Göztepe of Herzegovina: FK VELEŽ MOSTAR

Stadium: Grbavica, Sarajevo

Date: November 10, 2024 / Sunday – 1:00 PM

FK Željezničar Sarajevo – Velež Mostar

Mostar and its renowned team Velež hold a significant place in my affections.

Let us revert to 17 years ago. The date is February 14, 2007. I selected February 14 as my arrival date to Sarajevo for my year-long ethnographic research in Bosnia, rather than February 13 or 15, because it was a Wednesday, and good, old Air Bosna operated a weekly flight to Sarajevo via Mostar on that day. I opted to prolong my journey slightly to observe Mostar and the Prenj Mountains, the bastion of the Partisan resistance, from the air. 

Mostar from air, February 14, 2007

The Mostar Bridge is an artifact that many Turks associate with Bosnia. Many Turks erroneously believe that the Mostar Bridge is located in Sarajevo, which frustrates the author of this blog a bit.

When I landed in Sarajevo on February 14, I learned that the Velež fans in Sarajevo were going to have a party the next day. Excluding my preliminary 10 day long field research in Sarajevo a year ago, I must say that I started my one-year ethnographic study in 2007 at the Velež fans' party in Sarajevo. Additionally, I encountered my closest friends, Adnan and Denis, in Sarajevo at that gathering.

From left to right: Arnes, Denis, me, Adnan, February 15, 2007, Sarajevo

The first fan group that I have met in Sarajevo

That was when I discovered Velež's unique significance in Bosnian football culture.

Velež’s special place in Bosnian, and even Yugoslavian football, is more in line with Mostar’s character.

The Pearl Necklace of Neretva: Mostar Bridge

Mostar, with a population of only 105 thousand, is one of the most unique and even most beautiful cities not only in Bosnia, but also in Yugoslavia and even the Balkans. “Most” means bridge in Bosnian, and “Mostar” means “bridge guardian”, and from here you can predict the story of Mostar’s foundation.

A wooden bridge was built during the Ottoman period at this important crossing point over the emerald green Neretva, and the history of Mostar began with the placement of guards assigned to the bridgehead. In 1566, a stone bridge was built by Mimar Hayreddin, one of Mimar Sinan’s students and also the architect of the Bayezid Mosque in Istanbul. 

Mostar Bridge, March 11, 2007

The Mostar Bridge is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Or rather, it was…

On November 9, 1993, this exquisite bridge was obliterated by artillery fire from the HVO (Hrvatsko vijeće obrane: Croatian Defence Council) in full view of the global audience. A barbaric act that would not have even crossed the minds of the Ustaše, who exterminated hundreds of thousands during World War II!

You can watch the video footage of that barbaric destruction:

The Mostar Bridge was not just an architectural masterpiece. It was a bridge that symbolically united people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds in Mostar, which welcomed Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews and even atheists, and this was the reason for the hatred of the Ustasha and the fascist HVO towards this bridge!

Mostar resident Edisa Palikuča describes that day as follows:

“In November 1993, the Croats turned their cannons on our bridge, it was the last bridge, the others had long been destroyed. They opened fire. The bridge collapsed. The city was inevitably divided into two. And the spirit of Mostar drowned in the waters of the river.” (Palikuča, Edisa (1994) Mostar’ı Unutma (Don’t Forget Mostar), Varlık Publications, Istanbul)

While the siege of Sarajevo, lasting 1,425 days and resulting in 10,600 fatalities, and the Srebrenica Genocide, which claimed 8,372 lives, have garnered significant attention, the profound suffering endured in Mostar during the war must not be overlooked.

“Mostar is still divided like Berlin"

The song "Open Wide" by the Bosnian hip-hop group Dubioza Kolektiv conveys the reality that while Berlin is unified, Mostar remains divided. (You can listen the song via below Youtube video)

An invisible barrier persists in the center of the city, which was partitioned into East and West Mostar during the conflict. The Neretva River and the Mostar Bridge are located in East Mostar. The city's historical and cultural essence persisted in the East, whereas its economic advancement and affluence resided in the West.

The Mostar Bridge was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 and reconstructed the following year. Nevertheless, the division within the city is improbable to dissipate.

The division is most prominently observed in football.

