are identified and will be processed.
ČAPLJINA, STOLAC, NEUM and ČITLUK
At locality of Čapljina one policeman is injured, and five persons are arrested while at locality of Stolac three policemen are injured and eight persons arrested.
Nine citizen's vehicles are damaged in Neum, while in Čitluk four persons are arrested.
ŽEPČE
Two persons injured in disoder.
Upon the end of the match between Turkey and Croatia in the center of Žepče public order occurred
Two persons suffer ailment bodily injuries, but police refuse to precise whether injured persons are Bosniak or Croat nationality.
"Around 11:15 pm in the center of Žepče, group of app 200 fans of representation of Croatia gathered. At that moment convoy of twenty cars of Turkish representation supporters came across. Disturbance of public order occurred. Six citizen's cars have been damaged (three own by Croats and three own by Bosniaks)", duty operating Officer at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Zenica – Doboj Canton declared.
Stones and hard objects were used during disorder, and police of Žepče and Resource units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Zenica – Doboj Canton reacted.
No other incidents were recorded on Friday evening in the other municipalities of Zenica – Doboj Canton.
On the other side, it has been observed that some Bosnians had celebrated victory of Turkey in Bosnian cities like Sarajevo, Tuzlaü, Zenica by sirens in car convoys and flambeaux in city centers.
During the match 3 people had died because of heart attack in Turkey, where 27 were wounded by the bullets after the match. It has been reported that those incidences do not have any relation with the Croat-Bosniak conflict. (!)
(Translated by: Lejla Gotovuša)
Translated and piled from original articles:
http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/dogadjaji/crna-hronika/mostar-povrijedjeno-16-policajaca
http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/dogadjaji/crna-hronika/zepce-dva-lica-povrijedjena-u-neredu
Saturday, 21 June 2008
SLAVEN BILIĆ: I WILL REMEMBER THIS DEFEAT FOREVER
After the defeat Croatian coach Slaven Bilić sadly faced seat in front of the journalists.
- The match was good and congratulations to all participants. It was a game with incredible ending that can happen only in football. In 120 minutes we had more clear chances, and they had their pressure that was lasted from time to time. They were not indifferent, but I think that we were much better rival. It is not possible to describe the last two minutes and we will be hunted by it for the rest of our lives – Bilić started his story.
How did you experience stressful penalties?
- Penalties are lottery. I am proud of my players and there is nothing I can object to them at all. But we are sad and unhappy because we thought that with this team we can go up to the end. We haven't deserved to loose.
With such a little time after Klasnić gained the goal it did not occur nobody's mind that Turks can return.
- It was not in my mind that we will receive a goal, but pressure from their side was expected. After the first minute we had kept the ball, we started the counter-attack that ended in hinterland. Ball bounced to ninth and it ended the way it ended – Bilić remembered.
Received goal was wind in the back for Croatian rival just before execution of the strike eleven meters away.
- To accede the penalties after it looked that it was over was shocking. Turks were in physiological head start. I do not know what was players had in their minds, but I am sure that they were rewinding the received goal. In two minutes before execution of the penalty everybody were talking about that goal - said Bilić.
Everybody was under the stress since the best player, in 120 minutes, Luka Modrić missed the first penalty already.
- Luka was awesome and he did not deserve to miss the penalty. By the way, during the whole tournament he was masterful. Honestly, not any player either ours or Turkish did not deserve to miss. And Turks? It is already the third match they are wining in extreme way and if the luck and persistence will follow them during the match with Germany, it is likely possible that they will enter the finals. It is obvious that besides quality there is something more that pushes them forward, something that matches for them. They are handicapped, they have one day lass for resting, and physically they exhausted themselves in the second game. With lots of wounded it will be difficult. May be some of them will return. I know that Turks will not give up until the end.
There is World Championship ahead of Croatia.
- It is not easy to forget this and move forward. This is not match that is playing weekly. The way we lost is difficult. This is impossible to forget. On the other side, we have to move forward, we have young team, and qualifications for the World championship are in front of the door. But tomorrow will be a new day and the sun will shine. My players have terrific character, we will return even bigger.
Bilić mentioned extension of extension.
The referee prolongs for two minutes, and we thought that is was over. It is specific situation when minutes are flying away for them and dragging for us. We tried two – three times to make a switch, the player was ready. I do not know why he did not allow us. But we are not making excuse on referee, it was not his fault. If he played the end, Turks would be attacked by Turks.
What did players say?Luka Modrić came with red eyes, and he was not hiding that he was crying:
- This is a great sorrow and disappointment, with the goal in the last second Turkey bitted us psychologically. Well, how can I know would it be different if it was 0:0, who would know it now? The truth is that after the goal we were nervous about penalties, in two minutes we saw ourselves in semi-finals, and it would the fair because we played good and we had much more chances.
Dario Šimić:
- I am in sock. In 119th minute I saw us in semi-finals. A minute later I couldn't believe what was happening. I have never experienced something like this. It was difficult to suffer this in change room, especially for young players.
Stipe Pletikosa:
- What to say? I still cannot believe that this is happening. Is there in the world a team that scores goals in the last minutes in three matches at row?
Translated by: Lejla Gotovuša
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