Soccer balm provides healing touch to Bosnia

Bosnia, after breaking away from Yugoslavia following the 1992 war, was slowly limping back to normalcy. But even before the newly-born nation could piece itself together, it was haunted by the most sadistic violence ever to visit the Europe since the Nazi campaigns: Ethnic cleansing.

On top of documented cases of systematic torture and murder in Bosnia, came the charges of a new Serb entity: mass rape. The rough estimates put the number between 30,000 to 50,000. Gang rapes of young girls in front of mothers, fathers, siblings and children, became the order of the day. In fact, rapes became an integral part of the ethnic cleansing and were committed explicitly to impregnate Muslim women and hold them captive until they gave birth to unwanted Serbian babies.

The leading citizens of Brcko, Bjeljina, Kljuc, Sanski Most, Prijedor, Kotor Varos, Zvornik, who owned a business, participated in the party of Democratic Action or held a University degree, were hunted down and liquidated.

Naturally, sport became an unwilling victim. Particularly, football, a passion with the Bosnians, was the worst hit by the Serbian atrocities. In the backdrop of war, football remained the only love for the troubled state. It speaks volumes of the tenacity and the fighting spirit of the players.

The conditions the players faced during the war are too terrifying to mention but they did not give up practising. "It is a miracle," said Laila Burekovic, who assists her country's federation in matters relating to international relations and transfer of footballers.

Little wonder then that goalkeeper Adnan Guso, an undoubted star here in the just-concluded Sahara Cup, stood under the bar with a steely resolve. The towering goalkeeper actually brandished a gun during the war.

Three other members of the current team, which played the final against Yugoslavia, were also involved during the hostilities. Skipper Dzallaludin Murahemovic, Sead Saferovic and Asmir Ikanovic exchanged and dodged bullets against the Serbian forces during the height of war that commenced after the birth of Bosnia.

"It was not a war. It was a genocide," says Laila. After the heat and dust had settled down, the Bosnians concentrated on repair works: to develop the game and put their country on the football map. Funds were raised to rebuild stadiums damaged during the war. Fifa also accorded its recognition in 1993 when it became a separate football entity.

Two years later, they made their debut against Albania during a friendly match. A 0-2 loss was not encouraging. After all, the fledgling national team comprised ageing stars. Among them was Faruk Hadzibegic, who guided the national team in subsequent years and helped Yugoslavia qualify for the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The achievement was something out of the ordinary. In its hour of glory, Laila’s heart goes out to Zelimir Vidovic, a national footballing icon for Yugoslavia and FC Sarajevo, as she recollects the gunning down of Vidovic during the war. She also remembers the scores of other players lost during the aggression. Some fled the country, maimed and killed by the horrendous violence.

The call of the hour, as Laila puts it, is to look ahead. Bosnia have held their own in soccer and continue to feature prominently in basketball, handball, volleyball and winter sports.

Bosnia’s initial results in international football turned out to be rather depressing. Heavy defeats to Greece (0-3) and Croatia (1-4) in 1996 in the World Cup qualifiers spelt doom for the nation’s footballing aspirations. They narrowly missed a Euro 2000 slot owing to injuries and suspensions.

However, under the enterprising Faud Muzurovic, a stalwart of prominent FC Sarajevo, the team began on a confident note. Eleven new faces took to the pitch against Slovenia and won. And the flow of confidence enabled the side win two of their last three matches of the qualifying programme, ending with a 3-0 demolition of the mighty Denmark in front of the 40,000 roaring spectators in Sarajevo’s Olympic Stadium.

Bosnia, with three wins from eight outings, may find gaining a spot in the World Cup difficult. But the side, dotted with several players from Europe’s top leagues, is capable of surprising the best in business. Hence, the Bosnians will need some watching as the 2002 World Cup qualifiers hots up.

Even a World Cup spot now is a distant dream. But three wins from eight outings has provided ample encouragement.

(In Calcutta, Jan, 2001)