The team, officially named HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Hrvatski športski klub Zrinjski Mostar), is among the oldest clubs in Bosnia. It was established in 1905. It remained closed from 1945 to 1992 during the socialist Yugoslav era because of its association with the fascist Ustaša regime.

Throughout the Yugoslav era, Velež Mostar assumed the position of the city and the entire Herzegovina region.

Velež Mostar: The team of the workers and the Goddess Volos

The history of Velež Mostar commenced on June 26, 1922, when workers in Mostar established RŠD Mostar (Radničko športsko društvo: Workers' Sports Union). The club's leftist identity originates from that date. In the former Yugoslavia, it was customary for football teams to feature a "red star" on their emblems. Nonetheless, the "red star" on Velež's emblem predated the establishment of Yugoslavia by nearly twenty-five years.

The name of the fan group founded in 1981 is "Red Army".

The team's name is derived from the mountain situated east of Mostar, which is dedicated to the Slavic goddess Volos.

During the Nazi occupation, 77 members of Velež lost their lives in the Partizan resistance and after the war, the Velež legend experienced an even stronger rebirth. Having won the Yugoslav Cup twice in 1980-81 and 1985-86, Velež came in second in the league behind Red Star in 1972/73, Hajduk Split in 1973/74 and Partizan in 1986/87 and participated in the UEFA Cup. During the 1974/75 UEFA Cup season, they initially eliminated Spartak Moscow, followed by Rapid Vienna and Derby County, before being ousted in the quarter-finals by Twente in the 89th minute goal.

The once-prominent Yugoslav team deteriorated due to the war and was unable to regain its former glory in  post-war Bosnia. They were relegated twice in the feeble Bosnian Premier League.

For Velež supporters, who commemorated their centenary two years prior, Velež transcends the realm of a mere football club.

Celebrating the 100th anniversary with Denis in Mostar, June 26, 2022.

Bosnian Cup of 2021/22

Bijeli Brijeg: A stolen stadium

During the war, HVO took over Western Mostar and Zrinjski, a club banned during the Yugoslav era, took advantage of the opportunity and re-established itself. HVO bestowed the Bijeli Brijeg stadium, the site of Velež Mostar's legendary achievements, upon this reconstituted team.

Zrinjski added another page to its dirty history and stole Bijeli Brijeg, the legendary stadium of Mostar's legendary team Velež Mostar.

In my field research conducted in 2007/2008, I attended two matches in Mostar; however, it did not coincide with a Velež match. I came to the matches of Zrinjski, the other team in Mostar, and had the opportunity to watch two matches at Bijeli Brijeg. It is a unique stadium. You may recline against the eponymous mountain and observe Mostar and Mount Velež in the background. 

View of Mostar city and Velez Mount from Bijeli Birjeg.

Zrinjski has never been able to fill the stadium to capacity, even though Velež once played for 15,000 people. The stadium currently has a capacity of 7,000 people. 

A handful of Zrinjski fans who cannot fill the terraces of the "stolen" stadium. The photo is from 2007. In recent years number of Zrinjski fans have considerably increased, yet too far away from catching the number of Velež fans .

Velež plays its matches at the 7000-seat Rođeni Stadium, built in 1999 in Vrapčići, 5-6 kilometers from the center of Mostar.

Vrapčići’deki Rođeni Stadyumu (FK Velez Mostar websitesi)

West-East / Zrinjski - Velež

The rivalry between the two teams is undoubtedly intense beneath the narrative.
A notable characteristic of Zrinjski, which stole the stadium of its rival Velež Mostar, is that mostly Catholics are permitted to play on the team. AS well known, religious bigotry and theft typically coexist as a combined phenomenon.

While Velež primarily attracts a Bosniak fan base, it possesses a supporter group that refrains from identifying with a singular nationality. The allegiance of Velež supporters is to Mostar and its legendary team.

The city's division extends beyond the Velež-Zrinjski rivalry.

Even an unrelated football match can devolve into chaos in Mostar.

Following the Brazil-Croatia match in the 2006 World Cup and the Turkey-Croatia match in the 2008 European Football Championship, the streets of Mostar transformed into a conflict zone. 

(Check for the article I wrote about this event in this blog)

Small Town - Capital City Rivalry

The sole football rivalry in Mostar does not exist between Velež and Zrinjski. Velež also has a rivalry with the Sarajevo teams. Such rivalries are prevalent in all cuntries. There is also a historical rivalry between Mostar and Sarajevo. Mostar, in proximity to Dubrovnik—an essential trade hub of the Adriatic and a conduit for trade routes between the Western Balkans and the Dubrovnik port—exhibits a rivalry with Sarajevo, historically the administrative and political epicenter of the region, that persists to this day.

This rivalry possesses a certain mildness. Fanaticism resulting in hostility is infrequently observed.

Zeljeznicar – Velež

This rivalry appears to be less intense in the Velež – Željezničar matches, as far as I observed.

The match held in Grbavica last weekend occurred in a comparable atmosphere. The game was significant for both teams; regardless of the outcome, neither team's position in the league standings would be affected. If Zeljeznicar won, which they did, they would remain in fourth place, but they would not have widened the points gap with the top three, thus preserving their opportunity for the UEFA Conference League. Had Velež secured victory, they would have distanced themselves further from the relegation zone.

It wasn’t hard to get into the match. Thanks to a few fans I had previously contacted, I was able to watch the match from the Velež stands. Approximately 200 Velež supporters occupied nearly the entire designated section and remained vocal throughout the match. It was particularly praiseworthy that they amplified their cheers subsequent to conceding goals.

Velež fans in Grbavica, November 10, 2024.

At one point, on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the collapse of the Mostar Bridge, the Velež fans sang Kemal Monteno’s song “Stari”, which became synonymous with the collapse of the Mostar Bridge:

“Nisam pogođen, ni umro, ni pao, samo sam morao skočiti dolje…”

“I was shot and I neither died nor fell, I just had to jump off” 

You can listen the song from Youtube:

In the first minutes of the match, Zeljo was pressuring, but after the 10th minute, Velež first established their balance and started to play more aggressively and more attackingly.

Nonetheless, scoring against Zeljo proves challenging. The second team in the league that conceded the fewest goals. I thought that as Velež increased the pressure and could not score goals, they would exhaust their energy, their condition would not be able to make it through the second half and that Velež could leave this match with a big defeat. Indeed, they are a team that is defeated by the FK Sarajevo with 4-0 score several weeks ago. 

While I was thinking about these, Zeljo’s first goal came in the 33rd minute after a very unnecessary foul and a free kick, but it was disallowed by VAR due to offside.

When the goal was disallowed, the Velež players became a little more enthusiastic, but they wasted a few very clear positions. In the 63rd minute of the second half, Zeljo won a goal from the foot of Montenegrin Aleksandar Boljevic, who once played for Standard Liege and Hapoel Tel Aviv. As we predicted, Velež fell off the pitch and in the 84th minute, Zeljeznicar’s penalty was converted by goalkeeper Süleyman Krpić. While we were expecting the match to end like this, Velež turned the defeat into an “honorable defeat” by scoring a goal in the 90+2nd minute with Brazilian player Elzio Lohan Alves Lucio’s foot.

For the story of the match:

From the perspective of those from Mostar:

An old acquaintance: Irfan Buz

Velež has a special importance for me this season. Irfan Buz, who also coached Gençlerbirliği for a while in the 2014/15 season, is currently the manager of Velež Mostar. Due to his Bosnian heritage, he provides his statements to the Bosnian media in the Bosnian language. After the match, he was kind enough to take a photo with me wearing a Gençlerbirliği scarf.

What is GÖZTEPE's role in this narrative?

Mostar, which is 125 km from Sarajevo and about 2 hours away, is like a summer resort with its history, culture and Mediterranean climate. Although it is not located by the sea, it serves as a waypoint for Sarajevans en route to the Adriatic coast. It is the most temperate location in Bosnia.

Although it does not have a coastline, Mostar resembles Izmir a bit in this respect with its proximity to holiday resorts and, more importantly, the pleasure-loving hedonism of the people of Mostar. Residents of Mostar prioritize their comfort similarly to those in Izmir and do not hasten their activities.

Like Izmir, Mostar possesses a robust and distinctive local culture. Herzegovinian identity and belonging to Mostar are very important to the people of Mostar, and just like Izmir residents, despite the strong local identity, they do not have much of a “diaspora” identity. when they move away to other locations, yet keeping their identity and loyalty to their beloved city.

Founded in 1922, Velež Mostar has a glorious history, just like Göztepe, which was founded in 1925. Although they do not have great success today, both teams have a unique and admirable place in Bosnian and Turkish football culture with their glorious history and their fans who never leave them alone.

The fervor of Göztepe supporters is well-known. The Mostar fans are no less fanatic than Göztepe fans. So much so that three years ago, they jumped onto the field to beat up the referee during a match, and when they couldn't control themselves, they set the referee's car on fire.

(Check here for the news - only in Turkish)

When you think about these, you can't help but ask the following question: Why would not be those two red and yellow clubs "brother teams"? Mostar and İzmir are already two sister cities. Why shouldn't this brotherhood be transferred to football?

Do these two coats of arms, featuring identical colors, complement one another?

I wish to capture the attention of Göztepe fans.

 

SARAJEVO - SLAVIJA

Stadium: Koševo - Sarajevo

Time and date: February 25, 2006 - Saturday, 13:30

“Go to Sjever. The fans are found in Istok (east) and Sjever (north) part of the stadium, but the real boys are in Sjever”. After last nights experience in a pub with him, I had learned to take into consideration of Sanjin’s advices, the receptionist of the Hostel Ljubicica. After a simple breakfast in a buregdzinica (pie house) in Baščaršija I began to have a walk towards stadium via Mula Mustafa Bašeskije Street. Since a long time, those sequences had been the only ones when I have got the opportunity to feel like a “tourist”. I never have enough time in abroad cities. I usually have my touristic experiences when I am running from one place to another. The first thing that takes my attention in Sarajevo is bullet holes on the buildings. I try to “see” the buildings instead of remains of the war, twelve years after the war, I try to see the Sarajevans who try to enjoy daily life. Anyhow, it is a bit difficult. In fact, just after a ten minutes walk I pass next to the marketplace where 63 Sarajevans were murdered with a shell. My heart is squeezed. The three-storey building of Turkish Culture Center had surprised me with its modern and nice looking. I would not expect such a thing from our guys. I went on walking straight ahead on the street while checking it from the city plan I have in my hands. And I arrived to an alley: Marshall Tito. Just at the beginning of the alley is the “Vječna Vatra” – literally means “Eternal Fire”- the monument dedicated to Partizans. You can see Roma children around this fire in winter evenings. Following the Tito Alley, just before turning right to the Koševo Street I saw a billboard. Another “Vatra” but this is “Anadolska Vatra”, the “Anatolian Fire”, which is a dance group from Turkey, similar to that of “River Dance”. I thought about watching their performance in Sarajevo that night until I learned that the tickets were already sold out last week.

Since I am on Koševo Street, I began to follow the football fans to find my way to the stadium. Being close to the stadium, I am passing next to a graveyard, which was a training pitch before the war. Since it was apart from artillery range, Sarajevans had buried their martyrs to here. Bosnian Muslims, Serbs and Croats, all Sarajevans are here who were murdered during the war. Walking towards a slight sloppy street, after 15 minutes I reached the pre-fabrique ticket sales office and bought my ticket for “Sjever” which costs 3 KM (Kovertible Marke – 1 Euro=1,95 KM). There are some “čevapčići” (Bosnian grill) chapmen around. Of course I do not eat them. Surely not because of hygienic considerations, but to have some empty space in my stomach to try more Bosnian pies.

I go to the “curve” of the stadium on the northern side. I am looking forward to have a sort of communication with the fans. Suddenly, a boy who has got a scarf with Turkish flag on takes my attention. Unfortunately, he does only speak Bosnian language. But, some boys who can speak English help me and take me to their leaders, known as “Mai” whose fore teeth are damaged and have some scarves on his face. In fact, for me he is a cute guy. One of the boys introduces me as an anthropologist who is making a research on Sarajevo football fans. He is not interested at all. He asks something, and the boy replies “Turska”, which causes a dramatical change of Mai’s behavior towards me positively. So, lesson 1: Before you introduce yourself as an anthropologist, better to tell people that you are from Turkey.

The fan group of Sarajevo, namely “Horda Zla” (the horde of evils) was established in 1987. They are renown as being active in the trenches during the war. But –as usual- their ex-leaders Dzilda and Tselo became mafiosi after the war. Those fanatics, who were appreciated by the Sarajevans during the war had retained to their old status as “troublemakers” after the war. I had already added my article about football fans in Bosnian to my blog that was previously published in “Four Four Two”. If you wish, you can check it from the archive.

Sjever is quite fascinating with flambeau and scarf shows, with banners and poetic chants... Although I cannot understand the lyrics, obviously they are poetic. Most of the fans are warm to me. I exchange my “Alkaralar” scarf with Miki’s “Sarajevo” scarf. Miki –or Mirać, 17 years old- is one of the potential leaders of Horda Zla. His hair is dyed in blonde and he has got earrings. Son of a martyr. He is a hard fan. He was in Istanbul for the match against Beşiktaş. He admits that he brought a Turkish flag that is on the wall of his room. He is one of those who were in Belgrade in well-known match between Serbia and Bosnia.

Just after the Sarajevo – Slavija football match, there is a basketball match between KK Bosna and Partizan in Skenderija Sport Complex. The fans invite me there.

Just a few notes about rival team: Honestly, I did not have information about Slavija. I would not assume that Slavija would involve in my “football life” in Bosnia. Slavija is a team from Republika Srpska (One of the two autonomous republics in Bosnia and Herzegovina). The fan group of Slavija is “Sokolovi” (The Falcons). There were 39 of them in the match in Koševo. They use Cyrillic alphabet in their banners.

The match was quite boring and the result was 1-1. In fact, Sarajevo is the leader in Bosnian Premier League and Slavija had been one of the successful teams. After the match, I walk towards Skenderija with Horda Zla. Entrance is free for the Horda Zla, from which I benefit as well. The famous team KK Bosna will play against Partizan from Belgrade. I do not know the details very well but they play in a sort of basketball league that consists of teams from ex-Yugoslav countries. Without doubt, it takes more attention than Sarajevo-Slavija match. Senad, one of the leaders of Horda Zla shows me good place to sit and advises me to not to leave there. Match was quite exciting with KK Bosna’s victory. A few Turkish flags take my attention in the hall. I learned that when playing against Bosnian Serb teams, etc. Bosnian fans are likely to bring Turkish flag to make the rival team upset.

After the basketball match, I had a coffee with two fans in Cafe Kolobara, which was previously a caravanserai built by Ottomans.

For visuals about Slavija-Sarajevo match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-e0_4oTFAw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq4LTr3-xVk

A visual from KK Bosna - Partizan basketball match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq4LTr3-xVk

THINGS ARE A BIT COMPLICATED IN BOSNIA

(Published in Turkish edition of "Four Four Two" in June 2007)

The fresh air of Sarajevo becomes extremely cold when it becomes dark. At the evening of March 24, considering the chilly weather outside I was putting on warm clothes just before leaving home to watch the match between Greece ad Turkey in a Turkish restaurant, while at the same time I was glancing over screen for the game between Norway and BiH which was played in Oslo. Yet the match had just started, Bosnian fans lit tens of flambeaus and made a heavy smoke in the stadium. It is regarded intrinsically as a great honor for fans to lit flambeaus and to halt the game for a while. Moreover, it has been a tradition in Balkans. However, now, it caused not only a few minutes, but a thirty-five minute halt which has other reasons exceeds anthropological explanations. Indeed, a banner on the rows took my attention: “NFSBiH=Mafia”. The action of Bosnian fans was aimed to protest NFSBiH (Nogometni/Fudbalski Savez Bosne i Hercegovine – Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Boro Kontic, journalist from the weekly “BH Dani” implies that besides energy, tobacco & spirits and telecommunication, “football” is one of the cash businesses in a small country like BiH. Therefore, NFSBiH is one of the important political institutions of BiH, in a country which is separated into RS (Republika Srpska) and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that consists of four Croatian, four Bosnian and two mixed cantons, though de facto administered by OHR (Office of Higher Representative). Even, Jusuf Pusina, who was the first chairman of NFSBiH had been one of the closest friends of Alija Izzetbegovic. In fact, after resigning from being the chairman of NFSBiH, Pusina is actually general consulate of BiH in Istanbul. Although Ibrahim Muratovic, a sports journalist from FTV (Federal TV) argues that Pusina was one of the main effective features behind the international recognition of NFSBiH. It is known that Bosnian football fans are not easy with NFSBiH chairmen and administration of NFSBiH. Before mentioning the relationship between football fans and NFSBiH that goes beyond the events in Oslo, it would be better to have a look at institutional development of football in BiH.

Football fans will easily remember; during the siege years, the match between those players who stayed in Sarajevo and UNPROFOR that was played at March 1994 and ended up with the 4-0 victory for the Sarajevo players took attention of the international public. NFSBiH was one of the first established institutions of BiH during the re-structuring period just after the Dayton Peace in 1995. However, recognition of NFSBiH by UEFA and FIFA had not been before RS football clubs were included, which were previously enjoying in the football leagues of Serbia and Montenegro. Bosnian Serb player Vladan Grujić’s involvement in BiH national football team in October 2002 was an important step in the name of the integration in BiH football.

Although the integration of Bosnian football had well been provided, fractions especially within the fans can be easily seen in BiH football. Unsurprisingly, ethnic differences are one of the main reasons. BiH Premier League consists of sixteen clubs, where five of them are from RS, and among the BiH Federation clubs four of them recognized as Bosnian Croat and seven of them are recognized as Bosniak clubs. This fractured structure is especially very much visible in the matches between the teams from Sarajevo and Slavija. Slavija is a club from Lukavica which is a subdistrict of Sarajevo, but now re-named as Istoćniy Sarajevo (East Sarajevo) within RS territory. Since Slavija has limited number of fans, violence is not observed in the matches of Slavija in Sarajevo. On the other side, when Željezničar and Sarajevo plays in Lukavica, at least thousand fans of the visitor team raid and violence is expected. Without doubt, the most dramatical clash rooted in ethnic differentiation takes place in the matches in Mostar. As mentioned by the Bosnian hip-hop group Dubioza Kolektiv, divided by emerald green Neretva, after the collapsed of Berlin Wall, Mostar remains as the only city in Europe which is divided; the east recognized as Bosniak, and the west recognized as Croatian part. The main determinant of rivalry between Velež and Zrinjski is ethnic differentiation. Adnan, Denis and Arnis, who are members of Velez fan club “Red Army” opposes to define Velež as a Bosnian Muslim (or Bosniak) team whereas Zrinjski is recognized as Bosnian Croat club. It has to be mentioned that the struggle against recognition of football clubs by ethnic identities are mostly held by those fans of so-called Bosniak (or Bosnian Muslim) clubs. As a matter of fact, it is unlikely to see any kind of expression referring to the ethnic identities of Bosniak teams. The clubs that are from RS are recognized as Bosnian Serb, whereas those who have got the squared red-white Croatian national symbol on their emblem are recognized as Bosnian Croat clubs. The “rest” are known as Bosniak teams. It has to be mentioned that Bosnian Croat teams are usually financially equipped and RS teams enjoy hiring players from Serbia.

It is misleading to argue that the only separation in BiH football is based on ethnic differentiation. A conflict like Bizans – Antibizans in Turkey appears in BiH between the cities, so to say between Sarajevo and other cities, although we cannot talk about a strict oligarchic structure in BiH football. Having been insulted as Palanka (rural – stemming from the word “town”), those who are residents of rest of BiH except Sarajevo are unlikely to have friendly emotions towards the teams from Sarajevo being unconfident about the flow of the huge part of investments to the capital city. This is reflected in football as well. Especially, during the matches between the Zenica’s club “Čelik” and the teams from Sarajevo, bloody conflicts may occur. Even, two years ago a Željezničar fan was killed by knife after a match with Čelik. It has to be noted that, both Zeljo and Čelik are recognized as “Bosniak” teams. In case of Mostar – Sarajevo issue the case is a bit different. Whether it is Zrinjski, which is recognized by its Croatian identity, or Velež, the most important rivals of Mostar teams had always been the teams from Sarajevo.

On the other side the rivalry between Željezničar and Sarajevo is neither based on ethnic differences, nor on rural-urban (periphery-core) conflict. Not only in BiH, in all over ex-Yugoslavia many clubs do exist named Željezničar, where it literally means “railway worker” in south Slavic languages and shows similarities with clubs in Turkey such as Adana Demirspor, Ankara Demirspor, Eskişehir Demirspor, etc. However, the most famous “Željezničar ” is the one from Sarajevo. The railway workers in Grbavica district in Sarajevo established NK Željezničar in 1921. Yugoslav football, representing the Danube Ecole had boomed during Tito Era, as in BiH. In addition to Danube Ecole’s characteristics of excellent technical capabilities, increasing stamina and modern training methodologies and new collective tactics made Yugoslavia like a “football factory”. During the socialist era in Yugoslavia, new sports clubs had blossomed. One of them was FK Sarajevo, which was established by the help of local administrators in Sarajevo. One of the basic steps for the success of that club, which was also backed by Party administration, was to attract the players of the other team in the city, namely Željezničar. Since than blue-white Željezničar, and maroon-white Sarajevo are known as prominent rivals. After a while, being more or less backed by the Party administrators, Sarajevo likely became the representative of BiH in Yugoslav football, reaching the title twice, whereas Zeljo had only one. On the other side, Zeljo had won the title three times in BiH Premier League, but Sarajevo for once. At the end of 1980’s, fan groups were established in BiH, as well as in whole ex-Yugoslavia. Both Sarajevo fan group Horde Zla (Horde of Evils) and Željezničar’s fan group Maniaci (no need for translation) were formed in 1987. Before the formation of fan groups, Sarajevo fans were named as Pitari, and Željezničar fans were known as Košpicari. Pitar literally means the owner of Burek (pie) house, which signifies a person who has a well income, a good house and a good model car. On the other side, Košpicari literally means “the person who eats a lot of sunflower seeds” which is literally equal to Turkish term of “çekirdekçi”. However, differing from the Turkish meaning, košpicar is the person who wanders around with cheap sports dresses, busy with small scale illegal business, where he also eats a lot of sunflowers since it is very cheap. Today, although “pitari” is still used for Sarajevo fans, “košpicari” is not used for Željezničar fans, maybe because of its pejorative meaning, or maybe Željezničar fans have relatively more wealthy and educated vision.

Željezničar long for the good old days in BiH Premier League because of the financial crisis that they have. Being just above the death line in the first half of the season, they had a spectacular 7-1 victory against Posušje that motivated them to rise to the upper ranks. In fact, in the Sarajevo derby, which was played in FK Sarajevo’s Kosevo Stadium, they lost the game with the last minute goal. The poor condition of Željezničar does not seem to affect Maniaci. Besides, they continue to support their team as if they are struggling for the title. Even sometimes, Željezničar may find more support then their city rival who will probably have had won the title of BiH Premier League when this article is published. Probably, the most important factor behind that fact is that, Željezničar offers a more clearly defined and powerful identity to her fans.

Željezničar plays in Grbavica Stadium, named with the district that it is located. Being located at one of the central and important districts of the city, Grbavica Stadium is functional not only during the matches, but also other days because of the existence of shops within the stadium complex such as markets, petty ware shop, burek houses and restaurants. Moreover, since it is located in between blocks, stadium is possessed by locals. On the other side, Kosevo Stadium that was built for 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, where Sarajevo plays home matches is located relatively far from the city center and is dysfunctionally located. Therefore, it is a place where fans visit only during the matches. As mentioned by Sarajevan journalist Senad Zaimović, Sarajevo fans go to the stadium as if they are going to holiday, on the other side Željezničar fans go to the stadium, which is already internalized in their daily lives. The different spatial perception has effects on identity formation. In between, I have to mention that unalike to Turkey, it is almost impossible to meet youngsters with fan scarves or jerseys in Sarajevo daily life. The basic reason behind that is; like in any other Balkan country, football fans are perceived as unemployed, trouble making, and uneducated, low cultured persons. One of the basic reasons behind the formation of such an image is “hot” scenes from the stadiums.

In the evening of March 24, Oslo Ullevaal Stadium was like in a fire. Norwegian football fans, which were seldom shown on TV screens were staring to that “barbaric” scene. What they were thinking was very much visible on their sour faces: “God damn Balkanians, you brought your troubles to my peaceful land!” The events that halted the match for 35 minutes in Oslo was not ad hoc. It was a protest against HFSBiH and organized by the fan group called “BH Fanaticos”. But, who are BH Fanaticos?

One of the original peculiarities of BiH football is that, similar to that of Scotland, the national football team has a fan group. Those who established the BH Fanaticos are mainly the Bosnians in diaspora. The core of the group was the Bosnians in Scandinavia, and contemporarily they have got more than 3000 members from different countries who pay membership fees regularly. Only 370 of them are living in BiH, and as far as we have informed, during last month a Turkish academics that came to Bosnia for an anthropological research had paid his fee and became a member. Members do not have membership cards. Instead, they are given a special t-shirt that only the members are allowed to wear. The administration of BHF is in Sweden. I asked to Nizar Altinowi, the representative of BHF in BiH, if this situation creates a problem for the group members in BiH. Nizar, student of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo University, says that the division of duties is well done, and admits that in spite of the general outlook of the football fans, BHF members are well educated and that kind of personal problems do not exist in their groups. A friend of Nizar from the faculty, namely Mesut – citizen of Republic of Turkey, who also made Bosnian-Turkish translation during my interview with Nizar, validates that members of BHF are all “well educated boys”.

BHF was established in 2000 and had been active especially in the abroad matches of BiH national football team. BHF members from BiH do only attend in abroad matches that are geographically close to BiH. For example, it was only the members from BiH who attended the match against Moldova in Chisinau. The travel costs were partly paid by the diaspora. It is very much visible that BHF administration is quite serious on financial issues. Even, they are able to help community. For example, nowadays BHF is busy with collecting aid for the “Ljubica Ivezić” orphanage in Sarajevo where five babies had died during a fire in April 22, 2007.

Boro Kontić argues that BHF is an indicator of identity for Bosnian youngsters in diaspora, and serves as a tool to attach them to motherland. Not only the Bosniaks, but also among the members there are Bosnian Croats and Serbs. However, it has to be added that there is no attendance from Republika Srpska in BHF. The Bosnian Serbs who are members of BHF are from cities inside BiH Federation like Sarajevo, Tuzla or Zenica, as such. İbrahim Muratović points out that Bosnian Serbs in RS do never support BiH, and adds that during the match between Serbia and BiH in Beograd, half of the Serbian fans in Marakana supporting Serbian team were from RS. In fact, as he mentions, the RTRS (TV channel of RS) broadcasts football matches of Serbia when it overlaps with that of BiH.

BHF takes attention not only by the support given to the BiH national team in abroad, but also with the conflict against NFSBiH. In the manifesto titled “Rat Savezu” (War against NFSBiH) published in their website www.bhfanaticos.com, they clearly mention it and define their basic wish as total renewal of NFSBiH. The main reason for that wish is that, they argue that administrators of NFSBiH are all politicians and does not have football background. Moreover, they claim that they corrupt the Bosnian players to be in the squad. That is why, they claim, most of the Bosnian players playing abroad reject to play in the national team. Nizar admits that they wish to see Elvir Bolic as the manager, and Barbarez as the general director. Barbarez is a heroic figure not only among the BHF members, but also every football fan in BiH. Originally being from a Serbian-Bosniak family from Mostar, Barbarez does delight fans not only with the quality of football he plays, but also with his devotion to BiH. For Bosnian fans, devotion is an important issue when the NFSBiH presidency is comprised of a Bosniak member who declares that they had won 250.000 Euro after the 0-4 defeat against Greece, a Bosnian Serb member who affirms that he will support BiH only against Turkey, and a Bosnian Croat member who does not hesitate to show his support to Croatian national football team in the World Cup while donating his family with Croatian jerseys and flags. As asserted in the lyrics of the song “Rat Savezu” which may be defined as the “hymn” of BHF and sung by “Frenkie & King Mire”:

Kraljice Bosno nemoj se vise bojat
(Bosnia my queen, do not be afraid anymore.)
mi smo tvoj stit i necemo te prodat
(We are your protective shields, and we will not sell you.)

After the actions of BHF in Oslo, NFSBiH is fined for 36.600 Euro. The next match of BiH will be against Turkey. Nizar mentions that they will attend to the match individually but not as a group to boycott the NFSBiH. I ask: “Who will be victorous?”. He replies: “We have to win to be promoted from the group hand-in-hand with Turkey.” As being a member of BHF and a citizen of Republic of Turkey, I smile by knowing that “we” will win.

(Translated from Turkish by: Özgür Dirim Özkan)

For the draft of the article in "pdf" (acrobat reader) format:

http://rapidshare.com/files/68617481/bosna.pdf

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